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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Clinton News Record, 1921-3-24, Page 3The A1.lelui1 Plant It seemed to Margaret Ward, spond- ng two weeks in the country fo' the first time 111 her life, that alie could never get he fill of green ,grow.lnte things. Molly Spencer, lzor cousin, laughed at that. Molly'ei inoihlatione• tended away from growing things; title hankered for town, • "We ought to •ohanga phot@ -Meg," ahs said one day, "Only, you'd miglltY soon tire of the monotony of fares 11fe " Margaret smiled. She was wander- ing how soon Molly would tiro Of book- ' • keeping, with a lodging house to re- turn to at the end of the day. But she only said, "I wish I could take a piece 0t Barnesfleld back with rue." Old Uncle Adrian Shaw, another!` visitor at the farm, looked up from his whittling, "That ain't a hard wish to grant yourself," he observed, "Dig up a hardy plant in the old south *mods and catty it back in'a pot," Uncle Adrian spent his time in cheerful pilgrimages up and down the • land. When Margaret . sought him later for further information she found that he had drifted away as he had drifted in, without a word of warning, "But if he told you there are hardy plants in the south woods, then.there are," her Aunt Emily assured her. "He knows. 'Kauai and a empty flower pot in the old pit, Margaret, and good rich soil in the garden." - Molly laughed again, "Look at her -you'd think she was on the trail. Of e burled treasure. I wish you. were, Margaret, and that you'd share it with me, so that I could accept Hilda Burn- ley's invitation for Christmas. Just enough for a new hat and flxings— and I'd go back to town with youl" Margaret was thinking of Molly's eager words as on her last golden af- ternoon she set out for the woods, basket and trowel in hand. Her cous- in was still mare or less a stranger to her, for the Spencers had only re- cently moved from their Western home to the Barliesfield place, But the two girls were very congenial, though sometimes Margaret was ' obliged to smile at Molly's funny lit- tle whims, • "She'd let clothes keep her from taking that trip," the city girl muaed. "Now, I'd have -came down here,if I had to, in a—grass bag!" She was smiling at her own non- sense as she paused at the little post office and received the one letter that was there for her. As she unfolded the single sheet of paper a coin slid into her hand. The letter, which bore a strange postmark, was signed Ad- rian Shaw and was very brief. It told her that Uncle Adrian was sending a little gift to Molly and herself,—ad- dresseci to her, as the older,—and it ended abruptly, "No thanks." There was no return address. The old man 'was given to doing such things and to doing than in his awn peculiar way, but Margaret was astonished *ben she looked at the coin. It was a twenty -dollar gold or piece, "Why, bless his heart!" she said ter - veutly. "My half will pay my dentist's bill. And Molly's—little Molly can have her hat and fixings, so she can!" Turning to go back to the house, she halted uncertainly. Molly ought to have the great news at once, but the sun was already sinking. After a few moments of irresolution she decided to keep, on. She slipped the piece of money into the breast pocket of her sweater and pinned the pocket oarefnlly with a strong eaten Pill from the neck of ber blouae. That same Pocket and pin had often done simile service when she huzried front he room late Saturday afternoons to buy her .Sunday supplies ee the grocery round the corner, The action made her think of town with a little pang of distaste, The south woods were sweet with early autumn and Margaret took a long breath of delight. Her know ledge of wild flowers was limited, but teem was at least a chance of her finding a plant for her purples°, After a while, where tha.nnelergrowth thin- ned at the north edge of the woods, her faith • was rewarded, A little colony of slender -stemmed growths was Inukdled in a plot of moss, Tlie. plants had stopped blooming, but their clover -like leaves were mull graceful and green. They might be "hardy plants" and they might not; it would be worth while to make the trial. Site went home with her sbolls, warm and tired, but triumphant, and took them to her aunt for inspection. "Wood sorrel," Mrs. Spencer said. "I don't know how it will behave when transplanted; but it might thrive in a warm room, I should think." On' hor knees in the garden, busy with lief trowel in the yielding brown earth, Margaret made plans for the new possession, It should have a place of honor in the warm earner of her window sill where in winter the sun sometimes shone. She sang to herself as she bent above the unac- customed task. Then, throwing the. trowel down, she sank back on ben knees and wiped her hot face, What nnist ploughing be like? The rest of the work was easier; but by the time the last ounce` of earth had been packed into the pot dusk was falling. The gate clicked, and Molly came, swinging down the walk. "Still grub- bing?" she challenged as she paused beside her cousin. "Going to take that heavy thing back under one arm? I wish that you were going to take me instead!" Margaret came hastily to her .feet, Molly's last wards had re- called with a