The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-07-09

ence the little spring.
THE little spring" l 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 it
touched mine, for we are both TO-
"Ettare," said Peleas, Nicola has
friend who is Ill in the hospital. She
has gone to see her and she has got
her place for to-day the most pathet-
ic little woman. She is down there
in the kitchen now making salad,
Then her salads will be good" l
said. Haven't you often noticed how
the disappointments in life come out
In appetizing dishes or exquisite
needlework or beautiful dispositions?-
"Ah, yes" said Peleas, but thei-
eyes never look any less sad. wish
we could cheer her up. Her name is
Mary"
Presently I went down to the
kitchen.
Mary" said, what fresh, crisp
lettuce am glad to know that was
right. l thought the world smelled of
spring this morning"
Spring, maam?" said Mary.
"Yes-spring," l 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, 81 have not
forgotten"
"Ah, no." said, zone doesn't for
get. Mary, | pursued. If it vera
spring what would you rather do than
anything else?"
20, ma'am," said Mary.
For myself" said l, 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"
"Ah>well," said l as 1 left her, this,
am persuaded, is a very special day.
And ! know that spring is some
where about listening"
| went back upstairs smiling at the
pleasant mystification in Mary's face.
In the upper hallway Peleas stood
with a workman.
"Ettare," said Peleas, this man says
something about water-pipes."
"Ah,' said l, ito be sure. The VII
ter pipes in the attic. Have you for
gotten the school play?"
Il had" Peleas confessed. Il had.
This will be the man to make the
fountain that Lisa wanted"
This will be the man. l assent
ed, and let us go up to the attic at
once"
Here Lisa and some of her buttef-
fly friends had begged leave to come
on holiday, and pursue a most as
tonishing course to which Peleas ard
l had assented only after proper heai-
tation They wished to give her a
kind of play, and they had selected our
attic for the simple reason that tile
heroine of the piece lived in an at.
tic chamber, all cobwebs and rafteIs,
and fell asleep and dreamed that she
was a princess by fountain in a gar
den, and met there the prince waiting
for her. After which, she awolSe and
found herself in the attic, fountain
and princess crown gone but. the
prince was still there among the cob
webs and rafters. 81.
Its nice and warm up Here" he
said.
That" said /, smiling at my own
image in dusty mirror, lis no doubt
because spring is in the world, in
spite of the snow"
It'll be late spring, along O. the
almanacs," said the man, throwing
down his kit of tools.
"Nonsensei" said l, ut will be an
early spring ! can tell by the way,
the snow is piled"
How dare any one prophesy a 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 m the world all winter long if
only one knew how to look for it.
ut will be an early spring" l re-
peated firmly. How can you help
thinking. SO when you can make the
spring wherever you go-you yourself.
meaR?"
! The man looked startled.
81, ma'am?" he asked. ~
Certainly" l cried, IF l could go
about all winter carrying a little tool
in my pocket which Would make an
attic floor and lead pipe blossom
into fountain, l should not find it
hard to believe that l could make it
spring whenever l wished
Why, yes'm," he said. I've thought
hat myself sometimes"
Let 'us have" said / to the man,
this fountain of spring come up here.
between this old chest and the dor
ner window. l hope" added, that
his is a quick spring, because they
re coming here to rehearse this after
loon, and they will want the foun-
ain"
This here spring" he said, "it'n
AXE about two full hours to bring up
hat fountain, ma am"
Very we'll" said l, Il told you
here would be an early spring"