Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-03-29
An Easter Seruice
BY A. T. N.

by "A. i. N.
J Tie old priest was tired. He hat
eaten his bowl OF bread and milk, anG
was sitting on his rude bench in the
plain little room, wondering il the day
had been well spent. He had not fel,
rested since Easter. He had worked
hard to teach the older children, had
encouraged the little ones to bring
their lilies to the altar, and had trained
the mischievous boys to forget theil
fun and folly for the hour and to walk
quietly in the procession besides their
sisters. He remembered still the tri
umphant music, the fragrance Of the
flowers, thu radiant faces of the chill
dren., Surely the blessed peace had
come to rest in their hearts evermore
and again he prayed that they might
all be good and help each other.
Through the window close by his
bench came the sound of laughter and
children's voices. He raised his head
eagerly and listened.
But am sure, Marie, that my lily
was the most beautiful one in the
church. You are very unreasonable to
doubt it, did you notice Its. golden
heart? Yours was quite small"
"But, Leone, II you will please to re-.
member that l carried six to the altar
and four Of them had buds, too. You
had Just one"
But 1 put in more money than
either of you. The money is better
than lilies" interrupted Annette.
Him! Anybody could give money IL
her father"-But her Leone stopped,
warned by the wrath in Annette's
eyes.
whats the good Of Easter, any
how" queried Marie. ''It's a lot Of
trouble to get ready, and It's nothing
but church and singing after all. But
wasn't 1t bad of Jeanne not to come to
Easter at all? I suppose she wouldn't
come because she had nothing to
bring
The priest sank back on the hard
bench as the voices passed the win
dow and were lost in the distance.
"And l thought Marie and Annette
and Leone were my best children!"
He sighed mournfully. "They knew
the responses b. heart, and they sang
the very loudest. Can It be that only
pride and envy and unkindness are in
their hearts?''
He felt again that he was tired.
Perhaps the children were right. Had
Easter, indeed, been worth all the la
Dor of preparation, all his loving
thought for children who could forget
SO soon? Suddenly he clasped his
hands together ard prayed, leaning on
his staff:
Dear Lord, fear and doubt. l
know not il my labor was good in thy
sight Did anybody care? Is there q
single one who keeps the Easter mes.
sage in his heart? Give me sign,
O Lord, that may know II my work
was good. il there is left single child
who kept the Easter truly"
Then the good priest forgot that he
was tired. He leaned his head back
against the wall and fell asleep.
Then. in a dream. he remembered
the little maid Of whom the girls had
last spoken,--Jeanne, whose face was
not among those lifted to him on
Easter Day. He had not seen her in
q long time. A great sadness came
over him as he remembered how ear.
nestly he had tried to teach her
Then. still in his dream he rose and
went out Of the house and sought the
little maid. He found her in great
kitchen where she was scrubbing the
pans, all alone. When she saw him
she ran forward with a great Joy in
her face.
And is it really you. dear father?"
she cried Pardon me that l can
leave not my pans and kettles. must
make all clean before the twilight
chases away the light. And are you
quite, quite well?" she asked anxious.
ly, perhaps noting the look of sadness
on his brow.
Eyes, am well,' he replied gravely.
sand you? l saw you not at the
blessed Easter service"
The child's bright face clouded
little then cleared again. NAY, could
not go to church on Easter Day. Yet
| had hoped long for it. and I had
practised the hymns, and I had truly
Tower to take to the church. 1t was
l crocus. 4 dear little white crocus:
md they stay fresh a long, long time.
you should have come to church"
said the priest, briefly.
Then the little maid smiled a radi-
ant smile, as beautiful as the smiles
Of the children who sang on Easter
day. NAY. father, 70 to the church
On Easter day could not. You know
have not my time for myself, and
when the church bells rang I was here
n my kitchen. Some one must stay
and watch the fires, for on Easter
Lay. We had.a grand dinner with com.