The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-04-30
THE oPTIMIsT.
.o-morrow wllI he Mav -.

Tomorrow Will be May Day
Long ago, when / was living IN that
delectable land Of Knee-Pants, We boys
and girls had a pleasant habit Of getting
together in little companies on the even
ing Of the LIST Of May. for the purpose
of hanging small baskets OF flowers on the
front doorknobs Of certain houses. then
ringing the bell and running ike al sixty
to be out OF the way by the time our sum
mons was answered,
The week prior 10 this fatefui evening
was devoted TO the making Of the baskets.
into whose production was put quantity
RIBBON as we could tease out Of mother $
possession. Then would come the excur-
sion into the woods to gather the early
flowers and the excitement OF filling the
baskets and the anxious wait for such
an hour Of darkness as was sufficient 10
conceal our identity. yet not sufficient TO
bring forth q paternal mandate forbidding
the expedition.
II was a source OF great pleasure. this
simple custom. which still holds in many
a place, I believe.
II was an example Of
Those cheap delights the wise
Pluck from the dusty wayside Of earth's strife,
Words Of frank cheer glances Of friendly eyes.
Loves smallest coin. which set 10 some may give
The morsel thar mas keep alive
4 starving heart, and teach il u behold
Some glimpse Of God where ali before was cold
And sometimes I sit by the comfy fire.
side Of Imagination and wonder what this
world might become if you and I-yes,
we grown-ups who are only children
after aIl-had May Day customs like this
one.
May Day customs which we might
spread out through the whole year, swing
/ ing baskets of very small and common
kind deeds and gentle smiles and helpful
words on the d0Orknobs Of human hearts
and then running around the corner that
we might not be guilty Of doing our deeds
! TO be seen OF men.
/ For I believe there is a door TO every
heart, even though II Is a small one in
many instances, and I am sure each Ont
/ Of ug is furnished with a pass key. II onlS
we would use what we have and not g
sulldng and wishing we had whas SONS
/ one else has.
The person who would do 50 much fol
Iothers il possessed Of this or that would
never do for others at all. and that per
| son viii not do for heaven, if il be q
happy place.
+ We often wonder why 1t was that az
fchndren. We found such rare JOY in such
simple things as we did We think W.
have vanquished that wonder when vi
Ihaye said to ourselves, Oh We knew 81
little then. But we know better.
We know. II only we will aeknowl
ledge. that it was because we were gen
uine. More, too. perhaps; but that il
Ienough
II we viii only be genuine now. VI
/ shall find a multitude Of simple things il
the doing Of which lies just the same scr
Iof happiness as that We knew in the day
/ departed.
/ It's not a dream, nor yet fancy spul
/ from what We would nave as true, bu
know can never be-. II is a fact-a fac
which is proven beyond the suspicion o
a doubt by more than one being who still
revels IN simple pleasures removed from
ichildhood only IN degree. not in kind. an
who finds time 10 hang a basket of flower
on the doUrknob of a heart once IN
while.
Are you one Of these?
LEIGH MITCHELL HODGES.