The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-05-07
SINGLE DAFFODILS.

her poor rags and shook them together
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,
suggested a bird, meager and homeless.
But the woman's face was bright and
human; the dim old eyes held a light
that went not i'll with the spring.
She carried a round. closely wrought
basket full of peaky daffodils. The How
ers were a pale yellow, as II 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
stiffly this way, then that, to shelter 1t
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 a 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
odv of the bells He was the last of the
group, and as he passed the old creature
his crooked arm caught the basket of
daffodils. 1t flew from her grasp, and
the flowers emptied themselves upon the
ground.
He gathered up the tight little
punches and arranged them awkwardly
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
reddened-there were tears in them. He
WINGED.
my man planted the bulbs, and he be
dead,' she said simply. She took the
basket from him and smiled She had
made excuse for the teaIs 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.
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 say. 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 hel
head. She emerged from the cloisters
and picked her way across the street to
the market square.
A fshmonger's stall was nearest her
When the wind blew, the scales of the
fish shimmered as if they were passing
through water. The fshmonger's hands
were notified red and purple; to look
at them made her feel cold. She looked
instead at the passersby, and before hel
she had her basket of daffodils.
1t did not occur to her that anyone
could be unattracted by them, and sht
waited hopefully. Her man had planted
! the bulbs when he was not far iron
death. and the flowers seemed to have
the glory of the resurrection about them
They were beautiful-she regarded then
lovingly-and they were almost the only
single daffodils in the market. Whel
people paused to look, she held the bas
ket up proudly. But they passed by, ant
others after them passed by also.
She waited, and the day wore on
There were many people in the market
but her basket remained full. II b.
standin' too close up, maybe" sh
thought trembling; ''folks don't notice a
l have blooms to SELL"
She moved back little from the cur
and the attention of the ishmonger an
his wife was drawn to her.
"She have plucked them daffodils an
brought them to MARKET said tn
woman. Her tone was full of surprise.
SAY, and she amt sold none of 'em,
said the fishmonger. His eyes, rollin
stifiy in his cold face, fell on the bas
ket.
There was a short lull in his business
which so far had been quick and con
tinuous. The man, with a nod to hi
wife. left the stall and crossed to tn
figure by the curb.
"I'll have a bunch mother" he sale
There was a CLINT of warm kindness i
his eyes. He dipped a hand into hi
leathern pocket. His wrist was wet an
red with moisture from the fish, and tn
skin cracked with the cold.
The daffodil seller looked at him wist
fully. "They be fine flowers" she sal
with a tremulous pride. "You remen
Der, maybe, John Stear, when my ma
planted the bulbs. He were happy tina
day, were my mani | amt sold tn
blooms afore, but this year they com
up that plentiful and fine, and 1 kne'
as folks would buy"
cay" the man said heartily. ut ain
often one sees single daffies as fine a
these. I'll have two punches of ZEN
mother-one for the missus. one for me.
She singled out two punches and gay
them to him proudly. HE were tina
happy when lie planted them," she re
iterated. Il amt wantin' to sell 'em t
any but happy folk"
He laughed jovially. "Make you
mind easy on that score. ma'am. w
amt none of your grizziers, the missu
and mel Come now, | must be gettil
back" He rubbed the coppers on hi
apron and dropped them into her hant
When he was gone she waited agar
The crowd was thinning 1t would no
be dense again till evening, and sh
could not wait till then. The able
bells sang again, the same tune. Sh
H..