Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-11-12
he This was her sore poipt.

sObs. This was her sore point
at IL red, as red as can be; beau
tiful. shining purple red" said the Pilot
emphatically, beginning to brush
"Purpler' cried Gwen scornfullv.
Eyes, I've seen it in the sun. purple.
Haven't you" said the Pilot, appealing
to me- "And my story Is about the can
yon. our canyon, your canyon, down
there"
as ii trueW asked Gwen, already
soothed by the cool, quick moving
hands
"TrS,s It's as true as--as"-he
glanced around the room--"as the Pill
grim's Progress. This was satisfac-
tory. and the story went on.
AT first there were no canyons, but
only the broad, open prairie. One day
the master of the prairie walking out
over his great lawns. where were only
grasses. asked the prairie. Where are
your fowersT and the prairie said.
Master. l have no seeds Then he
spoke TO the birds and they carried
seeds of every kind of flower and
strewed them far and wide, and soon
the prairie bloomcd with crocuses
and roses and buffalo beans and the
yellow crowfoot and the wild sundow-
crs and the red lilies all the summer
long.
"Thcn tho master came and was well
pleased. but he missed the flowers he
loved best of all. and he said to the
prairie. Where are the clematis and
the columbine. the sweet violets and
wind flowers. and all the ferns and
Towering shrubs? And again he spoke
to the birds, and again they carried all
the seeds and strewed them far and
wide. But, again, when the master
came, he could not find the flowers he
loved best Of all, and ~ said, Where
are those, my sweetest flowers" and
the prairie cried sorrowfuly. oh, mas
ter, | cannot keep the flowers for the
winds sweep tiercely and the sun beats
upon my breast, and they wither up
and fly away
"Then the master spoke to the light
ming. and with one swift blow the
lightning cleft the prairie to the heart.
And the prairie rocked and groaned in
agony, and fer many day moaned BIT
terly over its black, jagged, gaping
wound. But the Little Swan poured
its waters through the cleft and car
ried down deep black mold. and once
more the birds carried seeds and
strewed them in the canyon. And aft
or a long time the rough ROCKS were
decked out with soft NOSES and trail
ing vines, and all the hooks were hung
with clematis and collmbine, and great
elms lifted their huge tops high up into
the sunlight, and down about their feet
clustered the low cedars and balsams.
and every here the yiolcts and wind
flowers and maiden hair grew and
doomed. till the canyon became the
masters place for rest and peace and
joy"
The quaint tale was ended. and Gwen
lay quiet for some moments, then said
gently:
"Ics. The canyon flowers are much
the best Fell ne what it means
Then the Eliot read 20 her: The
fruits IN read bowers of the Spirit
are love. JOY, peace. long suffering. gen
tleness goodness. faith. meer ness, self
control. and some of these grow only
In the canyon"
which are the canyon sowers?" rsk
ed Gwen softly. and the Pilot answered :
"Gontleness. rneeknsss. self control
but. though the others-love, Joy, peace
bloom in the open. yet never with so
rich a bloom and SO sweet perfume as
in the canyon
Tor long time Gwen Law quite still.
and hen said wistfully while her lip
trembled:
There are no flowers in my canyon,
but only ragged rocks"
Some day they will bloom. Gwen.
dear. He will lind them, and we. too.
shall see them"
Then he said goodby and took me
away. lie had done his work that day.
We rode through the big gate, down
the slopinC hill, past the smiling, twin
king little lake and down again out Of
the broad sunshine into the shadows
and soft lights of the canyon. As we
the elms and cedars the very air was
full of gentle stiffness. and as we moved
we seemed 70 feel the touch u loving
hands that fingered while they left US.
and every flower and tree and vine and
shrub and the soft MOSES and the deep
hedded ferns whispered as we passed
of love and pence and 10Y
To the Duke ii was all a wonder, for
az the days shortened outside they
frightened inside, and every day and
more and more Ovens room became
the brightest spot in all the house. and
when he asked the Pilot. What did
you do TO the little princess, and what's
all this about the canyon and its flow
ers?" the Pilot said, looking wlstfully
into the Dukes eyes, The fruits of
the Spirit are love peace, long suffer
ing, gentleness. goodness, faith. meek
ness. self control. and some of these
are found only in the canyon" And
the Duke standing ny straight, hand
some and strong, looked back at the
Pilot and said. putting ont his hand
DO you know, believe you're
right"
Yes. I'm quite sure" answered the
Pilot simply. Then, holding the Dukes
hand Ms long as one man dare hold
another's, he added. When you come
TO YOUR canyon. remember"
when come" said the Duke, and
q quick spasm of pain passed over his