The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-17
The Village of Lilies.

The Village of Lilies.
&c. A. Ely.l
They, Jean, then eleven years 0 d. aud his
parents and sister, had left their native place
IN the sunny south OF France, where they
had always lived, and had come 10 M AXE an-
other home in town on the borders of G. ar
many. when the spring was opening.
The father purchased little cottage, aud
they had nov to set about accomplishing
what seemed TO them great undertakings.
First, to find occupation for the IN her, by
which the family were TO BIS supported; ID
tear from their hearts ths painful longing
for their beloved home and lsst to acauaint
Themselves with the strange people and the
lar gusee.
The father, after time, found employ
Hent as a gardener on the large estate belong.
ing to the chief man Ia that district. Toe
mother and daughter made the little house
cheerful AID homelike. while Jean COM
mencei getting the patca of grou Id about
the house ready for a garden; for. to these
people, born in land of rich fruits and
flowers, trees and plants outside were as nee.
sssary to their happiness and comfort as
were any inside arrangement of the house
The other two diffic Titles were also being
cor queIeS; for inconsistencies and heartach
gIaouslly leave, and friends make thsir sp
pesIar &C. when people interest themselves IN
useful, bealthi1i occupations.
ready for planting seeds, he realized that,
with the exception of few which neigh
Dor had handed him. he had none to sDw.
He was afraid, after all, that it would hardly
have the appearance OF a garden. Bat he
spent tie next day 10 searching through the
wood few miles of. and returned With ssy-
eral wild plants and flowers. which hs had
taken up by their roots, and these he trans
ferred in the beds.
At night they all sat around the dim light,
ready tor Jean to read fro n the large b able,
which they had brought with them from
their old home.
He tarned over the leaves, and came to the
chapters oil Chrlst's great sermon, and was
about TO commence the one Ia which He
says: Consider the lilies''-but there. lying
between the leaves, was bunch OF flowers,
left to be press q. which his sister had gath
cred in the lovely garden of their native
pace.
They all looked with glistening eyes upon
the sweet remembrance, retaining It's almost
imperishanle perfume, and the mother qui.
city pressed them to b er IipL
Jean, see here are few Of our beautiful
lilies, and some of the small sued pods are
upon the stock. Perhaps thsre may be some
seeds in them.'
They eagerly opened them and to their
delight, found several tiny, shining seeds.
Now, Jeans garden would be charming,
L.
refuse to give up and expand the slumber-
ing life within thsm; and. in time, the lilies
would appear, more beautiful than any OH.
els in that country.
These we're the Lilies OF Pearls, for
their name had been given them on account
which terminated their etamens.
The people where they grew said that these
floral pearls were once water.drOps and they
came to be transformed in this manner:
Centuries back there was great droutl in
that country, and almost every green thing
persisted. The people prayed and cried to
Heaven for rain and II theie petitions W ere
not answered, their land would become de3o.
ateG.
All The tender p ants and flowers had per.
jshed except the favorite lilies, aud thsy
with seeming faith. almost surprising that
OF the people, still lifted up their sickenei
whitening heads toward Heaven, as though
they felt that rain would yet b, given to re
stoie them.
At last ii came Fiis. thin film over the
corcning sky; mighty gathering of clio / Is;
few drops of promise, and then the rain,
which brought tie tArth to lie sgain.
It vassa 4 that the first rops fell into the
lilies bosoms and have remained there
ever since, adding another beauty to the
tairest OF flowers, in token Of their gen lie
faith.
kaIly the next morning Jean placed the
precious seeds in the strange earth, and for
some time after the spot was carefully
watered and examined to see if there was
ST d trace OF their resurrection.
Just after Jean had risen one morning, b,
ran into his garden, and they he ard him cry
out ioyfully, SO the others fastened to Sc.
ALI In small green circle the anxiously ex.
fected baby plants had raised the mselves, as
though saying, See. we do not refuse 20
make this our home.'
For several weeks more Jean watched and
tended the fragile, delicate plants. as tho lsh
all his happiness and future prospect were to
be developed with them. They grew with
great rapidity, and in three months time
the buds of the wonderful lilies stood in
clusters on the stocks.
All one morning Jean took his position by
them, for he was sure that the perfect II ,wsrs
He hardly turned his eyes from them. At
high noon the fun time me, and three
glorious white lilies sprang forth, and greeted
his eyes and heart and In rapturous thank.
fuiness he fell on his knees, aud looking uo-
ward, cried.
Dear Father. l thank Theel''
Every day aided to their number. aud no
one passed by the cottage without stopping
to admire the lovely strangers, and to beg If
Jean to spare them few OF the seeds When
they came. that the next year they nigh.
have some also growing in their gardens.
At the time the lilies were in full bloom,
an event was about TO take place in which
ali the village felt lively interest. Toe
only daughter OF the president of the village
the employer of Jeans fatber-wss 10 cele.
brate her marriage with the one OF her
choice She was known and beloved by all,