The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17
THE STORY OF A VASE
1as j. D. REID

, We knew we were thin, and in packing
 were marked handle with care but of our shape and talent we were kept in
 utter ignorance. Until one day, when the holly was hanging around, when We saw the tiny sleighs and tool boxes being pulled from their places, the marbles
 were rattling one two, three in their
 boxes and the dolls were crying aloud, we wished we could only make a fuss. About that time one little girl came and gave us q stare, and said T have been looking for something to give mama,
 and pointing to me said. T wonder why that vase would not do2 It has beauti-
 ful red rose on It's face and it's finishing is of gold; it is the color of scarcely
 tinted sky. and is very pretty The price, please? ?' The party addressed, to be in line with the others. fearing maybe if we knew our real value We might strike for better shelf. very slowly gave the information, and 1 was wrapped in piece of brown paper and placed In a
 basket with dolls and sleds and tiny reindeer, and had another jolting. Then
 finally we were showed under the bed in a dark place to wait. We thought among l those little atoms that would not be of much importance anywhere But l was I bit wiser; my new owner had told me my name a vase. Is 1t a wonder I
 guessed again and again for what vase was made. Just how long we stayed | in the dark we can only imagine. But after the stars were shining and the moon
 could send It's rays through the panes
 of glass a gentle voice said, Come here,
 sister, and let's get our Christmas things together. for not a creature Is stirring,
 not even a mouse, "
 As they pulled the basket out and began to dislodge its belongings we heard a shrill cry and we wondered If We were broken; but soon they found the ants had gotten to tho candy, and in the
 mixup 1 was covered with the pests and
 sister remarked they are In mamma vase, but l glad thy did not get in
 the dolls hair" There was much scram-
 bling for the ants, they were not of the kind to make Christmas presents. l cared very little for the changing scenes; made Of clay myself the all-absorbing ego pre- dominated. My own destiny was my only
 care. I was carefully washed and pol
 ished. and around my neck was placed frai blue ribbon. to one end of which was tied bunch of holly and on the other was fixed a card bearing the words
 ITO mama. with loving wishes; from
 Sarah. Xmas, 1S-'
 The dawn Of December 18th brought many scenes of happiness, of love ex- pressed, In gifts which were passed
 around the breakfast table after tho
 stockings. filled by good old St
 Nick. had been emptied by the lt- l tls folks. In the center of the table there stood filled with
 sparkling water from the artesian we'll
 and a glorious bunch of Christmas lilies
 The vase was marked "for mama and 1 was glad to have fallen to such
 splendid ownership. and placed a value | of untold worth upon myself. What a privilege to hold bouquets for mother l the most sacred office ever performed l by Christmas gift. This gift spoke ] volumes to mother through years of use
 fulness l was with her when the nursery
 rhymes sang her babes to sleep. [ rested
 near her time piece on the bedroom
 mantel and sometimes when the bleak
 ness of winter had killed the blossoms
 her thimble and scissors elung close to
 my heart: and the red rose that bloomed
 always on my face remained through storms and snow to give her the sweet
 ness of daughters love.
 l Just how many years I lived near the
 warmth of her freside I can never tell | But I was there when the church bell tolled. calling her friends as they bore l her life partner away, and when she
 came home from the churchyard. wearing
 her gown of wourning, she held in her
 hands a sacred bunch of blooming roses.
 and had me to keep them fresh for her. l One by one as her children left the nursery door and began to battle with