The Elbert County tribune., 1906-04-26
THE FLOWER OF HOPE

The rain ceased at last. but tho
steady downpour seemed to have
washed the color out OF everything and
1t was drab landscape that | looked
upon as plodded through the mire by
the side OF the river. The little waves.
as usual. were tumbling over one an
other in the swift-running water. but
the white tassels OF the bird cherries
that lined the banks now hung limp
and mnd-splashed. Turning aside from
this depressing sight began to climb
the path through the pine wood. and
leaving the beaten track came upon
beauty. Trailing in long festoons
down steep bank were masses OF the
lesser periwinxle. the flower of hope.
Sheltered by the trees overhead, the
pretty mauve stars smiled serenely
from their nest of shining green leaves
Clinging to the branch of tree with
one hand. | was able to pick a bunch
of the flowers with the other But a
man suddenly appeaIng from higher
up almost tired upon my head. Star
tied. ] let go the branch and siipre1
ignominiously down the bank The
man leapt down by my side. and began
to pick up my scattered treasures. say
ing In German: Pardon, | did not see
you" AT first I thought he had been
drinking; his eyes were bloodshoi. and
he had wild. disordered air Then |
recognized him as the b-shful young
peasant who had stood in the Lack
ground while talked some days ago
with Anton. the old working jeweier,
In his shop. | had taken a brooch to
ha mo
polishing a gold ring on wheel. but
had ceased working to attend to me.
Seeing the eyes OF the peasant n e
on the ring, | had guessc that r. was
being done for him. and had said that
would wait. but the jeweler had IN.
sisted that there was no hurry for
what he was doing Afterwards ! had
heard that the peasant Johann WIS
shortly to be married TO Liza, n girl
at one OF the farms.
Now | noticed that he held his hat In
his hand. and had filled IL with peri
wrinkles. You. too, have been flower
gathering said.
Yes. have plucked them TO ma
n wreath for Liza"
What pretty Idea; how pleased
Us
meant for her wedding
Then. to my dismay. tears ro-lei
down the mans cheeks, and he began
to sob like child. and as | inwardly
called myself fool, he explained:
"Ah, w.-o but the good God can tell
what pleases Liza now. we were to
have been married by the priest to-
morrow. and she will be buried ins ID.
and here when a maid dies We give
her a wreath of sinngrlen
And ! call 1t the flower of hope"
said, sadly.
Perhaps the man knew how sorry
felt for him, for he s'amn erel ont
IF the gracious lady wo Id be 50 good
as to make the wreath for Liza herself.
why. Liza would be prou. and happy
II she could know It."
Seeing johann really wanted II. I
helped him twine the wreath. choosing
only the perfect. unfaded flowers.
Later on / saw Liza; she looked very
peaceful clothed in white, with the
chaplet of flowers on her hair. and
tall candles burning at her head and
feet. 1t was difficult to realize that
only week ago she was tramping
through the fields with her hoe. Later
on still l had a talk with my friend
Anton about this sorrowful ending to
Johann and Lizas love tale.
"Ah. yes. indeed" said the jeweler,
as he twirled silver hatpin in the
fame of his spirit lamp. at is hard
luck on Johann, harder than F'raeulein
knows"
How is that?" asked.
why, for two years Johann could
not make up his mind whether to wed
Liza at the farm or Marie at the saw
mills. He loved the one. but the other
had the bigger dowry.'
"Ie chose lover | questioned.
mo. indeed: Marie and he loved
each other. and that is where Johann's
bad luck comes in, for he will not get
Liza's dowry after ALL"
well. now he can marry Marie II
she will have him." said, feeling con-
tempt for Johann.
But Anton. being a man, was more
Epitiful. ''Ah. the poor fellow. that is
Just his hard luck. When his wedding
day was fixed Marie married the gar
dener up at the schioss. SO that she
should be bride before Liza"
So I still call periwinkles howers OF
hope. for when / recall Liza's peaceful
face | do not think she is to be pitied.