The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-07-20
Wee Elsie. "

"Wee Elsie"
Near the shore of one of our prettiest Englisl.
lakes stands little white house its gav Garden
1ulI OF flowers. 1t is placed at the foot of the
mountain which rises on one side of the lake; and
The hill ascends close to the back windows that
lhere Is only room for very small lawn in the fiat
space before the drawing room. From the lawn a
number OF little walks wind through shr7IbberY
up the hillside, and lead to a green gate beyond
Wihch the path goes on, up the mountain Though
the garden is not large it is very pretty and as Won
stand on the grass near the mountain ash you car
see right across the lake over to the woods on its
other side, while in front of you stands the little
white house, or rather cottage whose walls ere
nearly hidden by climbing roses.
One lovely day IN summer, three children who
had come out to play IN the garden, sat down under
the mountain ASH close to the big bed of hearts
ease They were not playing now, and though they
were very fond of the view, they were not looking
at that either, for they were too busy talking
Reginald and Grace the two eldest, were sitting
side by side. Reginald 10 years old and Grace
was year younger. They were tall strong chill
dren, with rosy cheeks and curly brown hair At
their feet sat their little sister Elsie who was ouly
6-"Bonnie wee Elsie" as she was generally called
She had been given that name because she was so
tiny and had such gentle loving face with golden
curls and great blue eyes. Reginald and Grace
loved her very dearly, and took great care of her.
so that their mother could always trust her with
them. And Elsie did everything they told her, and
when they talked she listened, and wondered to
think how much they knew
Reggie" Grace said you know what mother
read yesterday morning about God coming in the
wind; j forgot the words"
Reggie knew, and he said, 'He did fly upon the
wings of the wind"
Eyes, that is it. Didn't YOU think about it last
night when the wind blew? l did. l thought that
is God passing by, and then / wasn't afraid"
"Oh, but Oracle" Reggie said, chat means that
he sends the wind. He does not come on it him
self"
Oracle looked sad and a little puzzled
Doesn't he?" she said; you know we shouldn't
see him, because he is spirit
"Fll ask mother" Reggie said; "but | know it
means that the wind does what God wishes
"And l thought" Oracle went on, perhaps he
came in the sunlight too, and it God making
us warm. God is everywhere Why couldn't he
be in the sunlight"
rs God in the sun" asked little Elsie; and
Reggie said:
God is in heaven, Elsie, but he made the sun,
and he sends the sunlight;" and then they did not
talk any more just then. Elsie was glad, for she
tired of listening, and could not quite under
stand what they had been saying, but she wondered
whether heaven, where God lived was in the beau
tiful sun, and thought it was very good of him to
send his sunlight.
By-and-by Reginald said "Let us go up the hill
and see John Mends and Susan"
John Mends was an old servant of the childrens
papa, and he did not do any more work ne
lived with his wife. Susan, in a cottage about 2.
quarter of an hours walk from the green garden
gate at the top of shrubbery. The children were
allowed to 90 tho AZ ne for, though the road was
only rough MIL path they mountain
children and useL ID rambling and the two elder
ones took care of Elsie. 1t very pretty walk
On side of them vas the grassy slope of the
mountain, and the rough, stony way leading TO the
top winding away iowa I'd the left On their other
l.,
bushes, and at the bottom of which a little
stream. The sky was very blue over their heads,
though there were one or two black clouds III the
distance. The shone out so brightly that it
made them quite hot, so that they glad to get
to old Johns cottage and sit down to rest on the
bench before the door.
John was out, but Susan was very glad to see
them and she brought them some cakes of a sort
which she made very well, that the children were
very fond of them. Then, when they were rested
and cooled. they ran down the walk past the cab
bage beds to where the beehives stood, and looked
at the bees and Susan gave them of the wall
flowers and STOCKS which were planted close by
that the bees might qet the honey from them. And
after that they fed Susans pigeons, and one pigeon
that was very tame came and sat on Gracies shout
der Then how they all screamed with delight! Oh.
what happy children they were.
Presently Susan said, | think there is going to
be storm The sky is getting so black, Master
Reginald. You had better all of you run home as
fast as you can, and then you will be back before 1t
comes on"
So thew said Goodbye" to Susan and set off
Susan called after them Il think you will get
home before the rain comes" and so, perhaps, they
would if it had not been for Gracies frock. Az
they were running along a bramble caught tight
hold of the hem, and she could not get it undone.
SO She called Reginald to help. While they were
busy about the braInle they did not look at Elsie
and she went on few steps by herself. She had
forgotten about the storm, and she thought: