Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-04-04
Easter--Its
Memories
By MARY o'coNNoR NEWELL
Easter memories!

BY MARY ocoNNoR NEWELL
Easter memorics!
Tenderest vanities of earthland, frag-
rant with the odor OF annunciation liliex
and bound about forever with a scrolt
bearing words OF promise. Long ago
the gowns whose soft harmonies de-
lighted have faded. With the vanish
Ing years nave gone the dainty love
tokens. and the lover. Still the coven-
ant remains and the golden glory of the
promise
Far above the high backed pew ths
preachers voice intones the Easter
text.
Stretch Is she may her fat little
neck. Baby Bella cannot see the preach
er She. gives herself over to thoughts
OF glories of her new Easter toilet. A
round. pink checked maiden is she, sit
ting straight n proper as becomes
her years-she count five-in a neW
black silk gown. low of neck and short
o fsleeve and very u of skirt. \
.monstrous scoop bonnet ties with fat
pink bows under her fat pink chin
Admitting contemplation OF her tive
white stockinged legs projecting from
stlfrly Starched pantalets is inter
mingled with pleased anticipation of
soon beholding the fat. pink. also green.
blue and red eggs waiting her at home
nv Ao " lS =
voice soothes like tapping waves. The
church is warm. OF a sudden the pro
prieties of 1S45 are forgotten. Bella'S
head falls against grandmother's Pals
ley w arm and She sleeps.
Il am the Resurrection and the Life"
Again the words of the Easter ext
fall on Miss Bella's ears unheeded.
This Easter Il lover in uniform of blu
stands by her side. About him all her
fhnOVohfC ~ T1fn <x;HA &c Ala ,,~~
gay In the silver dover holder that
bangles from a silver ring ON herl
finger. The new Easter toilet is even
a thought of him., for was not its beauty
and excessive modishness planned to-
win favor in his eyes.
Silver poplin it is. with tight fitting
waist. pointed in front and behind, but
Its full splendor reserved for skirt eff
of close gathered, glisten-
Ing breadths falling over an enormous
crinoline, but lifted on one side to re-
veal the coquetry of a scarlet saith.
petticoat. A crocheted net of scarlet
chenille confines her black curls
scarlet are the loops Of civ that fall
In a curtain from the back of her tiny
triangle OF a bonnet.
The preacher and his world are 30 fa,
away.
Life. and the joy of the lilies-and
lOve-SO near.
= am the Resurrection and the Life"
1t is Il Mistress Bella, now. in the OLD
family pew, husband on one side OF
her, children on the other like heads
upon a lily stalk, who smiles in happy
thought. How John had laughed at.
her coquettish confession that she had
chosen black because she feared shtY
was too old now for bright colors! AS
If the new Easter dress was not chosen.
as a special test of becomingness. with
Its long, slender polonaise and perky
ooWs everywhere over he shirred.
puffed, bouffant, underskirt. There
capote OF glittering jet, with wide bows
of tllmy tulle.
The test a succeeded.
To John. to the children, she would
be always lovely, always young.
Il am the Resurrection and the Life
The little black draped figure of the.
old lady in the high backed pew
Strengthened perceptibly at the words
of h preacher. For an instant her
race against the crepe OF the mourning
veil cleaned like a lamp of alabaster.
Then the flame went out, in grief for
the losses of the years. The husband
and little ones laid away, and thar
last and bitterest loss of all, the boy
that died at Siboney.
Tremblingly h strove to draw the
mourning veil across her face, to con-
eel the slow gathering tears of age.
Straightway Al bundle of chiffon and
satin shook itself awake from her Ian,
and a tender rosebud face framed in
crushed scoop bonnet Of white satin
looked lovingly into hers.
Grandma cry? Bella naughty.
Bella break nice new bonnet? Bella
sorry. Bella can't hear MAJ talks"
Bella Of 20 smiles through tears ~,
Baby Bella. "Grandmother's heart
ease," she whispers. The joy of all the
Casters that are gone were not sweeter
nan her smile. For is not Baby Bella
ways" Of Grandma Bella, and full reg
onDopse9 A0S-