Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-05-20
gomth' q Column
A Lily's Visit.

see, uidiiiiid Sslld Il lOroDce, IN
eager, excited tones, as she bent over
Gala she had tended all winter.
ssIsn't it beautiful? | do think these
three buds will be perfect just in time
for Easter; and may send my lily
to the church? They are to have
flowers, and they want especially
lilies
"Flowers in pots do you mean,
dear!''
eyes, mamma. Mr.. Armstrong
mentioned that
ssThen / certainly would send it.
1t is very beautiful and | think, as
you say, these buds will be full just
in tlme.''
So the lily was sent by careful
hands. There were other lilies in the
church, but this happened to be the
only Gala; and it's delicate, snow
white cups and long, slender green
leaves were much admired One and
another went up the aisle to look at
it after the Easter service, and Flor
ence heard several speak of its beauty.
But she was even more pleased
when little Benjie Dorr came up, hold
ing his mothers hand fast, and al
most pulling her along, in his eager
ness to have her sssee the boofullest
of all, and tell Jenny about it.
Jenny was the little invalid sister,
who could not come to church, but
lay on the sofa, quiet and patient,
and always so glad to hear about
where he had been and what he had
seen.
ooh, don't you wish she could see
it, mother p he said, almost in whis-
per; but Florence heard it, and it set
her thinking. She was very quiet all
the way home. The flowers were to
remain in the church for musical
service early in the evening, and then
to be returned to their owners. In
the twilight talk between mother and
children kind thought found words.
"Mamma,' said she, nesting her
hand in her mothers, ''would you
mind if / lent Jenny Dorr the lily
while the blossoms last?'
"Why did you think of it, dear?''
Florence told her of Benjie's delight
in the flower, and what he had said.
Mrs. West knew something of the
family, and Jenny's crippled condi-
ton, and had sometimes sent her lit
tie gifts, fruit, jelly or story-books.
She was pleased that Florence should
think of doing something to tighten a
little the child's wearisome hours, and
give a real pleasure but she wanted
her to be sure of herself.
ct have no objection, certainly"
she answered; shut it might meet
with some accident, you know, and
be injured. If you lend it, you must
take that risk"
81 think they will be CAREFUL said
Florence ssand Sam can carry it and
bring it home. I'll venture it. | am
sure Jenny would enjoy it very much
and / have so many things, and she
so few"
In small room, very scantily fur
nished but clean, little girl about
the same age as Florence lay on the
chintz-covered lounge, pale and quiet.
A few worn picture-books were beside
her, and the sofa stood near the win
dow where she could look out. But
there was little to interest her, and
when her mother was away, as she
had to be a good deal of the time,
and Benjie in school, the hours SEEM
ed long. The room was still, except
the singing of the kettle on the stove
and the purring of her little black
pussy curled up beside her; and she
lay thinking, thinking. Her mother
and Benjie had told her all they could
recollect about the Easter services,
the music and the flowers. She could
remember going to church when she
was we'll, and she tried to imagine
how pretty it must have looked and
how sweet the music must have been.
The kettle kept on humming, the
kitten purring, her eyes grew heavy
and soon she was asleep. Her tho'ts
repeated themselves in dream. She
was in the church, standing near the
pulpit, where she could see the tall
white lilies and listen to the wondrous
music; and it seemed to her that she
could look up, far up, through the
window, and see whitehead angels
singing and playing on golden harps
in the glad sunlight.
She woke with start and a little
cry of delight. There, in the win
dow, at her side, stood white lily
with its slender, dark green leaves
and just-opened blossoms. She
could hardly believe this. too, was
not a dream, till her mother came
into the room, and told her little
girl had lent it, that she might see
and enjoy it as long as the blossoms
lasted. Jenny was delighted.
And children accustomed to have
nearly everything they desire can
hardly imagine the joy and compan-
ionship the one beautiful plant bro't
to her lonely hours. The little girl
was very near the gardens of immor-
tai bloom, nearer than any one knew.
The snowy flowers had scarcely faded
wban tho anOplS came