The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1903-04-10
JESSlCA'S LILY

Jessica had dream. often OF
Sunday morning. when she sat in
church with her great blue eyes fixed
30 steadfastly on the minister's face.
she was dreaming IT,
Il was to have lily to care for aud
love until Il grew to be tall and
graceful with a beautiful white bios.
som on top, then with her own hands
take Il 10 church ON Easter morning
and place II ON the pulpit step.
The morning Of Jessica's birthday
the postman left little square box
addressed 10 her. Inside wrapped In
many folds Of tissue paper. she found
AN add looking object, something like
an ill-shaped onion In layers OF dried
brown leaves Outside the box, these
words Easter lily bulb Then
she knew II was gift from the min
lister. and that he wished her dream
10 come true.
What n happy girl she wasl She
went to the florists and had a pot
filled with earth, then with careful,
loving hands she pattcd the bulb
down safe In It's bed OF earth and set
II away far back In dark. cool closet.
by and by four tiny green sacks
commenced to grow on top that
swelled larger and larger, until the
green case began TO crack and the
very night before Easter Jessica had
four beautiful sweet white lilies.
Now all that remained to fulfil the
dream was TO carry Il TO church. no
easy task for little girl like Jessica,
but early In the morning she started
out. hugging IL close In. two stout,
loving little arms, that often aohed
under their beautiful burden. Once
she set It down on the sidewalk TO
rest her arms. She pulled the paper
away from the top and looked into
the blossoms They looked to her
like beautiful white. gold.throated
bells. She felt sure they were a set
of flower chimes. and when the breeze
set them swaying gently, she imag-
ined she could hear the music.
But the tapping on the window OPP
posite was not imagination. Jessica
was little frightened, Then she
saw the girl.
Won't you let me look at IT, just a
minute?" the girl asked In a thin,
high voice
Jessica lifted the lily and carried
Il across the street: then she bracod
II up against the rickety fence.
You may smell II II | can come
In a minute" she said.
There was a cry from the girl.
ooh! granny! hurry! hurry and
the next minute Jesslca found herself
in the bare little room. and the lily
set ON the floor and the poor mis-
shapen mite OF humanity bending In
awe over H.
Finally she leaned back in her chair
with closed eyes and said: 1T must
be right from heayenl"
There was very tender smile on
Jessica's lips as she leaned over her
beloved lily and kissed each blossom
but tear trlcked down into one
golden throated cup.
81 viii give It to you she said,
moving It yet nearer the girl Il
guess God viii see It here quick as he
would In church.
After service Jessica and the min
lister walked down the street hand in
hand and she told him about the girl
and the lily. lie was silent, so silent
she thought he was offended
81 am sorry II did wrong" Jes-
sica said. but she was so poor and
sick. and"
The minister looked down at her
and there were tears In his eyes
which she thought very strange In
deed.
"Wrong7" he said. why, my
child Won placed that lily on the very
topmost step of Gods throne!"
Jesslca gave his nand a happy little
squeeze, and her feet would skip for
the world Is such a beautiful place
when ones dreams GENE true