Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1889-07-16

that even Solomon in all his glory was not ar
rayed like one of these"
How could she ever have lost sight of those.
His wordS-the Master's7 A sense of his great
love grew upon her as she went on down the
path, strange elasticity In her step.
"It is the most beautiful ono ever saw"
she murmurod. passing her hand caressingly
beneath the swRying he'll and burying her nose
in Its depth, regardless Of the pollen. Can it
be possible tnat the loss Of the others accom-
Plished Its perfection ? 1 have heard that Il
docs. Dear mo, what foolish Womon am
Why. God has been perfecting me by taking
the Others out of my life, and have given no
account to it. o, Jim, my brOtherl"
She stood long time gazing upon tho
flower, unconscious of the fact that she had
eaten no breakfast. She laughed softly, stop
ping suddenly at the sound of her own con-
tent.
81 haven't laughed for so long" she uaid.-
''I have been so foolish"
The child that had passed along the day bO-
fore looked longingly in at the wealth of bios
soms, and shrank away.
"wait minute, dear" said Miss Martha.-
The little one hesitated. Just come in and
get some flowers"
She had approached the gate and was lean
ing over. The child glanced into her face aud
without word reached out its hand to her'si''
Why, she had not for years felt the touch of
little fingers but she clasped them with the
tenderness of another aud drawing the golden
head close, filled the wee apron to overlooking
with the blooms. Then she paused before the
lily. and o wonderful transformation OF char
acter She plucked it from its stem and
placed it in the hand of the child, who elutched
it, all unconscious of the fact that in It's golden
heart nestled tho first tear Miss Martha had
shed for years Her eyes must have been suf-
fering from drought, from they grew steRdi-
ly brighter after that shower. Late that night
the light beamed from the sitting-room win
dows, and Miss Martha sat writing, with
strange smile on her lips aud o new brightness
in her eyes
On the very next Sabbath she attended
church, aud che gradually grew TO spending
social evenings with her neighbors, while they
became conscious that she was winning their
love- and, hardly conscious of the change in
her. blamed themselves for having so long
kept aloof from the lonely woman.
Two years passed and the garden was a
Wilderness of bloom, luies and roses rivalinE in
beauty and perfume Miss Martha sat on tho
piazzR knitting and singing an old song she
had found beneath the rubbish of those dead
years. The gate latch clicked, but she kept
on with her song, thinking some of the chill
'dren were coming. Those little fingers had
long since learned the secret of the latch and
it was no longer allowed to rust. Up thopath,
overarched by the aspiring flowers. walked n
sun-browned, full-bearded man, with strange
sailors swagger. One glance and she knew
him An love is swift to recognize its own,
despite the disgusting touches of timo. The
knitting rolled to tho floor aud Miss Martha
ran swiftly down the path and elasplng the
newcomer in her plump arms
"Oh, Jim," she cried. "My dear, dear
brotherI"
why, marthy," be said. show pretty you
have grown And you really wanted mo backI
I saw your advertisement by chance in an old
paper. 1 was in Liyerpooli ready to ship
again for Bombay but dropped the job and
took you at your word. o, sister was so
honesick
The touching of divine flngera seemed upon
her; the glory of the sunlight intensified
around her, as sho embraced the brother about
whose return and well-doing she hnd co de-
spairod and Of whose leaving homo and want
of love she had uttered such words of bitter
reproach whom she mouned over the loss Of
her lilies. How fully she learned In tho
sweetnGss of the realization of her cheriahed
hopes Of Jim's return, and his helpfulneSs In
after days. the blessednesG Of trusting In God,
who cares for us far more than he does for the
lilies, and will give to the patiently hOpofu |
the answer to their prayer