The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-11-21
AN OLD PALM TREE.
BY MRS. NJ. L. RAYNE.


Topped off much as they would have liked to
| lop OIL living lateral branches which they
regarded as so much dead wood. The mod
ern invention of the charitable rummage
sale helped them out, but some of their OBJ
jects dart were not eligible even to rum
mage sale. One was stately palm that oc-
cupied niche in the hall, planted in a
tub of moss that had subsoil of black earth,
rearing its green foliage to the ceiling. A
pretentious palm, with a crown of green
foliage, challenging notice from every cas-
ual caller.
What will we do with 2" asked Mr..
Clarkson, fretfully, Eve can't sell it nor give
it away, and I'm sure we don't want it in
the new house. DO suggest something,
George
George-Mr. Clarkson-had always de-
spised that palm tree, which had served with
their first anniversary supper as one of the
decorations and either forgotten by the
florist or charged without itemizing the bill
he never knew which. 1t had stayed by
them faithfully ever since, and was their
bette noir when they had company, it re-
quired SO much explanation.
1t had served as a hat rack of late years,
but no hard service had any effect on its
eternal bloom and occasionally Mrs. Clark
son felt sorry for it and gave it brushing
up and liberal supply of water, and Won
dered what in the world she should do with
it, now that they had outgrown the age of
pinchbeck and We're in the era of pure
gold.
Il know suddenly exclaimed Mr. Clark
son, ''send it to old Simeon He'll sit under
its shade the rest of his life. Why, it will
turn that dingy shop of his into palm gar
den. And he is blind, so he'll never know"
But his customers will, and they'll tell
him. Oh, George, it wouldn't be right to
deceive him. He will just worship that
PALM
Mary" responded George, solemnly,
"what the eye doesn't see the heart doesn' t
feel. 1t would take all the value from the
gift to tell him the truth. Here, John,
take this over to Simeons shop-Mrs.
Clarkson sends it, mind. Tell him not to
water it too often nor give it sun bath.
He'll be the only shoemaker in the city
that can cobble shoes under his own palm
tree"
Old Simeon the blind cobbler, sat work
ing at his bench, when John ushered in the
palm, the top of which brushed the ceiling.
The old man put aside the neighborhood
shoe he was repairing and felt every inch
of the tree with sensitive fingers
Its beautiful he said, gratefully,
beautiful and sacred. Did it come from
Jericho?"
: Il guess So" said John, who had not
lived in vain with the Clarksons, Il heard
'em saying at the house that they wished
it was in Jericho. So guess it was
m-m-raised-there."
. 1T will be heaps of company" he tender
ly fingered the long shining leaves hanging
above his head. Il can never see it but
can sit in its shade and feel that green
bit of Gods country is growing in my poor
place. Tell the misses my thanks. Many's
the pair OF shoes I've made or mended 10,
her in my day. l hope she'll prosper fol-
her kindness"
This being repeated by John gave Mrs
Clarkson a disagreeable feeling of having
done a mean thing, and she remarked it to
her husband
Nonsense retorted George, glad to be
rid of the incubus. "Old Simeon will never
know the difference. And if he does
S where's the harm since he can't see it!
9 Hey, Mary"
l. But Mrs. Clarkson insisted that as soon
+ as she was moved and settled she should
s call around and see the old man and make
n it all right, but she forgot all about it il
her new home, and new life, where mendeC
shoes and blind cobblers had no place.
> Old Simeon adjusted the palm tree in
corner of his shop, watered it faithful,
& every morning, and when it rained wheeled
e it out on the walk to give it the benefit o
bath, and it soon became the most init
e mate of all his possessions. He loved it a
e something human.
= But creeping illness was closing abou
;. old Simeon and he was long idle. One da.
! the long-skirted preacher who expoundet
= his faith entered the little shop with tn
= familiar benedicton OF Peace be on thi
II house and all under its roof, and received
q the formal Amen in answer.
is ''Sit by me-" said old Simeon, Il hav
y something to say
e He reached upward and took an old bool
n from a shelf. 1t was Bible, much rea'
;, and worn. He placed it in the preacher
hand.
y Find there-every place-whereit tells
g Of palms. he said.
The preacher easily found the reference
III SO familiar to him and his people. He rea
w Of the city of palm trees, Jericho. OF tn
n palm trees of DEBORAH Branches of goodl
d, palm trees. Three score and ten palm trees
in and many, many, more. At each one oil
- Simeon said with breathless eagerness:
10 Stick pin there
Inc mentlon oil the beloved PAIN trees OF
w Cured so often that soon the old Bible bris
AZ tied with pins. Then the reader saw tn
'e Haunting palm at the bedside.
Il .rhis is" he stitled the words on h
le lips with some heaven-born intuition, an
l's turned his remark into a question-"ls thl
IN palm dead!"
Ii. "No, sir; no. you can feel how soft tn
10 leaves are, and I've thought some new one
o. were sprouting. Does it look as if it WASH
- thriving?"
~ mo, Simeon, it is fine and green"
T. "And does it seem living, sir, and likel
d. to live"
OF Yes. 1t is in perfectly healthy stat
a Now" he said to himself "lf l have told
ay lie to dying man may God of Israel 70
h, give mel
:, Among my people" the preacher Der
low to catch every word, there is a trad
;, ton that none may win the rest and spel
AZ dor of heaven unless he comes bringir
hs palms he has cut in Jericho. Is that true:
ue at is emBlematic, like all traditions Nc
en- have won palms of victory by your faith an