The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-04-27
made ready for them behind that gray

made ready for them behind that gray
cloud curtain.
Like many other children whose homes
were among the orange groves in the
valley, Lou and Clara had always lived
in southern California. and the only
snow they had ever seen was that which,
in winter, capped the far-away peaks.
So when they awoke the next morn
ing and saw the great mountains, the
foot hills,and even the near mesa covered
with snow, the sight almost took away
their breath.
When Lou and Clara ran down stairs
they found that papa and mamma had
planned to make the most of the snow.
"We will take the first car" said papa,
land go up the avenue, and you shall
see what snow is like"
Papa seemed almost as pleased as the
children. He remembered how he used
to play in the snow when he was boy,
and he had been so many years away
from it.
Lou and Clara were in hurry to be
off. They could scarcely eat any break
fast
what if we should miss the carr"
they kept saying. "Or what if the snow
should melt before we could get to it?"
1t seemed as il the snow might melt
very fast, the sunshine was SO bright and
warm; but they did not run any risk Of
missing the car, for they were out by
the track fully fifteen minutes before it
was time for it to come along.
A lady and two children came from a
house near by and joined the little
group; and they talked together as peo-
pie do in this country, although they
did not know each other. Lou and
Clara soon became acquainted with the
| two children, whose names we're Bertha
and Ralph, and they all had nice time.
| The strangers had just come from the
East. Bertha and Ralph had never seen
orange groves before, and they looked in
wonder at the stocky trees, bent down
with the weight Of the big. bright fruit.
The ride up the avenue seemed long
to the children, who were in hurry to
reach the snow. but it seemed too short
to the little strangers, there was so much
to be seen along the way.
% Ralph, look!" cried Bertha. "Or-
anges on the ground!" and she pointed
to few windfals under tree.
Oranges on the ground' echoed little
Ralph, and he leaned out Of the car win
dow and looked at Them as long as they
were in sight.
Lou and Clara leaned from the win
dows, too, but they did not look at the
orange and lemon orchards, nor at the
roses blooming in the dooryards. They
looked ahead at the snow on the noun
tains, and they said:
"Oh, isn't it lovely! Isn'tit lovely"
When they reached the head of the
avenue. the children saw that the
ground was white, and they fairly
tumbled over each other in their haste
to get out of the car. There we're several
who like Lou and Clara, had never seen
the snow, and others who had not seen
any for long time. Then there were
those who had just come from a cold
country, and to them the sight OF the
snow brought back thoughts of home.
They stayed on the mesa an hour. and
| can't begin to tell you how much fun
they had playing in the snow, snow ball
ing, and washing each others faces.
When they we're on their way back to the
car, man who was picking oranges from
some trees near by, called to Them
Here are some oranges to go with
your snow balls" he said, and tossed
each one an orange over the hedge. So
every child carried an orange and a
snow ball into the car.
The Eastern children soon threw away
their snow balls and began to eat the
oranges, but the little Californians left
their oranges lying in corner of the
seat, and they sucked the cold white
balls. and smacked their lips and cried:
How good snow is!'-Mary Eliza
beth Stone IN Youths Companion.