The Democratic advocate., 1893-04-01


the things, possible or impossible, dear to
their boyish hearts; the golden curls AID
the head with the stiff black hair bobbed
and nodded day by day as they spoke of
their hearts desires, discoursing learnedly
on the merits of breech- -loaders, ponies,
bicycles, and host of other things far,
very far, from the grasp of the lad with
the coarse black locks. But as yet this
was not made clear to him, and he dwelt
for time in the lovely realms of childish
imaginations. Would that this season of
delicious trustfulness were not so soon and
so rudely swept away by the sterner reali-
ties of life Would that we could keep
these laddies sweet and pure, undisturbed
in the land of enchantment for longer
time, from the strife for fame, and getting
of gold, and the evil days when they have
little or no pleasure in that which leads so
near the gate of the beautiful city where
all is love
If questions arose, and they generally
did, that Earl and Ben could not settle for
themselves, they carried them to busy
Mrs Collins. If Earl made positive asser-
ton that Remington rifle could kill
rabbit or muskrat quicker than breech
loader, or that flock of white robed an
gels sung in his church choir every Easter
morning (Which assertion more practical
Benjamin denied, because, as he argued,
"if they was angels, they'd have wings, and
if they had wings, there wouldn't be room
for whole flock all these points of
difference were related, with many confus-
ing explanations, to the busy housewife.
And she gave them the best motherly ad-
vice she could, which served to satisfy the
disputants, although her knowledge in re-
gard to rifles and bicycles was not-with
all due Difference tie Mrs. Collins-always
Trustworthy. With the free advice went
a ginger cookie, and then, bidding them to
run and play and be good lads, the little
court would close its sessions.
Some time before Easter, Earl had
begged from the gardener two lilies war
ranted to bloom at Easter-tide, and one
of them he had given to Ben. Ben loved
flowers dearly, but his mother hesitated
about accepting the choice plant. Per-
haps it might bring down the intensified
wrath of the Major.
"Did your mother say you might bring
it, Earl ?" she asked. ''She didn't say 1
couldn't" said the child "Why, Mrs.
Collins, we've got bushels more. Mike
couldn't take care of them ALL I'll tell
you what we are going to do. I've got
one, too. and if mine blooms frst-I left
mine in the corner of the greenhouse, and
told Mike I'd take care of it myself, and
he wouldn't have to tend to it, and he
said 'all roight, you know how funny
Mike talks. And, oh Mrs. Collins, you
ought to see the big lilly Mikes got for
Mamma, for Easter morning p
He overlapped his arms till they formed
a great "O," the size of the flower that
was to surprise the mother; whereupon the
children opened their eyes and gazed in
admiration at the boy who was the happy
possessor of such a wonder in the flower
world.
give got lilly, too" the boy contin-
ued, sand if mine blooms first, I'm going
to give it to Ben, and if Ben's blooms first,
he is to give it to me. Well see who can
beat. Funny way, amt it, Mrs. Collins ?"
1t certainly did not lack novelty. ''Then
we'll try another flower for Fourth of
July. That's another good day in the al
manac, Mike says
As Earl assured Ben's mother, that af-
ternooD, that his mother wanted Ben to
have the lily, for she would not have de
MED him, had he asked for half of the
gorgeous greenhouse, it was taken carefully
and with all due ceremony, to the sunniest
window, and there watched with great anx-
iety. Not the least embarrassed by the
critical observers that hovered above it,
morning, noon, and night, it grew right
on, and, in course of time, budded, as any
well-disciplined lily should.
Before this, however, Mrs. Collins, in
her simple way, had told the children the
story of the resurrection morn. The mer-
ry little faces were quite sober as she fin
ished, and their questions, though eager,
were asked in soft tones Suddenly, a
thought struck Earl Ideas did not come
so quickly beneath Ben's bristly black
hair, nor yet to Tildas brain.
The child had been sitting in Mint's
wooden rocker, a privilege granted only
occasionally, his dimpled chin resting in
his hand, his curls falling carelessly over
the broad lace collar, against the dark blue
of his coat He raised his head, and
looked across at Ben. That young man
was lost in thought and ponderiDg over
the wondrous story. His mother had Of
ten told them of it before, yet it was al
ways new. Ben managed to forget some
part Of it every time.
The voice of Major Winslow's sou
aroused him; "Ben, what do you say;
let's give the first one that blooms to Him,
Easter? viii you?"
4Y-e-s,' the answer came, rather reluc-
family, and the black head nodded slow as
sent. Not glad, cheerful response, for
the flower was very precious to Ben. He