rush what in her absor- ption she had utterly forgbten. Uncle Adrian's gift! Her hand flew to her pocket; Hien shegave i ba o a title gasp. The pin and the coin were both gone! Molly was moving toward the douse, serenely unaware of disaster. She called over her shoulder that there was to be ice cream for supper in honor of Margaret's last evening. Margaret stood stock-still in the twi- light, It seemed incredible that such a dreadful thing could have happened; yet the empty pocket was an unim- peachable witness, She tried to steady her thoughts and take account of the matter. The safety catch bad been in place the first time; that was certain. Later on she must have un- fastened it absent-mipdedly to get her„ handkerchief and flicked the coin' out on the ¢oft ground. That seemed the only explanation. Margaret groaned. -- S,11e was not thinking of her own loss, but of her cousin's. To save herself a little in- convenience she had taken the foolish risk; and now poor Molly's heart's de- sire was lying somewhere—anywhere —out yonder in the ten acres or more over which she had been rambling. With a faint hope that the tragedy might have occurred nearer home she got down on her hands and knees and groped about in a half-hearted fashion. Then she took up ber plant and y 111el Byrd r .ur T fl. walked s owly back lo the house. She was na1•going to leave Barneslfold in • r til tee afternoon of the next day; that r would give her the whole morning in which to search for the 'money, It would be a needle-and-hayetack busi- ness; but she would do her best, She made a big effort o appear gay and natural at subpar, but all the time she was busy with lien difficult prole-' lent. elze would replace the money - from her own salary, of course, Moan• while, should elle tell what had hap- pened, oma not? Surely Maily /tad a right to know; and yet, the knowledge would only make her unhappy, Through the buttered mulling and broiled chicken Margaret wrestled with berself; by tee time she had choked down the ice cream her de- cision was taken, She would keep her own counsel for a while. Site spent tits next forenoon in the woods, But her trail the day before had led.aloug a dozen winding paths, through .briar patches and across a swift stream, the search was, really hopeless from the start. A needle iu a haystack would have been easy by comparison. The family welcomed her back with good-natured reproaches, "You ;love the,birde and bushes better than you love your kin," staid Molly's father, laughing, "It's a pity you and Molly here can't change places for a little. She's aching to hear her shoe heels click on the pavements, aren't you, Mo11?" Margaret caught the Rash in A Russian Ea ster Service Dramatic and awe Inspiring was the midnight Easter mass at the cathed- ral of St. Isaac in Petrograd. There was in it even perhaps a touch of the barbaric. In his reminiscences Lord Frederic Hamilton, formerly of the British diplomatic service, gives a striking account -of the splendid spec- • taele ' We were always requested to Come 'in full uniform, and we stood -inside the raffle of the iconostasis, behind the choir, The time to arrive was about half past eleven at night, when the church was wrapped_ in almost total darkness. Under the dome stood a catafalque bearing a gilt coffin. The open lid showed a strip of sine an which was painted an effigy of the dead Christ, for it should be remembered that no carved ,01' graven image is allowed in a church of the Eastern Rite. As the eye grew accustomed to the shadows, tens of thousands of unlighted candies, outlining the arches, the cornices and the other architectural features of the cathedral were just visible. The wick of each of these candles had been touched with kerosene and was sur- roundee • with a thread of guncotton, which ran from candle to candle, At half past eleven the only light Was from the candles round the bier, 'where black -robed priests were client - Ina the mournful Russian office for- the dead, At about twenty minutes to 'twelve the blind was drawn over the *lead Christ, and the priests, feigning eon -prise, advanced to the rails of the econestasie and am.ounced to an archi- • , • 1 mandrite that the coffin was empty. The. archirnandrite ordered thele to search round the cllnrcb, and , the priests walked up and -down with gilt lanterns; while they did so, the cata- falque, the bier and its accessories were removed. The priests announced to the ar'chlmandrite that their search had been unsuccessful; whereupon he ordered them to make a further search autsi'de the church. They went out and so timed their return as to arrive before the icouostasis at three min- utes Before midnight. Again they.re- ported that they had been 1111811ccese- ful. As the first stroke of midnight pealed from the great clock, the metro- patitnn of Petrograd announced in a loud voice, "Christ is risen!" At an electric signal given from the cathe- dral, the artillery of the fortress iboomed out in a salute of one hundred aatd one guns;' the gtulcatton was touched off, and the swift flash kindled the .tens of thousands of candles run- ning round the building. The enor- mous congregation lighted the tapers they carried, the "royal doors" of the iconOstasis were thrown open, 'and as' the chair burst into the