The Meeker herald., 1907-06-29

ence the little spring.
THE little spring" said. "she
knows. She stays even when everyone
supposes that she has forgotten"
Then Peleas came in, and the win
try sun touched his white hair as 1t
touched mine. for we are both 10.
.Ettare," said Peleas. Nicola has o
friend who Is Ill in the hospital. She
has gone to see her and she has got
b her place for to-day the most pathet-
tc little woman. She is down there
In the kitchen now making salad"
Then her salads, will be good" l
said. Haven't you. bitten noticed how
the disappointment In HE come out
in appetising dishes or exquisite
needlework or beautiful dispositions?
"Ah. yes," said Peleas, "but their
eyes never look any less sad. wish
We could cheer her up. Her name is
Mary" 5,t,a ~
Presently went down to the
kitchen.
Mary" I said. what fresh. crisp
lettuce! am glad to know that was
right. ! thought the world smelled of
spring this morning"
Spring. ma'am?" said Mary.
"Yes-spring." said. March. April,
May. Surely, in spite Of the snow, you
have not forgotten?"
Mary smiled family. and sighed. So
many smiles are signs!
mo. ma'am." she said. II have not
forgotten"
"Ah, no. said. lone doesn't for
get. Mary, pursued. IF 1t were
spring what would you rather do than
anything else?"
20, ma'am," said Mary.
For myself" said ]. spring or win
ter, wish-let us both wish-to be
near to some one very. very dear"
.oh, ma'am," said Mary. "Yes'm. y
"Ah WE'LL" said as l left her. this,
am persuaded. is very special day.
And ! know that spring is some
where about listening"
went back upstairs smiling at the
pleasant mystincation in Mary's face.
In the upper hallway Peleas stood
with q workman.
"Ettare," said Peleas. this man says
something about water-pipes."
"Ah," said l, ito be sure. The wa
ter pipes IN the attic. Have you for
gotten the school play?'
RI had" Peleas confessed. II had.
This will b the man to make the
fountain that Lisa wanted"
'This will be the man." assent
ed, and let VI go up to the attic at
( once"
Here Lisa and some Of her butter
ny friends had begged leave to come
ON q holiday, and pursue most as
tonishing course to which Peleas and
had assented only after proper hest
tauon. They wished to give her a
kind Of play. and they had selected our
attic for the simple reason that the
heroine Of the piece lived in an at
tic chamber, all cobwebs and rafters,
and fell asleep and dreamed that she
was princess by = fountain in gar
den. and met there the prince waiting
for her. After which. she awoke and
found herself in the attic, fountain
and princess crown gone but the
prince was still there among the cob
webs and rafters.
"Its nice and warm up here" he
said.
That" said /. smiling at my own
image in dusty mirror, sis no doubt
because spring is in the world, in
spite Of the snow"
"It'E be a late spring, along O. the
almanacs," said the man, throwing
down his kit of tools.
"Nonsense!" said l, at will be an
early spring. ! can tell by the way
the snow Is piled!"
How dare any one prophesy late
spring? Why should not everyone go
through the winter prophesying an
early spring. happy In the confidence
that the prophecy would lure on the
spring itself? Everyone ought at
least to understand that spring is
really in the world all winter long II
only one knew how to look for 1t.
at will be an early spring" re-
peated firmly. How can you help
thinking so when you can make the
spring wherever you go-you, yourself,
] mean?"
The man looked startled.
II, ma'am?" he asked.
Certainly" l cried, III could 20
about all winter carrying little tool
in my pocket which would make an
attic floor and a lead pipe blossom
into q fountain. should not ind 1t
hard to believe that l could make it
Sapring whenever I wished"
S"why, yes'm." he said. I've thought
that myself sometimes"
Let US have" said l to the man,
"this fountain Of spring come up here,
between this old chest and the dor.
mer window. hope" added. that
this is quick spring, because they
are coming here to rehearse this after.
noon, and they will want the foun-
tain"
"This here spring" he said, "itll
take about two full hours to bring up