The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-10-17
THR ROSE AND THE TOAD.

grew in a half round parterre before
house yet occupied, though the large
shady garden in front of it had been lony
neglected. Weeds fourished in the pla
bands, and in the paths, which were n,
longer cleansed or sanded. The green
wooden railing, with its carved ornaments
was faded and broken. The boys had pulled
of some of the bars to play soldiers, ant
the moujiks had carried some away to de
fend themselves against the dogs. But tn,
parterre continued luxuriant, and around
the remains of the railing twined the wilC
pea, the cuscute and other Towering vines
from which hung white and purple clus
ters. Tall thistles also sprang up in tn,
moist, rich soil of the garden, and the still
taller spires of the yellow mullen bristlec
with flowers. Nettles covered large cor
ner, and, however disagreeable in other re
spects, the dark verdure formed an admi
rable background for the pale colors of the
rose.
The flower commenced opening On 8
beautiful May morning. The dew was fast
rising into vapor, sut some tiny tears still
hung in their purity on the edges of the
rose. The flower seemed to be weeping
Around her all was so bright and sunny
when for the first time she beheld the blue
sky and felt the play of the fresh breeze
and the rays of the genial sun among her
thin, light tinted petals; all was so calm
and peaceful in the parterre that she might
well have wept, not from sorrow, but from
pure JOY. She could not speak, but, in
clining her little head, she could shed
around her subtitle and refreshing per-
fume. Such were her words, her tears, her
prayers.
At her feet lay fat old toad, which had
! spent the night hursting worms and gnats,
and at dawn had selected moist and
shady place for repose. His eyes were COW
cred by membrane; his sides puffed out
dirty and Shiny. One of his paws was
stretched before him; he was too lazy to
draw it up to his body. He took no de-
light in the beauty of the morning. He
was gorged and taking rest. When the
zephyr, growing more gentle, bore less of
the fragrance of the rose far away on its
wings, the toad began to breathe it and
became disturbed and confused, but was
too stupid to regard whence it came.
Since the previous autumn no one had
come near the parterre where the rose
grew and the toad was reposing. The last
visitor was bright eyed little boy of seven
years, having a large head on slender
body. As no one else claimed the garden
he called it his own, and it was his delight
His visits had ceased at the time when the
toad was preparing to make his home for
the winter among the foundation stones of
the house.
When the weather was pleasant the lit
tie fellow would sit and read on an old
hon0h cfondipry oroincf ha 81
side of the only dry and sanded path, which
was kept in good condition for going back
and forth and closing the shutters His
sister, who took care of him, would remain
at the window reading or embroidering to
keep him company. frequently, when she
asked, "Wassia, shall | throw out your
ball so you can play?" be would answer,
''No, Macha, | like my book better"
When fatigued with the Adventures of
Robinson" and the stories of wild coun-
tries, he would leave his book open and
wander over the garden. Every bush and
shrub was an acquaintance. He would
crouch before velvety mullen plant twice
as tall as he to see colony of ants run
ming up aid down after the aphides, and
gathering with delicate tact the pure drop
lets of honey dew exuding from the little
rolls on the backs of the aphides. He
would follow the beetles dragging their
balls be knew not where He would watch
the spider when she had woven her irised
web in a sunny place and was lying in
wait for flies, and the lizard opening its
mouth to drink in the sunshine, and re-
fecting the rays from the scales of its
bright green corSelet.
One evening, when we saw a hedgehog
for the first time, he could scarcely restrain
his JOY and was about TO clap his hands
From fear of frightening the little prickly
beast be held his breath But he opened
wide his lustrous eyes and was delighted
TO see how the animal shifted with its
snout for worms among the roots of the
rosebush, and in what a funny way it
drew them out with its plump. bearlike
paws.
'Wassia, come in; it begins to be damp"
called his sister.
The hedgehog heard the voice and was
frightened, and rolled itself into a ball,
covering its head and hind paws with its
spines. The child touched the points
lightly, and the animal curled up the more
and began to pant like a steam engine. By
degrees it became used to the child. He
was so peaceful and gentle that it WAS no
wonder the animal outgrew its fear. At
last when the little beast tasted the milk
which he brought in a saucer, the Joy of
the youthful master Of the garden was az
its height.
WaSSia grew weaker and weaker, and
when the spring returned with its sunshine
and warmth he could not leave the house
TO amuse himself in the garden So his
sister sat near his bedside, instead of the
window He could no longer hold the
smallest volume, and his eyes were soon
farigued. His sister read whatever he de
sired, as he lay with his eGnaciated face
resting on the pillow
Suddenly one day be called. "Macha!"
What. my dears"
is 1t nice in the garden? Have the roses
blossoned;"
The sister leaned over, kissed his wasted
cheeks and brushed away tear Yes,
dear; it's very nice, and the roses are in
bloom On Monday we'll 90 out together
If the doctor consents"
he drew a deep sigh. and Macha re
sumed reading. In few minutes he said:
'Pve heard enough for now rm tired
and sleepy"
The sister arranged the pillows and Gov
erings- he turned painfully toward the
wall and was silent