River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-02-08
aassN95e, G.o,Ifd.
q Is BUR6ln.


of pink chestnuts. the spikes OF which
were Just bursting into bloom. Be
v5nd the lane was a ieafy avenue Of
trees bordered on each side by green
fields. through which spariSied little
river, blue with the sapphire tint of the
spring sky. Along the road came
many men. Of all kinds and degrees;
also women in strange costumes and
hats wherein blue feathers of fantastic
shapes largely abolnded; most of them
bent upon the enjoyment Of sunshine
and sweet air. some of the men rode
noiseless little bicycles. others drove
housekeeping ponies; and there We're
still Others seated behind hr0aen-iown
horses. which. hired for the dag. pain
fully dragged themselves along. their
large eyes sti~tfulIy gazing at the
green If the fields by the roadside. or
the seductiveiy cool overhanging
branches
Ii was FIRST days; the day Of rest
for everything but patient beasts of
burden: day of rest for dappled kline
IN the shadows. for dogs lazily summing
themselves before the alehouSe door;
for world-vorn danes in white mob
caps by the porch Of the Poor Cot
tages;' for 5owIegged laborers spent
with their weeks work.
Presently from out the Poor Cot
tages- came sweet Grissel Cray. with
the aged mother who had given of her
substance to the needy until she had
uaught left To give; and 50 took no
shame to herself that she accepted not
the aid Of her QUAKER friends, but
dwelt in the Poor Cottages" For
although the QuakeFs are a thrifty
folk. they .iSe rtot 10 see their poorer
brethren depeadeut IN other aid than
theirs. I:ut the Poor Cottages had
been given for the use 20 Amerton by
one Guy dc Burton, the record Of
whose good deeds lived after him
through the ages. The Poor Cot
tages" and stone tomb in Amerton
church bore eloquent testimony to his
memory No maiI-cIaG knight had he
been. hut "A psous palmer from the Holy
Land. whose efiigy lag recumbent On
marble tomb beneath the old stained
glass window uf the church. a palm
branch ON his breast. ami IN his hands
a fragment ~ Holy Gross
on tais s-Erat day morn as sweet
Grissel GRAY aud h,r mother. clad Ia
cove-hued garments. entered the suu-
shine. the moJher leaning ON the
maiGeu'S arm. fajr-zacrd Youth of
twenty came from behind the old OAK
at the churchyart gate. His eyes were
blue a speed well. his HAIR fair and
curling, his features resolutely firm
vet comely To behold lie was clad in
homeIy gray. and bore a stout oaken
staff in his hand. Slowly he came to-
wards them. drinking in the quiet
beauty Of the maid. an decming il a
part 81 Gods sunshine rs her fair
hair straycd tendrilwise from out the
cool depths Of lavender bonnet and
fiuttered round the white kerchief
pinned across her breast. Gods
dove uo murmured reverently. and
give mother and daughter greeting.
The malden's blue eyes looked into
his with tender trust Her mother
took his arm. and Grisst.l fell behind
As they mounted the hill with slow
steps, for the breeze began to die away
and the lay was hot
At tine top IT the hill reverend
Friends awaited them with outstretched
Other entered tire little wicket leading
10 the meeting house and placed fresh
flowers upon tie quict graves Of loved
ones gone upon their journey Of all
DAYS The old bell of the church in
the village below gave forth its clang-
ing summons to prayer; the cuckoo
called from a neighLuring copse; and
the tail elm 10y the meeting house
sh werei down a benson of blossom
On the folk below as they entered the
rust tic porch and sat within the rigor-
orousiy ptain and simple buii ling At
the emil opposite the door were cross
benches fnr the ministers. male and fe
male. the women sitting - the left.
and the men 10 the riEat. A. the vari-
Gus families of Friends entered. the
women and girls turned 10 the right.
the men and boys IL the le I. All the
seats were II plain deal. he grain of
the wnuJ showing darisIv. In the wood
itself were quaint shapes. huge lizards,
lakes AMI mountains, and gruesome
animals grievoGs - behold II frout
Of the bench :. at green-cCr erred
table, sat some one appointed to read Il
chapter Of Holy Writ Il the meeting
We're silent The walls were pax
neled and of vanished deal Stray
beams Of sunlight came through the
windows. which were Eve feet from
the ground, aud danced across il in