The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-12-23

think, only grow in the lighthouses of the
rich. =
There was silence, broken only by Gretas
short cough All at once, carried away by
one solitary fixed idea, such as so often
haunts the brain Of the sick she began
again to talk about the roses, to pine sor-
rowfully for their possession, and by alter
nate beseeching coaxing, and commanding
she at last induced her mother to 90 out
in search of some for her.
The poor woman leftthe bedside possessed
with the one desire of pacifying her child,
and traversed the streets with weary steps,
debating in her mind what excuse she could
make on her return for not having procured
that which she felt was entirely beyond her
reach. With bowed head and sorrowful
heart she kept repeating to herself the words
of the physician, so full of hope for Greta
''At the coming of the first roses she
would suffer no more" and well as she
guessed the mournful meaning of the
prophecy, she could not help being in-
spired for an instant by that spirit of hope
which buoyed up her child. Quickening
her steps, she took the road as if by sud
den inspiration toward the Governors
house, hesitated as she reached the brill
iantly lighted mansion, but at last, taking
courage, knocked timidly at the door,
which was Immediately opened by a man
servant.
What do you want, my good woman 7?
10 speak to Madame Paterson
II cannot disturb Madame at such an
hour of the night.
~Oh | implore you, let me see her y
The servant repulsed the poor mother,
and was about to shut the door in her face
when Madame Paterson and her daughter,
with roses in their hair and on their
bosoms, crossed the hall, paused to ques-
ton the servant, and then approached the
widow, who briefly and tearfully told her
pathetic story
80, Madame o, Mademoiselle |
implore you to give me one rose, only one,
for my dying child God, who gave his
Son for the redemption of the world, will
reward you"
Madame Paterson shrugged her should
ers with mocking laugh, and passed on.
Her daughter, the brilliant Edele, remark
ed that her father did not buy roses for
their weight in gold, to throw them away
upon street beggars.
The door closed, and the woman turned
toward her home. On passing the Church
of Sainte- Britta, she perceived the clergy
mans wife laying large bouquets of roses
on the altar, full blown blooms of rich red,
, as well as branches of exquisite buds of
blush, orange and pink
The lady formed sweet picture as she
bent over and arranged the floral treasures
sent her by a rich parishoner of her hus
4 bands Her blue eyes sparkled with de
e light. and her voice was soft and silvery.
+ She was the mother of six lovely children.
t ana the widow felt that she would surely
+ pity her in her bitter grief. Full of these
+ hopeful thoughts, she entered the church,
approached the altar, and preferred her
d modest request for one rose wherewith to
. gladden. the eyes of her dying child.
/ Madame Neils, although by no means
+ devoid of kindly feeling, was proud in her
: own way, and had determined that Sainte-
: Britta should be the best decorated church
: in the town, In what she mistook for
II pious enthusiasm, she forgot that the only
g true temple of God is the human heart,-
that charitable action is more precious in
his sight than the eostliest earthly offering
IL which can be laid on his material altar.
y In the ardor of her outward devotion, she
d forgot that Christ himself had declared.
e. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of
/ the least of these my brethren, ye have
done it unto me, and in her mistaken
D zeal she avowed that it would be little less
lie than sacrilege to rob the altar of God OF
even one fair blossom. Upon so great and
eV ioyful a festival as Christmas, it showed,
she added, lamentaOe lack of religious
y feeling to prefer such request She
pointed out that poverty, sickness, and
O. death were sent by God himself, and the
's true Christian should submit to them, moi
50 merely without a murmur, but joyfully
ID kissing the rod in remembrance Of the
at gracious declaration, AS many as | love
rebuke and chasten She offered to cal
on the following day for the purpose Of
exhorting Greta to submit to the will o.
"a God with entire resignation.
The mother had now lost all hope, and
bo was returning to her home in still morC
n desponding frame of mind than that il
n which she had quilted it, She walked
nj on as in dream, scarcely noticing thu
ro fast falling snow, while longing with Al
bo intensity bordering on agony that sh'
IN might have been able to procure even ;
od few common flowers for her Greta. Bu
M ce none were to be found. Even the snow
II drops hid themselves in the bosom Of th
- earth. and no primrose nor violet would b'
~ seen for months Thus sorrowfully mus
ing, she continued her walk, and in a fey
/. minutes would k:,ye reached her miserable
,as home, when by the light of her lantern sh
.or saw few green leaves peeping iron
!, the foot of hedge which enclosed ;
~ =, garden in the neighborhood. Stoopini
Lo down, she scrapel away the snoN
ad with her had Yes, there were leave
W. large and lustrous, under which she foun'
,Io a few green blossoms, some full blown
II others in bud, but all pale, small and with
no out color, perfume or beauty,
= "Ah r thought she, ''as there were m
! roses to be procured, these little flower
! have been sent that my child may b
Ia spared the pain of knowing that there ar
L rS hearts so cold and hard that no woes o.
- others can soften them, and who care 10
on no sorrows except their own
M. As she hastened onward, the deep-tone'
he bell strnck the hour of midnight and th'
til JOYOUS Christmas chimes broke on her eal
rs, Kneeling reverently on the snowy ground
he the mothers heart went up in gratitude
, a and she prayed the All-Merciful One t
of look with plying eyes on her. sweet am
in cherished Greta, pressing the hnmbl
ed flowers to her bosom. In another moment
she had risen and passed onward with he
ed treasure.
On As she drew back the curtain to offe
Ter the dark leaves and little green blossom