The Indiana State sentinel., 1886-04-28

With a frightened shiVer; but there was no
one near. '0h. l can't 90 like brown
grub: when all the other girls are butter
flies" In her excitement Elsie spoke out
loud, and then almost ran the rest OF the
way home. never stopping until she was safe
in her own room, where for the next hour
any one would have thought capricious
April had stepped indoors Sc fast did
showers OF tears and beaming smiles chase
each other across the girls expressive coun-
tenance. But at last the smiles won the day,
ana a very cheerful little Elsie went down to
tea, and then spent the evening in the kitch-
en- with her younger brothers, coloring eggs
all the most radiant hues of the rainbow.
Crawford's window looked very bright and
tempting, with its tasteful display of mil
hnery, and it required no little heroism in
our little Elsie when, on Friday afternoon,
with the contents Of the earthenware pitcher
in her pocket, she walked brayely by the
much coveted artificial howers and hurried
toward the natural ones. Once, ,howeTe with
in the florists greenhouse inhaling the sweet,
moist atmosphere, Elsie forgot everything
but the flowers about her. The callas were
grand aud stately; the roses luxuriantlv
rich and fragrant; and the violets so modest,
but at length she turned from all to pot of
exquisite Easter lilies. Five large, snowy
bells graced the plant each so pure and
chaste, it seemed q fitting emblem of the
commemorated Resurrection. The price
was to be two dollars and with a ghost of a
sigh, Elsie counted out the money into the
mans hands.
Elsie carried the heavy pot home herself,
where she reveled in them until the next af-
teraoon, almost forgetting the disappoint-
ment about the hat in thinking. that ~
least, her flowers would be as rare and beau
tiiul as any in the church for lilies were un-
usually scarce that season. This was the only
one the florist had with more than three
blossoms. Easter eve was bright and clear,
rr-fs = afac fn-r md
sic got ready to carry her lilies to the plain
little church which she attended. She was
almost dressed when her eldest sister en-
tered, saying: elsie, dear, do you remem-
ber Swedish Lena, who took care of you when
you were little one?"-"Why, of course |
do, Msry, and how good she always was
We'll, she has come to tell us that she is to
be married tonight. She looks very pretty
in her new dress and bonnet; but her boquet
is nothing bat bunch of geranium leaves,
and she thinks that If she had but q flower,
it would bring her good luck. Can you not
spare her one of your lilies? 1t would make
her so happy. mo, no, it would spoil the
whole plant! You shan't take one, Mary"
certainly not if you DONE wish it; but |
thought. as you were one of Miss Hey
woods flower missionaries, perhaps an
Easter bride had some claim on
you -"But these are to decorate the church
first, and then go to Nat. t."-"Oh! l see. 1t
Is limited mission. Only special ones are
to be benefited" and Mary left the room.
The scornful words brought the color to
ElSies cheeks and q tear, half OF pentence,
half OF anger, fell upon one of the lilies; a
few minutes later she stole softly down stairs,
with white flower in her hand, and tucked
it in among the green leaves of the poor
little bridal bouquet. The Swedish girls de-
light and thanks knew no bounds, and she
kissed Elsie's hands again and again as she
declared in broken English, that "Such a
white blossom could only have been grown
in paradise, and would surely bring luck to
her and Hensel; while she was the happy
bride that day.
Ii was some time before Elsie could tear
herself away, and as she carried her plant
down the steps, she thought: 81 do hope no
one else will want one" But in passing
through a short court, she came upon a small
boy with his hands full of dandelions, cry
ing bitterly: .'Why, Dick, what is the mat
ter?' she asked.-'Oh! our baby is dead, and
these are all the posies l can find for her."
sobbed the little fellow, holding up the gay,
yellow wild flowers. lis little Nanette
dead2' exclaimed Elsie, quite shocked, for
this baby had been pet OF hers.-"Yes; and
she looks so pretty; come and see,' and Dick
dragged her toward the door of an humble
cottage. Half reluctantly the girl stepped
into a bare, CT feerless room. where the mother
sat beside little white robed image, so fair
and fragile, it looked like an exquisite waxen
doll. Not word was spoken, but Elsie
| broke off another of her Easter Lilies and
STOPPING, laid it gently in the tiny folded
hands. A long drawn sob came from the
dry-eyed, heart-broken mother, as she saw
| the graceful little action and the first tears
she had shed burst forth, thereby, perhaps,
saving her life or reason; and as Elsie hur-
| ried from the house, Heaven bless you,
| young lady," came after her like benedic-
| ton. Poor lily, you are being shorn of all
| your charms" whispered our flower mission
| airy, as sne hastened on with her mutilated
| treasure; and indeed, when the church was
| at length reached, the plant with only three
blossoms did look very small and common
| place by the side of Florrle Ames' towering
| pink Azalea, aud Emma Forbes beautiful
rose tree. Miss Haywood was waiting
| to arrange the gifts and re.
| ceived Elsies Offering saying: "These are
very sweet dear, and their pure white will
make pretty contrast with the gayer flow
ers.''
| Easter Sunday proved an ideal spring day.
All creation seemed set to brighter, hap
| pier key than usual, and Elsie alone felt
trit1e out OF tune as she started for the Easter
| service in her two-year old suit and Lat only
| freshened up with little new ribbon, pur-
chased with the remainder of her lace money.
] Her generous enthusiasm of the day before
4 had subsided, and the reaction was so de-
| pressing that she was ready to cry when she
| reached her class in Sunday school, and
found all the girls radiant as bed of tulips,
in their tasteful light costumes. "Why, Ell
| sic. Where is the pink wreath you have
talked so much aboUt%' whispered Florrie,
as she made room for her friend beside her,
| for she generally shared all Elsie's secrets
Easter lilies and artificial rosebuds didn't
| agree" replied Elsie, in the same low tone
| but with a nervous little laugh, that was first
| cousin to flood of tears, 'and 1 feel like a
last years flower left over by mistake. But
don't say anything about it, Florrie u
| will only say you are darling" and the
warm squeeze of Florrie's hand was decid-
| edly comforting. Elsie was her own bright
self again, and She Joined in the glad carol,
singing with her whole heart:
! "The world itself keeps Easter day,
| And Easter larks are singing
| And Easter flow rs are blooming gay
And Easter buds are sDringing;
The Lord of ali things, lives anew,
And all his works are rising too
The little church looked quite festal in its
floral dress. .and Elsie opened her eyes in sur
prise to see her lilies occupying the most
conspicuous place, with a beautiful butterfly
| poised gracefully above them.
81 shall expect to see every one, to-mor-
row, by ~ o'clock" said Miss Haywood, as
she kissed the girls goodbye" Easter
Monday found not one missing from her
cheerful dining-Toom, where the luncheon
| fof,l