Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-10-07
The Gardener and the
FLOlUer.

The gardener was delighted at the
flower from the tiny plant he had but
Just placed in a good spot in his gar
den. assured in his mind that ii was
to be one of rare beauty and exquisite
grace. Day after day he cared for. it
to the best of his ability utilizing
every bit of skill at his command,
hoping for the future TO prove his
dream of beauty true. 1t grew, II
grew rapidly and as It developed he
was growing in confidence of not be-
ing disappointed when it came to ma
turity. lie took great pride In show
ing 1t to his friends and to each he
pointed out its foretokens of lovCSi-
ness and worth, until they, too.
caught his spirit OF eagerness and In
forced patience awaited the day when
its bud should open into a beautiful
flower OF extreme grace and sunkisl
tlnts, bewitchng to the eye and
fragrant to the nostril of all who
should come within the environs OF
his garden.
All went well for many days and
eXpe citation grew as time flew sc
swiftly by, until all Of the onlookers
had become as fully expectant OF the
result as the gardener himself and the
SWtlllllS buNi, ltS PtbttAS
creased both interest and desire of all
for the tinted edges of the petals fore
spoke a flower of rarest worth and
beauty. When expectation was al
fever heat then fell the frost Of the
north wind and its icy breath chilled
] the opening bud till 1t dropped and
died.
The gardeners friends came to sec
IL and they tried to console him b,
telling how sad they were at his loss
but his heart seemed chilled by his
great disappointment and he pinet
and dropped as had his precious plant
and II seemed he, too, must feel the
sting of deaths cold dart unless re-
lief came soon. One day, while sit
ting in his garden surrounded by 6
thousand other lovely plants thai
seemed to be doing their utmost tc
revive his dropping spirit by theil
scent and beauty, he suddenly realized
that he was making serious blundel
by his lack OF care for the other plant.
because he spent his time in mourninl
| for the one that was gone. So hi
] lifted up his head and went forth tC
attend to the others. And as he die
so, he found Joy he had not knowr
before in watching the development Of
the plants at hand. This Joy was soor
| multiplied as he began to compare
/ them with tAe expected beauty and
| fragrance of the one he'd lost. AnC
thus he found that he was cheered b,
the memory of the good points of the
flower he'd lost, and then. instead Of
grieving day by day, he came to re-
joice over the Joy the dead flowere
had given him while It lived. Thus
he learned to turn his other disap
pointments In life to a good purpos'
and opened into a beautiful characte
in imitation of the flowers about hin
and tho memory Of the one that nevs
came to Its fullest bloom
And SO may we all. amidst the dis
appointments Of life, the wSeok Of ou
hopes, the spelling Of our plans. tn,
departure OF our loved ones-rsflsot
ing on the Joys we had with then
while they were with VI and msasur
Ing the call Of duty In behalf Of thos
who remain-find balm for on
wounds. healing for our heartAche
lift up our heads and do our work .
OF old. knowing full we'll that al
things work together for good 70 then
that love Cod,