Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-05
THE SNOW BLOSSOM.

Once upon a time there lived a wicked
old ogre alone in a big house surrounded
bv gardens. And all around these gardens
were high walls towering to the sky.
Just short WAY of WAS the home OF
Hans Olsen. Now, Hans loved flowers
and one day he peeped through crack
in the high fence to take view. Under
big tree he saw the ogre asleep and nt ms
feet was a tiny plant trampled and broken
by the big shoes of the ogre.
While Hans looked the ogre awoke and
went away, but the boy slipped through
the hole and Strengthened the plant. lie
tied up its branches to a stick IN the
ground and watered it from spring in the
corner of the garden. This he did every
day for a week and by then the plant be-
gan 10 grow and lift up its head proudly.
One morning as the lad WIS about 70
sim through the wall TO run homo the
ogre came out suddenly from path near
by. .,,.
in nv garden" demanded the ogre IN an
angry voice. :,
Il was only keeping tiny flower alive,
sir. gasped Hans. :,
'You better look out TO keep yourself
alive" snorted the ogre. II have great
mind 10 keep YOU At work IN my mime, but
as cannot work in the earth at this time
Of the wear | will release you VI you Will
give me yosIr word of honor to return 10
me at the end of the year. Ii you forget
to come or will not come, | Will destroy
everything vuur father owns, every sheep,
cow and horse. If YOU shall keep your
word | shall work you in the emerald
mines for 20 wears and At the end OF that
time set you free
Too much frightened TO know what he
| way sewing, Hans promised.
Now. remember" shouted the ogre
"you must be here In this garden at IN
the evening on the eve of the New Year.
| Only one thing in the world can release
YOU from Your oath. You are fond OF
! flowers. so. If on New Years Eve you can
| find here in the garden anything to bloom,
| will set you free at once-and give you
bag Of gold in the bargain
Hans fed home. The spring and sum
mer soon came and went. The fall arrived.
The flowers died; flurries OF snow came
and Christmas passed. Then came the
| day before New Years.
After dark Hans set out to the garden IN
which he was to meet the ogre. Under the
| big tree beneath which his plant had been.
| he stopped. He saw that the vine was
| there and still green. as the lad had tied 1T
| Just then the ogre came tramping down
| the path.
4 Hal well, here you are, my ladF' he
said II am glad to see you are lad OF
/ your word. A fine boy you will make TO
! work in the emerald mines"
/ Hans thought it useless to expect to
| find any blossoms in this cold snow. But
| as he pushed the snow about with his
heavy shoes he caught sight of a bloom
resting on the earth at the root of the
plant In haste ne carefully removed
] every bit of SNOW and there was lovely
! golden blossom shining-the Christmas
/ rose.
We'll, my boy" laughed the ogre,
| 'tyour care made this sheltered plant
/ bloom even in the snow. Go home and
take this bag of gold and the plant to
your father
II need not be said that in short time
! the boy was at home and the gold poured
| out on the table. Ever after in Hans
| yard there bloomed the Christmas rose
In the SNOW.