The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-06-12

again these many weeks. lt was th8
FIRST Of March. and the snow was Va Il
Ing from the meadows and tho
buds were growing restless
furry tree cradles, but nothing Il
done for them until Spring could be
found and brought back 70 rule her
kingdom.
When the great Sun heard the little
Sunbeams tale be set about at once
devIsing some means 10 rescue his poor
frozen Queen from old Father Winters
clutches No number Of ordinary Sun .
beams were enough to rouse her, thaF
he knew we'll 80 at last he decided
put all the love and warmth of
great glowing heart into a single sha
piercing ray of light, no bigger than
one of his own Sunbeam servants, and
90 himself on the dangerous quest. For
dangerous It indeed was, because old
cold hearted Father Winter could send
storm clouds to darken the SUMS face
for q long time. and even dosp Knows
to quite smother poor Spring arself.
If he got word Of the Suns coming
1t is tho sharp North Wind that
prowls about and gets news Of what Is
going on, to tell old Father Winter.
But the Sun chose a time when the
North Wind was mapping, for even
winds, you know, must sleep some
time, and into the wee crack in the
icy sky he slipped while old Winter
was busy in his shop, sharpenAnu his
icicle points There, as the 50 beam
told him, he found poor frozen Spring.
The wonderful scarf fringed with
crocus blossoms and golden pollened
catkins that he himself had given her,
was still about her throat. snowdrops
and dafodilS, daisies and vlolets peeped
from the rich lining Of her cloak and
dotted her gown of woven greens. Even
her great pussy-willow muff lay still
beside her, but all were coated with
clear ice and covered thick withknow-
flakes Then the Sun breathed hd n all
about her, and snowhakes scurrie8 off
in fear, and the ice ran away in little
streams, and Springs eyelids quiveged
under the Suns smile.
But there was no time to waste.
Winter would soon be coming to look
after his prisoner and then all would
be lost. When Spring was at last
aroused and knew that the Sun she
loved so we'll had risked his PIE and
his kingdom to find her, she iwaA very,
very happy, for she was terribly afraid
old Father Winter. Her happiness
made her quickly strong, and together
they set off at a great pace over the
wide sweeps Of snowbound country that
lie back of the North Winds home,
and past the frozen forests Of ice hung
trees. The Sun drew his cap Of mif-
night over his head to keep from b
seen and wrapped part of Springs
Gus scarf about him and share
muff. For so cold Is it in the
the icicle shop and the snowf
that even the Sun cannot live
very long.
Arm in arm they raced over the hills
and down the slopes on their swift
curved snowshoes, the great hearted
Sun and the lovely Spring, toward the
land where little children waited fo-
the frost to leave the hills and for
brooks to wake up and sing. But be-
fore they had gone very far Old Winter
missed his stolen Spring and started
in pursuit. Rousing the North Wind
and calling to his aid all the storms
and hurricanes at his command, he
fastened on their track.
The air about him was in a Whirl Of
blue, cold winds and angry stofh ps with
which he planned to overwNelm the
runaways. But just as he seemed about I
to reach them Sun and Spring together
crossed the line where Summer lives
and where old Winter can come only.
by permission. Then the Sun threw off
his cap of midnight and took again his'
place in the great blue sky. and the
meadows opened their arm rs to ting
Spring with all her half Eaozsn bud5
and blossoms. And little children
everywhere said: How good it is to
see the Sun once more. There have
been only gray clouds for days and
days and we thought the Winter would
never end New York Tribune.