The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-06-20
"why do you weer, childrena"


Because snowdrop has been telling
us we don't belong to spring, but are
only bit Of winter that's left over,
and people will be glad when We are
gone"
"Snowdrop is very vain of her green
markings" said the angel. ''But be
patient children, and we shall see."
1t was still dark, for it was very
early. just faint glow showed in
the east, where the morning star
shone brightly, and below the star, as
if swung from IL like pale, golden
conser, hung the slender crescent OF
the old moon. High up Arcturus
flashed, and northward, clear among
the lesser consultations, cleaned the
dipper; while, still further north, fol-
lowing the pointers" the eye came
to the great white star that never sets.
The angel flew straight east until
she found tho sun, whose messenger
she was, and told her story.
"Great king" she ended. "They
are very sad-the poor, white GRO,
cuses. I would some new gift might
be granted to cheer them"
"And because they are sad," asked
the king, "do they droop and fade,
refusing to live the life have or
dained?"
"They lift their heads quite brave
ly," said the angel, ''and await your
coming. Only the frozen tear lies at
the heart OF EACH"
'It is well," said the king. 'Go
southwark now. for the peach trees
bloom and the magnolia begins to bud.
They need your care"
The angel bowed and went.
Then sunrise came to the great gar
den. In the east the sky grew brighter.
Now it was soft rose, blending to gold
towP ID the horizon. In the midst OF
the rose glow still hung the moon and
planet, tinged with faintest golden
green. Southwark violet clouds we're
turning gold and saffron at their
edges.
As the color grew in the sky, what
was happening to the sad little cro-
cuses? They were surely growing
taller and more exquisite in shape,
and 80 was it n reflection from the white
clouds that tinted some OF them? But
it stayed when the clouds burst into
flame.
Then the sunbeams came, and, as
they touched each cup-shaped flower,
they dropped jewels of gold within.
Even those that had STAYED white re-
ceived the jewels, and those that had
caught the tinge of violet deepened,
while one whole family, where the sun
beams came last and stayed the long
est, turned to gold all over.
What show they made, the gold
and the violet, and the white streaked
with violet, aud the pure white, with
gold at the heart of them. And how
they shouted and sang!
"The sunbeams, the sunbeams are
painting us Oh, shall We be always
thus?"
"Yes," whispered the sunbeams,
''it is because you were humble and
obedient.
When the pert snowdrop heard
that she hung her head, ashamed to
look the great sun father in the face.
And, as she gazed at the glowing
crocuses, she grew very meek and
said, 81 was wrong; and, oh! you are
more beautiful than 1 can ever hope
to be-"
"Nay, not so," cried the generous
crocusea "Never before we're you
half so lovely as now, with your sweet,
bended head"
And the little sunbeams caressed
the snowdrop gently, bidding her be
of good cheer, for the kind sun father
loved to forgive his children. But
snowdrop never raised her pretty
head. All the other snowdrops hung
their heads, too; for had they not ap-
plauded their sister?
And, by and by, as the years went
on, people grew to love the snowdrops
for their meek and lowly spirit, as
much as the crocuses for their gay
colors; and always the two flower
tribes dwell close together, in most
perfect harmony.-Christian Register.