The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-29
Crocn.e. and Snow prop..

Crocnses and Snow Drops.
A very long time ago snowdrops an 1
crocuses grew only in one beautiful
garden; and all the crocuses and all
the snowdrops in all the world are
sprung from those first ancestors.
In the earliest days, instead OF
dropping their heads, the snowdrops
grew straight up. Indeed, they were
pert little flowers, and excessively
PROUD of the delicate green markings
that relieved their whiteness.
Crocuses, too, in those days were
not as now. They were smaller and
pure white, without touch of color
Even the little stamens and pistils
were all white.
One morning, in the wonderful gar
den, where would be many, many
flowers later in the year, crocuses and
snowdrops were blooming together.
"You poor things!" said tall little
snowdrop, swaying back and forth on
her slender stem above the crocuses.
r'How cold you look! 1t is you should
be named for the snow instead of I. 1t
really makes me shiver to look at you,
you are so white! Now I, you see,
have beautiful green embroidery on
my frock, green as the grass and trees
will be by and by. Everyone who see
me cries: oh, spring is coming!
Here is a snowdrop!' But you'll
don't wonder they hardly look at
you"
I'm sure W all have green things
growing up Ground ecs." ventured one
newly opeIed crocus, holder thar .Av,
rest.
:. pool! Those are only leaves. Ev-
cry one has leaves said the snow
drop, tossing her head.
Grass blades are leaves, too," muir
INJURED the crocuses. Yet they could
not forget the words of the snowdrop,
and they became very sorrowful, for
they wanted every one to love them.
And next morning, when the angel
Of the flowers came, there was fro
zen tear in each little pale cup. 1t was
very cold that morning, but the cro-
cuses did not mind the cold.
why do you weep, children?" ask
ed the flower angel.
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
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 stars shone
brightly, and below the star, as if
swung from it like pale, golden cen
ser, hung the slender crescent of the
old moon. High up Arcturus flashed,
and northward, clear among the les
ser constellation, cleaned the dipper,
while still further north, following
the pointers" the eye came to the
great white star that never sets.
The angel flew straight east until
she found the sun, whose messenger
she was, and told her story.
Great king" she ended. "They are
very sad-the poor white crocuses. 1
would some new gift might be granted
to cheer them"
And because they are sad" asked
the king, do they droop and fade.
to live the life l have or
"They lift their heads quite brave
ly." said the angel, land await your
coming. Only the frozen tear lies at
the heart Of EACH"
ut is WELL" said the king. Go
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 bright
er. Now it was soft rose, blending to
gold toward the horizon. In the midst
Of the rose glow still hung the moon
and planet, tinged with faintest gold
en- green. Southwark violet clouds
were turning gold and saffron at their
edges.
Aa the color grew in. the sky what
was happening to the sad little Gro
cuses? They were surely growing tall
er and more exquisite in shape. and
was 1t reflection from the violet
cloads that tinted some of them? But
It stayed when the clouds burst into
flame.
Srp 4
Then the sunbeams came, and, as
lhey touched each cup-shaped flower.
Iney dropped jewels of gold within.
even those that had stayed white re-
seived the Jewels. an those that had
saught the tinge Of violet deepened;
while one whole family. where the
'nnoeams came last and stayed the
ongest. turned to gold all over.
Wnat .. show they made the gold