Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-04-17
SINGLE DAFFoDILs.

The folds of her shawl tapped like the
wings of starved bird, and her skirt
blew tight across her knees The hair
under the shabby bonnet was black and
gray and white in some way it, too
t suggested bird, meager and homeless
But the womans face was bright and
, human; the dim old eyes held light
that went not i'll with the spring.
She carried a round closely wrought
, basket full Of peaky daffodils The flow
. ers were pale yellow, as if the wind
, had blown the color out of them. They
were tied into straight little punches,
with a few stiff leaves behind each,
rod against which their weakness might
lean. The old woman bent upon them
tender care. As she climbed the steep
hill to the town she glanced ever and
anon at the daffodils holding the basket
stiflly this way, then that, to shelter it
! from the wind.
From the monastery gate the boys Of
the grammar school came pouring
Some ran this way, some that, their caps
breaking the cold coloring of the view as
their quick movements and young life
broke the stiffness of the streets.
Only few wound their way toward
her, heading along in an impetuous
fight. The wind blew about their ears
and tingled them; the spring sunlight
danced upon the ground. They rushed
past her, one lad crying aloud the mel
ody of the bells. He was the last of the
group, and as he passed the old creature
his crooked arm caught the basket OF
dalfodils. 1t flew from her grasp. and
the flowers emptied themselves upon the
ground.
He gathered up the tight littlc
punches and arranged them awxwaldly
in the basket. They were very ugly, and
the dafFodils were poor. he thought He
raised himself to give the basket to her.
As he did so, he saw that her eyes were
Redeemed there were tears in them. lie
WINGED.
"fty man planted the bulbs, and he be
dead" she said simply. She took gle
basket from him and smiled She 4elai
made excuse for the tears in her eyes
The lad stared at her. hot and con-
fused. To rush on would be brutal; he
did not realize that, but felt it. The
need of an apology crept into his soul.
He said hesitatingly; III should like
bunch"
She gave him one. and he gave her
twopence. He did not mind losing the
money, but he wished he need not have
the daffodils. 1t was obvious that he
must have them; they made his apology.
He went slowly away, holding the flow,
ers awkwardly. He did not want them
and he wondered what the other boys
would ssy. Perhaps when she was out
of sight--he glanced back-he might
hide them away.
She crept happily on. turning into the
twisting cloister. The boys round, fresh
face had cried of spring and happiness;
she was glad he had bought her daffo-
dis. The tune of the bells rang in her
! head. She emerged from the cloisters
and picked her way across the street to
the market square.
fishmonge,'s stall was nearest her.
! When the wind blew, the scales of the
fish shimmered as if they were passing
through water. The fishmonger's hands
/ We're notified red and purple; to look
at them made her feel cold. She looked
: instead at the passersby, and before her
; she had her basket of daffodils.
1t did not occur to her that anyone
could be mattracted by them. and she
waited hopefully. Her man had planted
The bulbs when he was not far from
death, and the flowers seemed to have
the glory of the resurrection about them.
/ They We're beautiful--she regarded them
lovingly and they were almost the only
!. single dafrodils in the market. When
people paused to look she held the bias
i ket up proudly, But they passed by, and
! Others after them passed by also.
She waited. and the day wore on.
There We're many people in the market,
but her basket remained full ST be
standin' too close up, maybe" she
thought trembling; folks don't notice as
/ have blooms to sell"
She moved back little from the curb
, and the attention of the fishmonger and
I his wife was drawn to her
"She have plucked them daffodils and
brought them to markell" said the
woman. Her tone was full of surprise
"Ay, and she amt sold none of EN-
! said the fshmonger His eyes, rolling
/ sti1iy in his cold face, fell on the bas-
ket.
t There was a short lull in his business.
{ which so far had been quick and con.
tinuous. The man, with nod to his
wife, left the stall and crossed to the
> figure by the curb.
"Pll have a bunch, mother" he said
5 There YVES a CLINT of warm kindness in
his eyes, He dipped hand into his
e leathern pocket. His wrist was wet and
red with moisture from the fis, and the
skin cracked with the COLI
The daffodil seller looked at him wist
fully. They be fine flowers" she said
with tremulous pride. You remem-
her, maybe, John Stear, when my man
planted the bulbs, He were happy that
a day, Were my mani | amt sold tbs
+ blooms afore, but this year they come
| Iup that plentiful and fine, and / knew
r us folks would buy"
? "Ay,' the man said heartily. 1T amt
often one sees single dafies as fine as
these. Ill have two punches of EN-.
, mother-one for the missus. one for me. .
i She singled out two lunches and cave
them to him proudly. HE We're that