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THE PRESBYTERI/
For the Children
THE LILIES. '
By Heien Elizabeth Coolidge.
What are the lilies saying
On this glad Easter morn?
oouie in me ureeze are swaying,
Some altars fair adorn;
I think ii tuese pure flowers,
That odors sweet exhale,
Could really preach a sermon,
We'd listen without fail.
If, to their snowy petals,
We'd bend a listening ear,
1 think they'd softly whisper,
"The Savior is 'not here'";
They'd show the hallowed garden,
The Marys hastening there,
And then?tue tomb so empty;
All tuis would they declare.
Then, if we'd closer nestle
And seek their hearts of gold,
A deeper, deeper meaning
Would thev. to us. unfold:
That Easter thoughts are joyful
And drive all gloom away,
Because, as Christ has risen,
The night of death?is?day.
ROSE TAYLOR'S EASTER LILY.
By Sarah N. M'Creary.
Rose Taylor looked carefully over her Easter lily; it
was green and thrifty, but had no buds.
"I do want just one blossom, so I can take it to
church on Easter," she remarked. "Mr. Hood says he
wants every scholar to bring a flower."
The next week Rose was busy with examination, and
she had no time to think of her flower. When she
looked at it again four tiny buds \vere visible.
"They will be just fine for Easter!" she exclaimed.
The lily was faithfully watered, and the buds grew
slowly. A week before Easter they began to open.
When they were full blown they were beauties.
"Nobody will have a prettier flower than mine," Rose
said, happily.
On Saturday morning- before Easter, the scholars,
teachers and superintendent were to decorate the church
tinr1or? whprp the Sabbath school met. Rose went to
help, but decided not to take her flower until Sabbath.
A place was kept for it on the superintendent's table,
however.
"I guess Mr. Hood thought my lily would be nice,"
Rose remarked proudly at dinner. "He kept a place
for it on his table. I will take it down early in the
morning."
"I think you are prouder of the flower than of your
new dress," said her father, smiling.
"T suppose it's because I took all the care of the flower,
and then mv recitation is about the Easter lily," answered
Rose.
After dinner Mrs. Taylor said to her daughter. "T
want you to take a basket, to Miss Phoebe Rarlow this
afternoon. Her rheumatism is bad again. She doesn't
have much to eat. but she is so proud. T hesitate to trv
OF THE SOUTH. April 14, 1909.
to help her. You may tell her this is just an Easter
greeting."
"May 1 stop to see Marion Evans?" asked Rose.
"Yes, but go to Miss Phoebe's first. I don't like to
have you in that neighborhood when it is late," was the
reply.
Mrs. Taylor packed a basket with eggs, meat, bread,
cake and other dainties, and Rose started off with them,
singing as she went.
Miss Barlow was glad when a knock broke the silence.
She had seen 110 face for a week. She was doubly
glad when Rose's cherry countenance appeared.
T I. 1-* * * "
i iji uuijni you a uaskct, .\iiss i'lioebe," was the
greeting. "Mamma said to tell you it was her Easter
remembrance. You needn't empty the basket; I'll get it
another time. How is your rheumatism?"
Miss Phoebe started to tell how she had suffered, then
suddenly checked herself. "Old people talk too much
of their ailments. I will not say another word about
myself. Tell me your plans for Easter. Will you have
lots of colored eggs?"
Then Rose told all her plans, not omitting the new
dress and the recitation. She saved the news of the
wonderful flower until the last.
When she finished. Miss Phoebe's eves were full
tears. "I remember when I used to' do those things.
We had money then, and there was an Easter lily in
every room in the house. How I loved the pure, beautiful
flowers! It's a long time since I've had a lily. I
can't even get to church to see them. Why, Rose, it
has been"?Miss Phoebe counted on her fingers?"it
has been ten years since I saw an Easter lily. I'm so
crippled up I can't get out."
Rose left soon after this, but instead of going to. see
her friend she went straight home. She nlaceH thp UK
on the floor, and wrapped a newspaper around it, as
she had seen the florists do. Then she went back to the
little house on B Street.
"A red-letter day," muttered Miss Barlow when she
heard the second knock. "Why, my dear, are you back
again?" she said, as Rose opened the door.
Rose untied the paper, and displayed the beautiful
my. witn my Jiaster greetings," and she dropped a
courtesy.
"Why, Rose Taylor," Miss Phoebe said in dismay,
"you've brought me your lily. You must take it back,
for you were so proud to know it was to be on the superintendent's
table tomorrow. Why did I talk to you
as I did?"
"Xo, I'll not take it back." was the decided answer.
"I guess it won't be ten years again before you see an
Easter lily. You are to have this for your very own,"
and Rose slipped out before a reply could be made.
"Where vonr lilv?" Yfr<; Tavlnr ocL-o/l
... J j . ... - v., - ..y .vy. W.MXX.V! All OUI JM nc
when her daughter entered the room.
Rose told the whole story- "I couldn't have been
happy, mother, to have my lily at church, and Miss
Phoebe doing without any," she finished.
"You shall not be the only unselfish one. Rose," Mr.
Hood said when she explained the absence of the flower.
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