South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1889-05-17
M So Martha's Lily.

mere, now, guess that lily is
coming upr and Miss Martha, bend.
ing her angular form, gszed on a
broad, green shoot that was pushing
its way upward from the mellow
earth.
If there is che thing l do love it's
those lilies. I'll just loosen the soil
around it q li,tle,' and with the point
OF trowel she stirred about the
blades.
Yes. hor lily was coming up. eoe m.
ing to eXult in the showers and bask
in the sunlight, till the Reckoning
fingers OF June made the garden Clio.
rious with blossom.
II: has grown like Jacks beam
stalk said Miss Martha, communinv
With herself; and now the great spi-.
raj shoot bent beneath the weight OF
three peri, ct buds. the central one
just ready to burst into bloom. But
il did not bloom. Miss Martha dis
covered one morning that something,
Ell her from without or within, had
bligh;cd il, and only the two we're
ler.
Il viii! take care OF tbem.' he said,
but it is very disheartening. How
ever, two are better than none. I
don't like it. but shall have to lump
\. IL is all lump and no like 10 my
life, anyhow
The second bud dropped, turned
brown and fell. Mics Martha, with
n scowl upon her face, picked it MP
teDderly and reluctantly let it drift
from Der fingers.
1t has always been the way with
anything ever loved she said.
There was Jim, Gcd knows how I
loved him. Mothers baby, 1 tended
him and watched him just as if he
we're my own, that never had any,
hut he served me like the lilies, drops
ped ont Of my life hen | most need.
ell bin. | wonder il watched and
tended Linn too close? IL NAV be
that my digging about the lilies is
what made them fall. / give I'D
that one will be gone by Tomorrow.
L know. But did so much wani
them t. bloom. They used to grow
IN tie garden ut home. IL seems 10
me thai the very smell OF them would
make me young again, as IL anything
could
A little child that lad peeped In
longiDgly at the flowers turned awnv
alarmed at the sound OF Miss Mar
tha's voice.
Poor Miss Marths. she had no one
but herself To- talK to. The Ga ,ught
that the last lily was to be blighted
on the morrow added a new line TO
her hard. set face.
There IS no hope for me- she said
as she turned and walked away peo.
pic talk Of God, and his being kind
and good, but no won't let even a lily
grow for me TO love. / do not 90 to
church any more because they lust
talk about Ills love, goodness and
mercy. If lie were only justi I
know | don't deserve tue hard time
I have they can afford it they have
Ills blessing, but /, have
with q hoarse laugh. Miss Martha
glanced around, in the fast fading
ligh', q, the lonely, stiff room she
was about TO enter
j shall want no supper tonight
she said, with a dry sob; what is
supper all by ones self9'
The thought Of the bIlghted lily
had made her more desolate. still.
Ii Wfs long before che fell asleep that
night, and when she did, departed
friends seemed TO walk through gar
dens OF lilies. only 90 vanish at her
approach, and The fair blossoms
turned TO ashes in her bsnds.
She was awakened by the sunlight
streaming in food OF gold across
he face. Alb, Mss Martha, Co.'s
s1uiIelt was "a much 60. you as
though no other human being exist.