The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-08-10
The Coming of
Spring
20. isas. western Newspaper unlOn-)

By MYRA CURTIS LANE


90. 1923. Western Newspaper Unlon-)
Springs come, grandfather !" Lucy
cnme flying into the living room. where
her grandfather, who had lived with
them and helped support them since,
her fathers death. sat reading the pa
per. Grandfather. get move Oh you !!
Here's spring!"
Her grandfather looked up and
grunted. Her mother, harassed with
the cleaning. turban around her
head, looked into the ROOM "Mother,
here's spring"
For the lands sake, child. what
about itY her mother grumbled.
"Oh, it's so fine to be alive and feel
the spring coming" said Lucy. flying
out Of the front door.
THAT child grows more like wild
thing every day." her mother said.
Her grandfather grumbled and went
on reading his newspaper.
Spring certainly was at hand. There
was delicious smell Of earthly fra
GRANGE In the air. The sunlight
streamed In long shafts through the
budding trees. And In Mrs. Harris
garden two or three crocuses were lift
ing up their yellow heads.
Lucy flew down the street, almost
buttlng into Edwards, the iceman.
"Oh, isn't 1t glorious spring day,
Mr.. Edwardsi" she said. "Aren't you
happy"
"Well, guess the warmer 1t grows
the more Ice folks will want" said Ed
wards.
"Oh, Mr.. Edwards, aren't YOU hor-
rld?" exclaimed Lucy.
She ran on past him. Old Mrs.
Eames was standing at the door Of her
cottage, shaking mat.
Springs come, Mrs. Games :. called
Lucy. isn't it fine? Why, your apple
trees blossoming"
"Sakes, child, I've seen plenty Of
springs before" grumbled old Mrs.
Eames.
"Oh, aren't you glad, Mrs. Eames"
asked Lucy, poutlng.
well, It's fine thing, Lucy, but you
see there's the spring cleaning COM
Ing" Mrs. Eames answered, beating
out a cloud Of dust from the mat.
Lucy turned away and went on.
Horrid old thing! She went down the
street little more slowly. At the next
corner she met old Mr.. Smith, immac-
uIate In spats.
"Oh, Mr.. Smith, doesn't 1t feel like
sprlngT she exclaimed happily.
II guess It does feel that way" ad-
mitted Mr.. Smith. "It's going to be
terribly hard walking with all the mud
and the slush, isn't it?"
"Nasty old man! I" thought Lucy. She
went on and on and on till she came to
the outskirts of the village. A plow-
man stood with his two horses hitched
up.
"weII, this looks like spring, doesn't
itT' said Lucy.
"Oh, guess the old springs here.
sure enough" the plowman grumbled.
what; aren't you glad?"
"Oh, sure; / guess it'll be all right
soon as summer comes. But this here
springs going to mean some mighty
hard work In the fields"
Lucy turned back. All her enthusi.
asm was worn away. Halfway to her
house she met little Tommy Dodson,
bowling.
"Why, what's the matter, Tommy?'
she asked, STOPPING and pettlng him.
'Boo-hoo! The nasty ole springs
come for good I" howled Tommy.
"What Don't you like the spring?"
asked Lucy.
"Naw, hates 1t. Mommer says'now
there won't be no more skating this
year for sure, and I've never used the
new skates she gave me for my birth
day."
Lucy went on, completely sobered.
She didn't care whether II was spring
or not. Everybody seemed hateful to
her. She had been so happy, too, and
there was no response In any one.
She went sadly into the house. When
she entered the living room she saw,
with amazement, that her grandfather
was still sitting in his chair reading
the newspaper. All the elatlon and de-
preston Of spirits that she had gone
through during the past half-hour had
not affected him In the least.
And in the next ftjom she could hear
the rhythmic swish-swish of her moth
er's broom upon the carpet.
Her grandfather looked up. Hello !!
What's this? You crying, Lucy?"
She went slowly to him. "Oh, grand
father, was so happy because spring
had come, and everybody hates It,"
snow, see here, Lucy, dear 1t isn't
me spring, It's just what you put into
n. Didn't you know that? It's you,
yourself, who can make people happy,
n you realize the source Of power In
side you. Just go on being happy and
you'll find you'll make old grouches
like me happy, too. That's the biggest
lesson Of llfe-do you see, LucyT