Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-04-15

time they hoped to find a flower, and ev-
cry time were so sadly disappointed, still
the next morning found them at their
post, hoping. in their childish faith, that
some little blossom might be found for
them.
All winter long they had watched the
tiny leaflets unfolding, and these few
plants had been carried back and forth,
from one window to another, to catch ev
cry CLEAN of sunshine that strayed into
the little room they called home. Every
night these little loving hands had care
fully covered the delicate leaves for pro-
lection from the chilling winds that would
creep through the cracks and crevices, for
old Boreas is a cold-hearted fellow, who
shows little mercy for the poor, and Wor-
ries his way into their chimney corners
as If he were 4 welcome visitor.
But [ don't think he had caught sight
of this little bit of summer or he would
have curled up the leaves with his cold
fingers, and blown with his icy breath,
until the tiny stalks became limp and life
less, and the soil itself stitfened around
the poor little roots The little girls knew
all this. and had covered their treasures
so carefully at night, and cared for them
so tenderly by day, that at last they were
to be rewarded for all their labor-the
lily had budded.
Long years ago--in fact, so many that
1t seemed to Lulu and Fanny a beautiful
dream-there was dear little home,
where plants bloomed in the windows, and
q warm fire cleaned in the CRATE; and in
the springtime birds sang in the trees, and
the lawn was covered with the greenest
grass, where the bright spring flowers OPP
ened their eyes. And then. somehow, for
the little girls could not tell how, all these
beautiful things had faded away, only
they and mamma were left, and mamma
had to sew all the time, and sometimes
she cried, too. Now these plants were all
the garden they had; and only to think of
1t, the lily had budded; they were so hap
by; they must look oftener than before to
see If the flower were almost there.
So the days crept by, and it seemed as
If the lily would never unfold. To be
sure, the winter was long and cold, and
some days so dark and cloudy thatthe sun
forgot to look into their windows, and
some nights were so cold that the lily itself
came near being chilled, SO the bud was
not very strong.
However, the days were getting warm
err for Easter was almost there.
At Sunday school the teacher had told
the children that on that day Christ had
risen from the dead, and how beautiful
the Easter morn would become to them if
Christ indeed had risen in their hearts,
and she went on to tell how some Chris
tians, during the forty days before Eas
ter, would deny themselves some known
pleasure and strive to consecrate them
selves anew to Christ.
'My dear girls" she added, "are not we
all willing to deny ourselves something
for the sake of Christ? to give up some
amusement, or habit, or treasure, that
perhaps may be crowding us out of the
kingdom?
us there not some object dear to us we
are willing to give up for him? He gave
his all for us-life, kingdom and heaven
itself; his precious blood was shed, that
we through him might live; and what
have we done for him? Is there not
something we can lay upon the altar as a
sacrifice so we may be prepared to re-
ceive his love into our hearts!"
All the way home from Sunday school,
Lulu and Fanny were talking about what
they could do for Christ; and perhaps,
because they did not quite understand
what was meant. or else had so little to
give, they were long time wondering
Fanny said: Il know what it is-the lily,
we can give the lily to Christ; you know
the teacher said it must be something we
thought great deal of, something dear
to us, and | believe we care more for the
lily than anything else" But how will
we send the lily to him." asked Lulu. Il
don't know" said Fanny, but l guess
God will show us how" And now that
the lily was to be given to God, they be-
slowed more care than ever upon it; each
day the bud grew larger. and you could
begin to see rim of white above the
green.
The days sped on, and there were only
four days till Easter, but in the meantime
q malignant disease had settled over part
Of the city, and little children were rapidly
falling at its approach; each mother trem-
bled as she held her loved ones, for who
knew how near the angel of death might
be: he lowered around the homes of
wealth and comfort, and of poverty and
want, until ut last the shadow fell across
the street and into the room where the
Easter lily was.
Fanny lay there unconscious of the sad
ness and gloom that had settled upon their
little home; sometimes in the dciirium of
fever she would talk about the lily-Gods
lily, as they called it now. Each day the
shadows deepcned. so dark, SO sad, and
tomorrow was Easter.
ALI night mamma and Lulu watched
the little sufferer. hoping for some word
or look of recognition morning was slow