Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1890-04-12
EASTER FLOWERS
BY NJ. IL. WILLIAMS.

leans. Everyone who has visited that
quaint Southern city at the end Of Lent
must nave been struck by the affiuence
of floral decorations which make the
Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches
TEMPLES of bloom and fragrance; but on
this special Easter-tide the pretty little
church on R street surpassed all
the others in its decorations.
The arches of roses and smilax, with
their festoons of Spanish moss, were
more graceful, the christening font was
q bank of fragrant white flowers, and
the notices were more artistic and origi-
nal than is usually the case. Evidently
the work had been done with loving
care and by deft fingers. 1t was the
evening before Easter, and two girls re-
NAMED behind the others to give the
finishing touches to some of the wreaths
and festoons.
"Do you know, Grace Nugent
wouldn't give us one of her flowers"
Margaret King said to her friend, Adele
Foster. Shes got lots of them, you
know, and her lilies this year are the
most beautiful I've ever seen. All she
said when l asked her was, 4 have other
uses for my flowers, Margaret
what a mean thing!" echoed Adele.
"What better use could we have for
flowers than this?" with a sweep Of her
arm toward the rose arches. I'm pos
itively ashamed of Grace, and we've
been so fond of her, too, and thought
her so generous What does she mean
by other uses for her fowers?"
L haven't the least idea; but l do
know there can't be better use for
flowers than to bring them here. Every
one admires them more in a church
than anywhere else, and we ought to do
everything to make our church attract
i've. [ can't imagine any duty greater
than that, particularly at Easter"
eyes" said Adele, thoughtfully, "but
do you know I'm puzzled at thi ,
strange, ungenerous turn Grace has
taken. She never seemed selfish be-
fore with anything she had, and she
..S S..nc "-s;et US tbs year Ia doc
oratt1g, no give rs : slngle flower.
She probably has streak of selfish
ness we know nothing about. You See
she thinks the world and all of her
flowers, and it shows itself when she's
asked for them. But l declare if she
isn't coming in the gate. And treating
us So tool I'm going to show her
what think of her.
Grace Nugent walked slowly up the
center aisle looking admiringly from
side to side. A sweet-faced girl she
was, and with thoughtful gravity in
her fine gray eyes which made her ap-
pear much older than her eighteen
years,
"How beautiful you have made the
church," she said, with pleased smile
"Yes, we've worked hard enough al
it." Margaret answered coldly. "Tht
font would have been prettier, though
for sheaf or two of white lilies" sh,
added, meaningly, "but those who
would have given them to us had none
in bloom"
We'll, don't know that anything
could improve it." Grace spok,
quietly, apparently unconscious of the
hidden meaning Of her companions re
mark. 1T is 50 pretty and graceful
that nothing could add to its beauty,
think"
"You think so, do you?" with sup
pressed indignation. well, now d.
you know we were under the impression
you didn't approve of church decora
tons"
L didn't approve Grace repeate,
with establishment why what ha
given you that idea? I could not as
sist you to-day because l had othe
work on hand, but think flower deco
rations in church a beautiful custom
Do You know, | can fancy each Aowe
up there repeating with their fragran
breath, Hail, Prince of Peacep"
Very imaginative sneered MAJ
garet. we are only workers. W
get the flowers, aud We arrange then
but we leave others, who, like the lille.
toiI.not, b hear the voices"
Grace colored and looked up at IA
sarcastic speaker.
Il suppose You mean that, as / p,
fused you The flowers, I have no RICH
G. commend y0ur work. she .al
efavely -Astoll you. larpon q
need mine iar another purpose Quit
g Hseiul q one as YOURS, th.ak"
eoh ef eaars foa have right Or a
ayaa choose eiih Yur Uau" Ma
salei aaaI h.t.r uatn tr h,,n
elsfef ase Gee rOHr Hltoa uaa
taH fhaH HaHe m lNfaf ttaIa Ia
. ..t .. .. .