Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1915-04-01
The easter LILY

The burning rays of the setting sun
were blazing their way through the
stained glass windows of st. Marks
Church, turning to FURNISHED cop
per the head of the girl who stopped
TO arrange and re-arrangc some flow
ers on the altar which she was en-
gagged in decorating for the Easter
services.
1t was a slim Little figure that how
cred cover first this plant then that,
touching them with loving hands as
she carefully moved them here and
there and humming all the while the
last hymn that had been sung that
afternoon at service SO deeply en-
crossed was she in her task OF dec
Grating that she heard neither the
sound of a steaithily opened door nor
an almost silent football on the thick
carpet, but proceeded with her work
unannoyed. and it was not until the
sun had finally dipped below the
horizon. flooding the whole church
with that afterglow of color divine.
that she gave the final critical look
at the artistic banking of palms and
lilies on the altar. Then, apparently
satisfied. she donned her coat and
proceeded slowly out of the church.
Hardly had the faint smothered
sounds of her footsteps died away
than the slight form of a child crept
stealthily out from behind a pillar
and with many furtive glances around
her. cautiously wormed her way up
the aisle to the altar. where in silent
ecstasy. she stood gazing at the pro-
fusion of blossoms and plants there
on.
Clasping and unclasping her thin
little hands. the child was a most pa
thetic little figure; her raggedness'
thinness and wanness all the more
cruelling brought out by the direct
contrast to the deep. rich red of the
carpet the comfortable pews and the
splendor and glory of the last rays OF
the living day as they tenderly touch
ed and caressed the green and white
flowers as If reluctant to give them
into the keeping Of the dark, myster-
ious night
For one blissful moment the child
stood before that sacred place en-
thralled: then with wavering steps,
as a child just learning TO walk. she
moved toward the wonderful Para
disc. and leaning forward, lovingly
and lightly touched first this lilly,
then that, murmuring softly To her-
self, "Oh. If fancy could only haVo
one of these lilies to watch It grow
She might get better and forget her
pain sometimes"
No sooner had the though OF Janey
swept over her. than her feelings OF
awe and fearsome delight with which
the unaccustomed sight of such beau
ty had inspired her ragged, rough lit
tie being. vanished.
Only one Thought was clear: fancy
ought TO have the lily. so fancy
should have it: and she. accustomed
only to the ways Of the street wherein
one took that which one wanted, pro-
vided, of course. that he possessed
sufficient amount OF physical strength
and cunning to do so, cast a furtive
glance around her. and with an al
lmost abnormal sense of secretiveness
hastily chose a unusually beautiful
plant with two blooms on IL; then 81.
lently and stealthily she crept TO
the door.
Just as she opened the door TO the
vestibule of the church she ran into
? figure coming In, who was none
other than the cOpper-haired ladl
come back for a forgotten glove.
Quickly she lodged. but not before
the lady had seized her and demanded
in stern tones what she was dbinf
with that flower. Like all culprits o.
that class. when actually caught in
the very act of wrong-doing, the child
broke down and fell fawningly at the
feet of the lady to implore her for
givenness.
In the meanwhile. 1t had grown al
most dark and until the lady heard
the sharp. shrill tones of the voice
with the flower, she had no idea thai
she had caught a child in the very
act of carrying off one of the pref
test lilies in the church.
Upon this discovery she took th'
supplicating little figure by the arm
and gently led it to the nearest win
dow, and when she beheld the pitt
full rags. the old, drawn and pincheI
look on the queer little face. she wa
rendered almost speeches. by The
amount of tears in her voice.
Controlling herself she proceeded
as best she could to worm out Of thu
sobbing child her reasons for takin'
the flower. and also to tell her as kind
~ as possible. how wrong it was Il
take anything that did not belong Il
her.
At the thought of Janey however
the child forgot herself entirely, ant
bursting into loud, uncontrolled sobs
she allowed herself to be drawn int
the arms of the stranger and afte
the first wild outburst had passe'
away. found herself listening 10
wonderful story about a man nameI
Jesus, who had died and come bacl
to life. and how il was for Him tina
the lily grew so spotless and pure
AS the story progressed, the child
eyes grew larger, and II must paw
been a wonderfully touching seen
: that the old moon witnessed whei
she peeped into the vestibule of tina
church. and saw the arms of a slim
copper-haired lady wrapped about tn
emaciated form of little stray chic
: their faces aglow with the telling o
a a wonderful story and listenin
4 thereto.
However. they we're brought bacl
4 In the realization of time by the strik
1 ing of the town clock. and with quic
decision. the "Angel-lady" chat wa
how the little stranger had come 4
4 think of herr took the lily which sh
d had brought from her own conserva
( tory that afternoon, and taking III
Z child by the hand, said:
I'VE will go together and tax
Janey the lily
Quizzically. the child looked at he
4 new-found friend. and with much shy
{ ness proceeded to show her wher
\ she lived.