The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-08-29


overhowed with hope at this indica-
tion that the little sufferer was on the
road to recovery.
In week the episode Of the miss
ing sheet of paper was forgotten. Lit
tie Flora, indeed, improved. Day by
day she grew stronger. Always was
she cheerful, happy, with bright |
essence of sunshine that permeated !
the life Of the whole village, Many a |
| burdened heart revived at sight of |
the patient, loving little creature, who |
saw only love and helpfulness as her
rare mission Of life.
Click. the man who sat on the
other side Of that fateful garden wall
had been too absorbed in his misery
to heed the sounds about him. lie
got ready the deadly weapon. Then
1t dropped suddenly from his nerve
less fingers There had come float
ing down like a dove of peace, like a
heavenly messenger, sheet of paper
1t fell directly in his lap. With awed
staring eyes Robert Dale read the
rude, scrawling words:
Never say die
A quick revulsion Of feeling passed
over him. Whence had the message
come? No one was In sight, What
but Providence could have directed
this strange occurrence at the most
critical moment Of his life! He burst
into tears, he dropped to his knees
and new strength and impulse came
into his life.
: Two years later little Flora and her
!. parents attended a meeting at the
, town hall OF the village 1t had been
announced some time previous that
Robert Dale, wealthy city merchant,
had purchased the grounds beyond the
garden wall meeting had been
called where he was to publicly donate
y the land and $4,000 to build an or.
! phan asylum.
Mr.. Dale arose and made the formal
tender OF his beneficence to the town
Then hts face grew grave and solemn
!, as he stated that he wished to tell
why he had been impelled to his phli
!. anthropic action He recited his ex
perience the day when that strange
message had come to him. He told
. how, banishing his cowardly fears, ne
had gone back to the city nerved to
combat his business difficulties ant
had turned the tide OF disaster to one
Of prosperity.
IL Then he took from treasured cor
y ner In his poCketbook folded piece
OF paper and passed 1t around amon'
Mt the audience, the precious sheet OF pa
IS per bearing the words;
ah Never say die!
The little scrap Of paper passe'
We among two rows Of seats. AS 1t cam
st to Mr.. Easton little Flora uttered
eI quick cry:
en "Oh. papa, It's my writing. Don
er YOU remember that day In the gar
- DEM"
its The story spread like wiIdfire an
er soon Robert Dale learned OF 1t. ]
him the sweet little child whose SIN
in ple action had saved him from goih
Il down a wreck was as an angel 9
Sc mercy. sent to guide him in the dari
on est hour Of his career.
Not only for him, but for others WI
sly had felt the gentle, hopeful inhuehc
OF little Flora. the rare perfume
=" her loving soul seemed TO diHuse hop
and happiness everywhere,
tie As Robert Dale left the Easton hon
nS the following day the lofty flight OF
we bird appeared to symbolic the pur
fed aspirations of his better natur
Try The lark was flying straight into u
of face of the glowing sun, It's Wild 81
up rious note echoing like a call 10 III
ed TO duty. Then It was lost to yieW' o.
the in the fervor OF his grateful natur
ing to Robert Dale It seemed as tnous
Of the lark was singing at heavens gae'
len Ccopynght, 1914, By W g. chapman)