St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-06-07
CYNTHIA'S LILAC BLOSSOMS.

the corners was Always gaia Gay
Every one in the little village planned
on its coming from one year to another
II was the hope Of every one that lilacs
and all spring blossoms might be in full
bloom at the important day and so be
carried to the tiny cemetery on the hill
to deck the soldiers graves.
After viewing the decorations Deacon
Hiram Pepper always remarked, "They
couldn't git better trimmin up if
they was a-lyin in Mount Auburn std
of the buryin yard at the Corners.
The few old veterans in the place,
with the younger men as Sons of Vet
Grams, marched and drilled for weeks
beforehand that they might make an
imposing appearance. while the maids
and matrons, bound not to be outdone
by the masculine portion, either had
new gowns or pressed and retrimmed
old ones, that they might make show
ing equal to the rest.
One evening about week before the
eventful day Miss Cynthia White stood
at the door of her trim cottage, looking
out over her thrifty, well kept garden
her keen eye noting the fact that the
marrowfats were up over by the fence;
that the tomatoes were doing well, and
that the pansy bed needed wedding
But her sharp gray eyes rested longest
on the clamp of lilacs down by the gate
as she said aloud, having in the long,
lonely years acquired the habit of talk
ing to herself
81 do hope them lilacs will be out for
Memorial day, but it has been such a
backward spring that it amt likely.
But always just count on them liacs
to take to the cemetery for Brother
Sam S grave. There Sans wife, shift
less critter as she was, she never think
of doin such thing. But, then, lilacs
nor nothin else would grow in that lit
tie by patch of ground of herr
declare, if there amt Susy's little boy
down at the gate, lookin at them lilacs
as if he'd eat EN-. He'd better not
touch EN-. though. Here, you boy,
she loudly called, don't you touch
them flowers but you just run home to
your ma. and be lively"
And Miss Cynthy's thin lips com
pressed themselves as she watched the
fororn little figure running swiftly
down the road She watched him until
softer expression appeared on her
hard face. as she murmured; well
but he does look as Sam used to when
he was a little fellow about his age
I've a good mind to call him back for
Sans sake. But, there. | won t do it
Lily d think wanted to make up
and she d make a sight of talk over it
But they do say as how she's been hav-
in pretty hard time of it this year,
since Susy came home and brought
them two children along But then,
Susy married worthless chap, and
Lily encouraged the match. and so
faint nobody's fault but her own that
she's in such straits. wonder if she II
visit Sans grave Memorial day3 /
don't want to meet her there.
Poor Miss Cynthyl She had not al
ways been hard featured and sharp
tongued, as she was now Deacon Pep
per- Lucindy Green and many of the
towns folks could remember when she
had been called the prettiest girl at the
Corners; when her black, swapping
eyes, dark curls and red cheeks caused
her to be called the belle at many a
= rustic huslling or apple bee.
Cynthia Whites father and mother
Z had died in middle life, leaving, besides
this daughter, son Of IS years, who
& all his life had been at once source Of
the greatest joy and greatest anxiety
to his parents. Nothing bad about the
Il boy, only so full of mischief and fur
that his mother never knew from what
II dire dilemma she might be called to ex
FL tricate him. And as he grew older, al
though he became more manly and less
given to frolic and fun, yet his mother
II still looked upon him as little boy,
who must be watched and cared for
IA 10 Cynthy, though but two years his
senior, his mother when dying hat
81 gwen the charge of her son as q sacred
FL trust.
Promise, Cynthy," she had said.
Promise that you'll never leave him,
and that you'll take good care of him. .
And Cynthy had solemnly said, 81
will Faithfully did she fulfill thai
4 promise. She simply gave her life uI
/ TO her brother Sam, but that young
man somehow did not seem to appre
Cate the sacrifice, neither did he care
! 10 spend all his evenings at home will
Ills sister, nor if he went to "husk
ing or 'sociable' did he care to be al
ways tiled to her apron strings" as hi
expressed it.
Later on, when she learned that San
was paying attention" to that "shilly
S,a.aly Lily Walker" great was her in
ulgnation, and many were the lectures
IA given to the younger brother, who fel
himself too near to manhood to be treat
eu like child, especially when Cynth!
was but two years older than he Sharl
and bitter words passed between then
al times, although often Sam tried t.
make it up with his sister and tried als'
loconvince her that Lily was absolutel.
needed at the farmhouse, but it was o
no use. So one day Sam and pretty lit
lie Lily took matters into their owl
hands, drove ten miles to R, acros
The state limo ,,d xuoro N, a rried