The Cairo bulletin., 1908-04-29
0URBOYSANDGIRLS
Lucia s Easter Lily.

plant 10 every cnlld IN the Scnool
rom.
Each one had a bud" she said,
| With her radiant smile. and | want
you to care for them. ana Easter
Monday you shall all come to my
house and have little feast, and ths
one who has the largest and hand
soonest lily shall have prize. Won't
that be nice?"
Al. the children clapped their
hands and the teacher stood up AMI
said.
Nov we must thank the lady for
her kindness and accept her invita-
ton. Lucia will tell her for u.s."
Lucia who was very small and very
timid, and very big eyed. made lit
tie bow and said. We thank you, oh,
so much, and we will come"
| The wonderful lady smiled into
| littl5 Lucia eyes and took both or
the small rough hands into her white
ones aid whispered, Dear child. |
hope you may win the prizo, and
Lucia went back t. her seat all glow
ing at the sweet words, and forgot
that she had not had any breakfast.
and that the baby was sick at home
and that her mother was out OF
work.
Lucia dashed up the steps of the
tenement where she lived and ran
into the room eagerly.
"Sh-sh,' warned her mother. the
baby is asleep"
So Lucia whispered. See. mother,
the beautiful plant, and the lady Is
going to give a prize, and we are to
have a feast"
Lucla's mother tried to smile but
she was tired and worried. and tn
baby needed things that she could
not give MIN.
You must go for .ue doctor, Lu-
eta" she said II can't do aay
more"
After that the baby grew worse
and worse, ultil at last Lucia had to
stay at home to help care for lin,
but every day she looked at the lily
bud that was unfolding its snowy
leaves, and whispered, BE the love-
Hest lily of all. so that may win the
prize" and then she would water 1t
and run back to help her mother,
who sewed on the heavy garments
that brought them their daily bread.
Most OF the time 1t was bread with
out any butter. and sometimes 1t was
very dry bread indeed, but when she
was the hungriest little Lucia would
think of the Easter feast and try to
be patient.
III the baby will only get WELL
she would say to her mother. then |
can 60"
But when Easter Monday came the
baby was still very sick.
ION, little Lucia. my little girl"
her mother said to her sadly, I'm
afraid you can't go for / must take
cur work home this afternoon. We
need the money for the baby's broth
and milk, and you must take care OF
him while | am gone" For min
cry. but when she saw the tired look |
On the thin face that was bent over |
the baby she choked back her sobs
and said brayely,
But when her mother had gono /
and the little girl had peeped |
through a crack In the shutters and /
seen the neighborhood children bear
ng their lilies to the feast, she drop
ped her face on her arms ANA cried |
and cried and cried, until the baby .
began to fret. then she took him up
and walked up and down and up and
Town, until she was so tired she
could hardly keep moving.
Later In the afternoon her mother
,ame back.
II hurried So she said. rs 1t too
ate for you to get ready for tne
east?"
"Oh. mother, do you think
,ould?" cried Lucia. joyfully. do
'ou, mother?"
You might try" said her mother
hopefully. and in less time than it
axes t. tell it Lucia. slth The lily in
Ter hard. was speeding up the street.
Maybe they haven't given the
'rizes yet she kept saying over and
,ver to herself. ''and maybe they
aven't had the feast" But Just as
he crossed the park near the won
erful lady's house the bells rang out
o'clock, and the lady had said that
t O'Clock the cnildren were to go
ONE.
But she kept on. Perhaps" she
ept saying to herself. perhaps they
'on't be gone.''
All breatLless she ran. and then
ust as she turned the corner man
ushed against her, and her beauti-
III lily hung broken and dropping
II its stem.
"Oh, how could her" walled Lucia.
nd stood still and white. how could
e?',
She was turning back towards home
'hen suddenly out on the evening air.
Dated the sound of children's voices.
'rawn by the sound, Lucia went
Iowly toward the wonderful lady's
ouse. Through the window she
ouId see the rows of upturned faces
s her little mates sang of the glad
ess of the Eastertide.
She went timidl. up the steps. The
east was over and her lily was brok-