Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-07
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81 IL LIZZIE o THOMAS @ N.Y. v
LADY APRIL.


Queen Of the lilies white;
Thy garments all fragrant Of scent OF
thyme
Bathed in a rosy light.
Smiling and weeping. sweet roguish child,
Most cherished OF Mother Earth,
Shake from thy apron Of gauzy dew
The blossoms which greet thy birth
In This land OF sunshine April is not
so much the harbinger OF fruits and
flowers as the earnest. the guarantee OF
the good things winter declared spring
had in store for US.
Yesterday I had an armful of pink hon
eysuckIes and more day lilies than
could hold The moCkingbirds sang all
lay long and the jays fitted from tree
20 shrub and hack to the vines as II too
happy 70 be still. The river shone Ike
melted silver and the blue sky was dot
ted hirher and thither with a network
OF feecy clouds.
Anrfi in The FAR north the promiser OF
later glories. the harbinger OF May. $
blue skies with the tears Of childhood,
tears that come and 30 IN sunshine
Away M there the goddess is slowly
drawing her mantle Of snow from Mother
Earth and giving her the flowers that
have nestled snug aud warm on that
ample breast throughout winters reign
Here the goddess sees the violet and
lily 'broidered robe that Mother Earth
wears and cannot blame winter for
starting and stopping again and again
60 gentle has been old winters reign in
this far southland few OF the birds or
even the butterflies fear him. and the
roses have decked the land with beauty
and sweetened the air. a close rival 10
the orange flowers and violets-
April. the month in this land OF beauty
for the woods 10 call and even the house
keepers TO respond Happy is the home
in which the mother feels that call ana
with the children packs a basket and
spends a day. or even an afternoon, IN
der the magnolia. the beech or the stately
pine. The yellow bells of the jasmine
swing from all imaginable places and the
ground is carpeted with flowers OF every
hue Close 10 Mother Natures heart
there is an elixir that permeates the
heart OF her children and teaches them
lessons that cannot be learned from books
nor garnered from any teacher save one
who has learned Of her
To the sick and sorr0wing what Is more
soothing than TO lie under a spreading
oak and listen 10 the hum of insects,
watch the white clouds go sailing across
the sky and idly wonder what story the
bee i whispering 20 the flower, Is us
storehouse almost full or what has 1t
decided shall be the flavor OF the honey
for its oueenZ Bereavements and griefs
come to every heart. never has normal
man or woman gone through life without
shedding tears. longing for the footsteps
that shall no more echo throughout the
halls OF their homes, or for the clasp OF
the hands that. waxen and folded, hidden
from sight that sad. sad day. but when
the burden seems heavier than can be
borne the heart OF nature calls. and alone
with the Savior in that silent retreat life
assumes its wonted calm and the peace
that passeth understanding comes once
more into the saddened life.
Some OF US have been so busy that we
have almost forgotten how the hills look,
and we have not seen the sun come
peeping over the hills in a long time
True we may have been in Kitchens or
f0oling with stock or even Flowing the
fields. but our hearts have not been lifted
10 the Giver OF all good things in praise
and thanksgiving for the pink and salmon
Of the morning sky. the tender green OF
the trees and the fresh clean charm Of
the morning
This morning as 1 watched the waters
OF the St Johns river glow and simmer
as the Aurora pulled back the curtains
OF dawn for the god OF day 10 come torth.
! wished that every reader OF these
pages could stand with hearts free from
care and turmoil and lift their eyes 10
lbe changing curtain and see the mist
dissolve into sunshine as he gradually
appeared
In conclusion let me beg each Of you
10 find some time. some twilight hour.
whether early morning or at morn rise
10 commune with nature. Let the Maker
OF this beautiful earth speak 10 your
heart In the silent time and lift you TO a
higher plane. lift you to the place that
is above selfishness and beyond deceit.