Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-03-29

| pany from the city, and the cook and
the other maids must have all ready
to begin work SO soon as they came
from church. AS yes, when heard
the bells I was sad at first, for l
thought to myself that every one, the
wide land through, may go to church
on Easter day and be glad that the
spring is coming, and hear the blessed
music, and promise to be good, and
feel quiet and happy. Everybody in
all the land may do this, only not
Jeanne. poor Jeanne. Jeanne must al
ways work And then, dear father,
came the miracle"
The good priest looked startled.
The miracle, my child! Speak not
lightly Of strange matters"
1T was miracle" asserted the
child, positively. 1T made me think
how good Saint Eiizabeth's fagots
we're turned into roses. See, dear
father, I was all unhappy and forlorn,
with my fires to tend and my dishes
to wash and these same black pans
to clean. Then. quite suddenly. sud
denly like a miracle, I remembered,
and that was the miracle" She
laughed merrily at the priests sur
prise.
"You what, my child?"
asked the priest, tenderly, for he loved
the little maid.
why, remembered that It was
Easter here, right here in this kitchen,
big church with the lovely lilies and
the procession. never thought Of 1t
before; but just as soon as remem-
lit 81
like the church, and sang while I
washed the dishes, and was happy.
Then that night took my crocus to
lame Jimmy, and he just loved it.
Why, dear father, my Easter was
beautiful, and It has kept me still and
happy like ever since; and the cook
says have not been so careless.
The priest bowed his head. 1T 10
I. dear child, who have learned the
Easter lesson from you," he said
devoutely.
The child did not understand; but
she washed her hands and dried them
on the towel, then came and stood be-
side the priest.
"And L remembered you, too, dear
father" she said softly. 81 remember.
ed how you stood at the altar year
ago. and how you told US the story
Of the new. life hidden in the little
seeds, pushing their way upward to
the light, and how the new life in the
heart of child may push its way,
too. and blossom in gentle Deeds"
The priest put his hand on her
shoulder and looked into her earnest
eyes.
ooh, yes, we all remember" said
the little maid. smiling confidentally.
Annette and Marie and Leone went
by the house today. and they came
in to bring ME new blue ribbon and
a story book. See how good they are!
And they always smile to me when
they go to school, and quite often they
ask me If cannot go out to play, And
sometimes cook lets me go, so she Is
good. too"
But they Quarrelled over their
Easter offerings" murmured the
priest 81 heard them when they went
by my window"
Then the little maid smiled again.
But they will forget that in the
morning. Perhaps they were tired to-
day"
The priest felt rebuked. II thank
you, little maid" he whispered. you
are right. Tomorrow is another day.
The priest will remember. was tired
tonight, too"
Then he walked from his dream. He
straightened himself on the bench,
slowly stood up on his tired old legs,
and passed his hand over his eyes.
"How real it vast" he thought to
himself. I wonder IL Jeanne really |
thought on Easter day that her kitchen |
was like the church! l truly believe |
she did. Yes. l am sure she did. Bless !
the little maid"
-~eae.,ae ~oou-