Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1897 — THE EASTER LILY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE EASTER LILY.

hmmmimm) ASTER wns but a SHI, ;■ ly fortnight off and two little girls, Lulu aud Fanny, were watchswjfifc ing with great inter|||M est mamma’s calla, which at last was Every mornI T ing they came early to tlie windows, Ig. where a few house *&) plants were struggling for existence, and although every

time they hoped to find a flower, and every time were so sadly disappointed, still the next morning found them at their post, hoping, in their childish faith, that, some little blossom might be found for them. All winter long they had watched the tiny leaflets unfolding, and these few plants had been carried back and forth, from one window to another, to catch every gleam of sunshine that strayed into the little room they called home. Every night these little loving hands had carefully covered the delicate leaves for protection from the chilling winds that would creep through the cracks and crevices, for old Borens is a cold-hearted fellow, who shows little mercy for the poor, and worries his way into their chimney corners as if he were a welcome visitor. Bflt I don’t think he had caught sight of this little bit of summer or he would have curled up the leaves with bis cold fingers, and blown with bis icy breath, until the tiny stalks became limp nnd lifeless, and the soil itself stiffened around the poor little roots. The little girls knew! all this, nnd hnd covered their treasures so carefully at night, nnd cared for them so tenderly by day. that .at Inst they were to be rewarded l'qr all their labor—the lily hail bwltj'pj.' lifiTTg years ago—in fnet, so many that it seemed to Lulu and Fanny a beautiful dream—there was n dear little home, where plants bloomed in the windows, nnd n warm fire gleamed in the grate; nnd in the springtime birds sang in the trees, and the lawn was covered with the greenest grass, where the bright spring flowers opened their eyes. And then, somehow, for the little girls could not tell how, all these beautiful things had faded away, only they nnd mamma were left, nnd mummn had to sew all the time, and sometimes she cried, too. Now these plants were all the gnrden they had; and only to think of it, the lily had budded; they were so happy; they must look oftener than before to see if the flower were almost there.

So (lie days crept by, and it seemed ns if the lily would never unfold. To be sure, the winter wan long anil cold, aud some days so dark nnd cloudy that the sun forgot to look into their windows, and some nights were so cold that the lily itself came near being chilled, so the bud was not very strong. However, the days were getting warmer, for Easter was almost there. At Sunday school the teacher had told the children that on that day Christ had risen front the dead, and how beautiful the Enster morn would become to them if Christ indeed had risen in their hearts, and she went on to tell how some Christians, during the forty days before Easter, would deny themselves some known pleasure and strive to consecrate themselves anew to Christ. “My dear girls,” she added, "are not we all willing to deny ourselves something for the sake of Christ? to give up some amusement, or habit, or treasure, that perhaps may be crowding us out of the kingdom? “Is there not some object dear to us we are willing to give up for him? He gave his all for us—life, kingdom ami heaven itself; his precious blood was shed, that we through him might live; and what have we done for him? Is there not something we can lay upon the altar ns a sacrifice, so we may be prepared to receive his love into our hearts?” All the way homo front Sunday school, Lulu ami Fanny were talking about what they could do for Christ; and perhaps, because they did not quite understand what was meant, or else had so little to give, they were a long time wondering what they could give to Christ; at last Fanny said: “I know what it is—the lily, we can give the lily to Christ; you know the teacher said it must be something we thought a great deal of, something dear to us, and I believe we care more for the lily than anything else.” “But how will we send the lily to him?” asked Lulu. “I don’t know,” said Fanny, “but I guess God will show us how.” And now that the lily was to be given to God, they bestowed more care than ever upon it; each day the bud grew larger, and you could begin to see a rim of white above the green.

The days sped on, and there were only four days till Easter, but in the meantime a malignant disease had settled over part of the city, and little children were rapidly falling at its approach; each mother t reinbled as she held her loved ones, for who knew how near the angel of death might be; he hovered around the homes of wealth and comfort, and of poverty and want, until at last the shadow fell across the street and into the room where the Easter lily was. Fanny lay there unconscious of the sadness and gloom that had settled upon their little home; sometimes in the delirium of fever she would talk about the lily—God’s lily, as they called it now. Each day the shadows deepened, so dark, so sad, and to-morrow was Easter. • All night mamma and Lulu watched the little sufferer, hoping for some word or look of recognition; morning was slowly dawning, Easter Sunday, when so many ages ago Christ had risen from the dVad, and brought with him light and life to the waiting soul. Away off in the - distance you might catch the chime of the old cathedral bells as they rang in the joyous morn—perhaps some of the music reached Fanny’s ears, for half opening her eyes she stretched her hand toward Lulu and whispered: “I will take the lily to him.” dust them the sunshine burst into the room, Lulu turned to the window, and there uufolded in all its beauty was the lovely lily. Long hours afterward, when the Sabbath bells were pealiug their glad noteß, and choral voices sang. “The Lord Is risen

indeed," the little c'liid lay, there so still, so beautiful, with the smile of heaven upon her lips, and holding in the waxen fingers her precious gift, the Easter lily.