Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1915-04-09
The Prize Egg
An Easter Story
An Easter Story

III gestions. one confectioner's
window was entirely filled
with chocolate covered eggs of all
sizes and large pacard announced
Each egg in this window contains a
valuable and unique prize. All eggs
are the same price, % cents. Each egg
will open on Easter morning"
Passersby paused to look and read
the notice, and not few entered the
shop to purchase.
Presently winsome looking girl and
a very tall young man paused in front
of the window He looked inquiringly
az her, and she smiled; then they went
in, coming out again In n few minutes
carrying a small box.
That evening at the girls home they
opened the package and examined the
egg.
"Shall we break It," she questioned,
cor wait until Easter and see what
happensW
"Oh, let's waltz he answered. 81
don't suppose 1t will have anything
worth while inside, and 1t may not
]
be chemically arranged"
The egg was again put In its box
and laid away where the girl promised
! 1t would remain until the arrival Of
/ the man on Easter morning.
Easter dawned fair and beautiful,
and while It was quite early the man
! arrived to find the girl anXiously await
ing him.
They opened the box with care and
gently laid the egg on the table. The
surface of chocolate was rs smooth as
when purchased.
For half Iu hour they watched it
closely and were about to give up
when the Girl noticed a faint crack
/ across the top. Very slowly it spread
in fact, almost impcrcepdbly-until,
quite without realizing how it happen
| ed or when. the two halves Of the egg
! lay on the table and between them a
small object wrapped in tissue paper
Very gingerly she tore off the paper
and cried in disgust when she saw
only a dirty old silver dollar.
still" he exclaimed practically, "a
dollar is dollar, no matter how old it
is" He took it from her ana looked at
it closely. feeling it all over, when the
eagle opened, ana the face Of wo-
man smiled UP mt him.
oh" Suddenly lie raised it to his
lips, kissing it passionately.
The girls expression instantly chang
ed from sweet winsomeness to a jeal-
GUS fury, and she snatchcd the dollar
from him.
How dare you kiss that woman
when you say you love me- She fair
| ly Kissed the words, and her angry
eyes devoured the lovely features OF
the almost faded picture.
He took it gently from her, holding
! It tenderly in his hand, while he put
his arm around her, and there was
wonder in his voice when he spoke.
Strange and improbable as it seems
that is my mothers photograph"
How curious" she murmured from
his shoulder
you see how thin and worn the dol
lar is" he continued. THAT is because
my father carried it for ten years, and
then one day absentmindedly he spent
! it. He never knew where or how, but
it was gone, and he was never able to
find trace of 1t, though don't believe
he has ever given up trying.
think mother felt it until she saw
how it worried father; then she made
light of it by saying she wondered
whose husband was carrying her pic
ture now. How glad they will
be-" He raised the eagle to look once
more into the beautiful tender eyes
that so the girl thought at the mo
ment, were exactly like his.
81 thought | would be afraid of her,
the girl said slowly, but | won't be
unless she has changed. Has sheT
"Only to become more beautiful. This
was taken before | was born.
You will change that way some day
dear, and | shall watch you as my
father watched her You do love me
| know it now" he said with convic
ton, for you We're jealous when
kissed the picture, and you couldn't be
unless you cared"
Once more she gazed upon the pic
ture; then, closing the dollar she slip
ped it into his vest pocket.
Take it TO her, dear" she hesitat
ed-"and tell her it came out Of prize
egg, but that a girl who hopes some
day to be loved as much as she is send,
II, and
"Then," he interrupted, you're go
ing to say yes today"
I'm still in doubt about lots OF
things, but do love you, and | want q
beautiful mother to love me, and
"YOu darling" He lifted her off hel
feet for second ana crushed her t.
him.
As he pat her down they both noticed
the egg had closed, and only Il fain
crack showed where 1t had been split.
Yes, It's a strange egg" he said il