Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-02-28
THE WISE APPLE-BLossoMs.
They Did Have n Mission to Accom-.

plish After All.
In the big wholesale house where
Sara Lambert served as stenographer
the other girls were mostly Of the
frivolous type or Of the dragged-out
embittered variety Of business woman
It had been a difficult "atmosphere,n
but Sara had courage, sympathy and
imagination.
Sara was resolute-never would she
let go her hold on the grace and beat
ty Of life, even IL necessity had brought
her temporarily into a sordid environ
ment. And this wonderful Sunday in
the country strengthened her resolu-
tion and deepened her sympathetic un-
~derstanding Of iife. What wonder, re-
fiected Sara, lying at full length on the
soft grass, that those girls, lacking her
own early advantages of school and
travel, should become dull or silly, OBJ
livious to any world outside the office
walls? II she could only carry back
dance to speak to them of things pure
and beautiful and free!
Sara got her feet wet in the orchard
grass, nearly missed the early train
back to town, and had to apologize
meekly to the cross woman on the fer
rv whose hat was disturbed by the
wide-spreading armful. But such tri-
ies mattered little, now that that
big jar Of apple-blossoms stood
there, exquisitely greeting the employees
of the great house as they came stray
| Cling in, wearing their sua "blue
Monday faces.
1.-The real thing amt a bit prettier'
-one Of the silly girls was complacent-
" comparing the flowers on her new
hat with the blossoms.
.Humph lslthis from a shipping
clerk. Wonder somebody didn't bring
the whole tree!!"
II call it a shame!w exclaimed the
woman who had s'fled'' for the house
thirteen years. "fWhy, they'd have
grown into apples!"
Similar u-nappreciative comments
continued all day.
These people are hopelessly dead
ened-blindw the discouraged believer
in the beautiful disgustedly assured
herself, closing her desk late that
night. Sim a fool to dream Of reach
Ing them"
sCould I have-just a few blossoms
for my sister, The difident re
quest came from Billy, the smallest aud
palest OF the office boys.
Take them ALL" said Sara, prompt
", glad to be rid Of her ''mistake."A Abb
sorbed in her unpleasant thoughts, she
did not notice the boys flushed face.
BILLY, Billy, what is it?". she cried,
springing up as he suddenly dropped
the fragrant armfui, breaking down ut
terly.
The two were alone now in the de-
serted Office, and the pitiful little story
came out slowly, painfully-the boy and
his sister alone in the great city, tho
sisters prolonged illness, the boys
brooding over her bitter needs and the
abundant wealth Of his employers, and
finally the struggle against the fearful
temptations to take what was not his
own.
I'VE We're brought up on a farm"
Billy finished, brokenly. The apple
blossoms brought it all back. LII
kept seeing mothers face, and then I
knew I'd just got to keep honest"
1t was very late when Sara Lambert
reached home that night, for b n
the app~le-blossoms accompanied Billy
home. She was tired, but there was n
light ON her face.
SIN just a foolish, impatient child"
she told herself, as she brushed her
hair. "Bnt the blessed apple-blossoms
| knew how to wait!'-Youth's Complain