beautiful Rue - elan Easter anthem the clergy ap- peared in their festival vestments o1 cloth of gold. And so the Easter mass began, Nothing mare dramatic, more impres- siye, could possibly be imagined than the almost instantaneous change from intense gloom to blazing light; from the plaintive dirges of the funeral ser- vice to the jubilant strains of ' the Eyster mass. Molly, wrltllli: with gout -3,710$ en new atatlonol'y, entulrovata,l her gifts. Iteeping the best for the lust, hire tr olriicl she nlnloyn.ee1 in postaarlpt Chet her .gielleatber lied sent her live dogleg d "'1'hin1, af'tt -•the grace of a ticket to town turd :back! Whig t4 little mole Zlaiz'n ev's invitation--it'b eonie again --and be wanting In ,e11 yeti" That 1111111 Mrrlglr:Ct wrote to Molly and made 11, Mean, breast of it all, She Mama ie •live doAar bill—all she grad been able to save np to that time.. The little gray letter that ('ante whirling back by return mail was al - meet childish in its petulant lugger. Margaret mould not restrain a wry s11111e as she read. "Why on earth, Molly wrote, in a flurry of dnd'ignant'pun0tuati0rl points, "didn't YeaI tell me at first? I could have found the money then; now it's. (leap' in drifted ]eaves, hare's your live dollars; you mustn't send me your. money. 1711 not stupid enaugl1 to blame you foe the accident,. Margaret, but I do blame you for treating me like a three-year-old ei111d!" The signature was worst Oaf all -n bitter, signtfleant little blot, blurred by a tear, "However, Ideserve it" Margaret said. Ono day Sn February Uncle Adrian Shaw appeared suddenly from no- where. ' Margaret was dismayed when She found hini, genial and travel -shab- by, in her room. The eight of hire brought up hard associations; but she managed to give him a welcome, "Where's Molly?" he demanded, Margaret flushed. Moliy7"- Uncle Adrian explained. When he had drop00d in at Barnesfleld a fort- night before, Molly was arena to come to town. "The child was so droopy round Christriias time," he went on, "that. John Spencer said: Would be Worth the price of a calf to give her a change, and so they packed hem off. She'll be hunting you up soon as ever she gets her bearings," Margaret was silent while her visi- tor talked on. May in the city with- out. letting her know! Surely she would not - carry ,her resentment so 141elly's blue eyes, and her heart sank. She was glad when it was time to go. The journey hack to the city was. dismal, Beside • her on, the seat, sheathed in protecting stiff paper, was the little green plant, the cause of all the trouble. Margaret turned her back o11 it and watched the flying land- scape. Every time she caught sight of a gold autumn leaf lying solitary she gave a jump. By the time the engine blew for the city, station she was positive that the gold piece was at the bottom of the swift woods brook. She remembered distinctly having picked up a muddy stone just there; of course elle had pulled out her handkerchief to wipe her fingers. Well, with the money so utterly lost it would be sheer cruelty to tell felony. Instead, she would put by several dollars every week and send. in the whole amount by Christ- mas. But the weeks moved swiftly toward Christmas, and the suns grew slowly, Margaret found that the task would be harder than she had thought. Her room rent was raised the first of October; last year's alioes balked a further service; the dentist's bill was unexpectedly high. When she broke her glasses jest after .Thanksgiving she was seized with panic. It was like trying to climb 0. greased pole. After a while the panto subsided to grinding worry. If she 'saved only a dollar a month, then it would be near- ly a year before the matter could be set right. That was unthinkable. A letter from Bas'nestle-Id soon after Christmas added to her unhappiness, far, Still, Uncle Adrian had been cheerfully certain of his information. She did not want to question him on that subject, anyway. "You look bothered, Maggie," the old man said suddenly, He ruminated a while, regarding leer averted face. "Well, these are hard times," he of- fered presently, "Bat the old stone has managed to gather some moss." He was reaching for his pocket, but Margaret saw the movement and caught his arm. "No, please don't!" she begged. If he offered her money again it would be the last straw. Uncle Adrian, who had the wisdom that is better than understanding, rose and strolled to the window, Margaret,. watching his back, debated with het self whether she should mention his Brat gift o1' not. She was so preoccu- pied that she did not see him bend over the sill and adjust his glasses. "Aha, alleluia!" he said suddenly; and in spite of 'her woe she laughed aloud at the queer exclamation, "That's fight, laugh," her visitor said, turning to beans on her, "It's a dark time of year, this February, but by April you'll be as joyful as your flower—see if you're not" With that, he took himself off. Margaret wondered idly what he meant. But she was chiefly concern- ed with trying to decide what t0 do about Molly, She would have liked to walk straight up to the Burnley house and ring the bell, The inclina- tion took her two squares and then her courage failed.. Airs, Spencer wrote after a while Easter Morn Bloom on, brave wind -flowers, in your, sheltered nooks; Lift high your golden crown, fair daffodil; Sing, sing your maddest melody, 0 brook— The world but yesterday was grey and chill. Narcissus nestling in the tender grass, And violetsblueas are the skies above, I-Iark to the rapturous song in winds that pass: "Two things there be immortal—Life and Love!" 0 lily, lifting up .your fragrant breath Where snowflakes spread themselves but yesterday, , You softly cry: "Where is thy sting, 0 death? 