The Mount Holly news., 1919-12-23
CELESTA
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By BRUCE BEREsFoRD
Copyright. 1919 BY the Western News.
paper UnioAl

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Copyright. 1919 By the Western News.
paper Union.I
When father was cross and mother
tired out and sister Emma in a bad
temper, pretty, gentle Aida Percy had
an unfailing source of respite and
| pleasure-Celesta.
Celesta was her pet canary. He was
nothing of singer although he had
a full vocabulary of little chirpings.
of odd expressiveness, covering a gamut
from pitiful pleading down to the
harsh infections of complaint and
scolding. AS to his cute capers and
tricks, his gyrations on his perch and
his taking ways of daintily picking a
cherry from Aida's own ruby lips and
swinging on her neck chain extended
lengthwise, he was acrobatic, entertain.
Ing, guest and lover all in one. He
greeted her with joyful whistle at
dawn and all but kissed her good
night. Friends might prove false and
suitors tiresome, but Celesta thought
only of Aida, lived only for her, and
when one day he lay dead in the bot
tom of his cage Aida could not have
mourned more sincerely If 1t had
been a cherished member of the fam
lily.
Aida took no one into the matter Of
the final disposition of her dead pet.
If there is birds heaven" she
told her mother, "Celesta's spirit has
gone there AS to the poor little body,
1t shall go back to the elements of ma
ture that composed it."
So Aida went down to the basement
where the Janitor had his Office. She
had been to the florists and had OBJ
tanned little box lined with soft
white cotton. In this she placed the
dead bird, covering him with flowers.
This imprOmptu casket she covered
with folds Of soft tissue paper. The
Janitor was conversing with a bright
faced, well dressed young man as Aida
entered the office.
"Mr. Nelson" she spoke, extending
the parcel in her hand, "will you
please place this in the furnace. 1t is
my dead pet bird. Celesta, and / have
no place to bury him."
The young man had drawn aside to
afford Aida an opportunity to proffer
her request. As she told the object Of
her mission he removed his hat, and
Aida was grateful for what she took
to be a recognition of respect, fond In
terest in the dead companion of many
happy hours. Tears were in her eyes
as she parted with all that remained
of her little favorite. She turned away
with only casual glance at the young
man.
1t was an impulsive remark Of a
close girl friend that caused her new
uneasiness and worry after she had
become quite resigned to her loss.
Aida had told this friend of the fate
of the little bird. "Oh, Aida! how
could you have consented to such a
shocking thing as having poor Celesta
burned up!" exclaimed Winnie Tow
ner, and the more Aida thought of the
act the deeper grew her regret and
melancholy. One day she came across
the janitor.
"Of course you disposed of my bird
as l suggested?" said Aida.
''No, Miss, / didn't" came the amaz-
ing reply. young Mr.. Worrell asked
me all about you that day you came
to my office. He opened the little box
and saw the flowers and everything.
Nelson he says to me, will take
charge of this. We have quiet pretty
spot in our home garden where l am
going to bury it,"
And who Is Mr.. Worrell?" ques-
toned Aida, load seeming to have
been lifted from her heart.
He and his sister own the building
here" explained the janitor HE is
the young man who was here the day
you brought the bird to me- He and
his sister live In the big house with an
iron fence all around beautiful gar
den up on Mersey street, opposite the
library building"
So little Celesta had appealed to
other hearts than her own! A feel
ing Of the most fervent gratitude to-
ward Blake Worrell came to Aida, to
remain permanently. One pleasant af-
ternoon she walked slowly by the
place the janitor described Aida look
ed beyond the fence across the lovely
flower beds and shrubbery, wondering
where the grave of Celesta could be,
and experiencing a sensation of rare
relief and gladness to realize that her
favorite reposed amid such beauty and
peace.
A man and a woman came from the
house and turned down the street
toward the spot where Aida stood.
She recognized the young man of the
janitor's room. He half paused,
slightly lifted his hat and passed on
while Aida flushed, she knew not why.
The pair halted a few feet further
on and the sweet faced lady, Worrell's
sister, came back to Aida.
MY brother tells me you are Miss
Percy" she spoke. "Can I venture to
think that you would like to see where
We have placed Celesta, alongside of
two of our own remembered house
hold pets?"
That broke the ice and let loose
food of fervid emotions in the impress
sible Aida. The three visited a little
mound In a peaceful corner of the
lovely garden. and when they parted
Aida was warmly invited to again
meet these true souled people, whose
thoughts were so closely in harmony
with her own.
And with the first flowers of spring
blossoming, 1t was by the side Of her
husband that Aida Worrell looked
down upon the little mound so pre-
cious to both.