The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-27
AS the Pansy Nodded.

AS the Pansy Nodded.
The villagers never knew Just what to
make OF Old Man Northup, and as for
Old Man Nerthup. he didn't understand
the Villagers, nor did ne try. The towns
folk said the aged resident was a man
without a purpose and with a knowing
wink would call him queer
Long before, when felix's then grown
were babies. Nerthup came to town un-
announced and uHrecemmended Soon
the rumor spread that ne was rich and
| that he had selected the town for his
country home because it was in the
midst of the nature that ne loved
Back from the town on q sloping hill
side the stranger bought little plot and
the dreams of the gessips that ne was to
/ build a mansion were dissipated when he
! erected there a little frame cottage OF
/ two rooms. Then, when he bought mea-
/ ger furniture of the simplest sort. the
ones who had called him rich began 10
doubt, until the village banker, who
measured the worth of men by their
worldly goods, announced one day: '.Mr.
Nerthup is a gentleman"
| This was convincing, and thereafter the
| new resident was looked upon as a rniser
whose -yagaries had led him from the
cities and who was content to live his
life out alone in the little cottage on the
hillside
Years passed and ''Mr Northup. gentle
man." became known to the younger gen
Grafton only as Old Man Northup. The
children summed his house, though he
| never discouraged them. He seemed con-
tent in his solitude and appeared to find
companions in the growing things about
him. He would raise q little garden to
the back of his house in the spIing-tine
and would divide his time between this
and the bed of fowers-carefully cared
for f1owers-which grew just under his
window.
Now and then some one from the VII
lage would call on the old man as a
matter of duty, but their visits would be
cut short.
"a pleasant day." the visitor would
venture.
Yes Old Man Northup would an
swer. TITS fine weather for my flow
ers"
The village parson. truly good man,
one day concluded that Old Man North
up needed in his closing days the solace
of the religion he preached and that
If the old man would not come to his
church he would go to him. This was the
specialization of the reflections OF a
SURE OI years. anu "HSn the pdrSOQ IL
naliy had made up his mind to devote
himself to the spiritual welfare of the re-
cluse he went in haste to the old mans
cottage.
The parson stopped by the gate and
rested his elbows on the crumbling stone
wall that surrounded the little house 1t
was a bright day in May and all nature
seemed aglow. 1t was just the day for
Old Man NOrthup and his flowers, and
as the parson had expected. the recluse
was there, with a sprinkling pot, water
ing now one plant, now another, with a /
care that seemed reverential. The par
som spoke and the bent figure of the I'd /
man Strengthened. Something like a frown I
on his forehead as he recog-
nized his visitor, but he cheerily babe him /
enter.
Il have come said the parson, solemn
ly, with a message from the world The .
worlds misses you, Mr. Northup, and the /
little part of it l represent asks that I
you return, if only for an hour each
Won't you, sir, do US the honor
to worship with US once a week? The
Of them-would welcome
you" -
The old man only shook his head, sadly,
the parson thought.
The religion" the good man went on,
near. The tomb is for US all, but its cruel
outlines are softened when We know
there is a world beyond and that we
have earned our residence there"
Old Man Eorthup pointed to the door
step, just beside the bed of flowers The
oarson sat down. Then the old man knelt
II the parsons feet, turned to the flower
bed, and tenderly lifted the dropping car
nation blossom that was nearest to his
yisitor.
The tomb is for US all, we'll you say,
,arson," he said, slowly. i''and religion
5 the solace of tired soul. My soul,
If, has been weary for many years, but
t has had its solace
What is religion, parson? Is it not to
Worship the things We love? 1 love my
lowers and / worship them, for they are
more than flowers to me. Like you, 1
eieve in another life, and like you, I
ave tried to deserve one. This flower,
arson, is 1t only flower to you?'
1T was no doubt a pretty flower be-
ore it withered,' said the minister. "but
hardly understand"
None of them do said the old man.
nth sigh, land that is why l left the
7orld. hey laugh when I tell them that &
hese flowers are the spirits Of the friends :
mo nave gone DeIOre. Ihey say that
am crazy because my dead friends re-
urn to me as flowers, and yet they ask
lie to believe that they exist in some q
Their sphere.
zee this bright pansy with its bright.
milling face? See it nod to me in recog-
ition? That, parson, is my little girl.
ne only one ever had. who died more
IAN fifty years ago. Each year through
Il the long half century she has returned Il
} me in pansy form to tell me that she X
waiting somewhere, some distant [
here, for me to come. She is faithful
} me, and yet you ask me TO give her y
p. Parson. I have my sOace" o
The old man bowed his head and when n
lie parson spoke he did not answer. Then
le parson, fearing TO disturb him in his Y
.verie went his way. e
As the bright day wore on a passer-bv S
lanced to look over the stone wall. The
rds We're chipping in the trees, a gentle CT
'eeZe swayed the foliage and the slant \,
g rays Of the lowering sun cast a mel o.
" sheen over the scene before him. .
here was the bed OF flowers, and across
a PROSTATE figure. >
Old Man NorthUp was dead and the =
insy, dropping a little with the dying !.
". was nodding and bowling al his cold n
1t smiling face.-The Chicago Tribune. -
slow Progress. n
From the Cleveland Plain Dealer -