0 grave, where is thy boasted victory?" REGLAR FELLERS -13y Gene Byrnes -7 that elle 00111(1 not undel•s1aile why the two girls seemed to be seeing; 00 little ef•ouch other. A later letter ba'ought the•11otya that Molly lull found wont 111.1110 alts, lei 11'gteret was troub1Cal afros!:, Thrown en her 01111, reaonr0ee, Molly would ba needing Blaney more than gVUI', March passed slowly, With the inset glimpse of green tassels o11 111e park treee Margaret began to yeal'n fur the country. It greets her that there was s•or11et11hrg almost fanny about the way aim had forfeited all of Barnesfdeld for the sake, of a few quarts of it With sudden distaste she .05t15111 ue the little pot and set 11 out 011 the ere wane, The weather was. Werra and sr:51117 it could stay there, emit of sight, ulillarmed, _ The day before );taster was dark with rain and 111iat. Margaret 051110 In at, noon from her work, tired and listless, "1t doesn't seem a bit like Easter, Mrs, Avery," she rental -Rea to her, 1andfady,who had came upstairs to bring fresh towels, Ml's, Avory was putting back the ctlr'tains to get more light. "Here's something that does, though," ebe an- swered, pressieg her face against the pane, "See, Miss Ward, your plant'is 1n full bloom!" Margaret iooked, Sure enough, the plant, pushed close under the window sill, had come to perfection without leer knowing it, 'the frail -petaled pink and white dowers shone in the dullness like delicate eters. Sometimes the alleluia plant blose soma exactly on tin10," the landlady said, Ma.rgas'et glanced at her in sni'prise, "Wood sorrel," she corrected her. "We call it alleluia in England, where I came from," Mrs, Avery answered. "It blooms at Easter there," When she had left the loom Mae- garet put the plant back in the win- dow and stood gazing at it for a while. Somehowits brave beauty made her glad in spite of herself. She sat down to her weekly darning with a lighter heart. Alleluia: that was what leucite Ad- rian had meant. After all, it was springtime, and Easter. As she sent her needle swiftly in and out ahe de- cided to stop her useless worrying. At length she folded up her work and put on her raincoat and rubbers, Then she croesed the room and picked up the rosy plant. "You belong down at the church," she acid. "There'll be nothing love - liar in the whole chancel to -morrow, I know there won't." Her band was on the knob when, there came sound of light steps run- ning up the stairs. The next instant the door flew open. The shock of con- tact sent Margaret's burden spinning out of her arms to the floor, "Oh, what have I done?" the in- truder cried. It was 141011y Spencer, brought up short in alarm, Margaret thrust out two eager hands, and drawing her .across the threshold, thrust her into a chair. "You've come to see me!" she caeca "That's what you've done!" Molly's dark head dipped. "I had to come," she declared, "though I was ashamed to, and that's tile truth. IVlargaret, I rushed into writing that hateful letter just the way I rushed into your room a moment ago. What are you going to do about your plant?" Margaret stooped to pick up the broken pot, "The corner florist will help me out," she said. "Look, isn't it beautiful?" As she lifted the plant something fell to the floor with a sharp click—a small bright object that rolledswiftly under the sofa: Margaret made a dive, but it wheeled out again, spinning to- ward the ¢replace and making gold circles in the little gray•room. It was Molly who captured the thing. She held it out shamefacedly. "I suppose it's that everlasting gold piece," she said. Margaret blinked at the thing, frankly bewildered. Molly had a theory to offer. "You flipped it out with your handkerchief that evening; then you shoveled it in with the earth." And all these months," Margaret said slowly, "It was right here at my elbow," Site looked at this yellow disk glimmering in her palm. Then she looked at Melly, her face shining, May read the look of relief; for the first time she realized what Mar- garet had endured. She laid an eager hand on her cousin's area "I know how we'll invest part of it," she said. "To Barnesfleld for Easter, Meg!" Margaret shook her head, "No,' she said. "I want you to have it all, You must be needing it, now that you are living in town." Molly's eyes began to dance. "0110, but I'm no longer living in town," she said. "The city was fine in February, but when spring came back I knelt/ where I belonged. Hurry! Where's your suit case, Meg? Mine's down at the door. We can take the five -o -clock train and walk out to the farm. Look; the sun's shining for our special bene- fit!" She was folding blouses and col- lecting pins, "The south woods are one mass of anemones," she flung over her shoulder to Margaret, who stood wavering in a shaft of sunlight. Margaret hesitated no longer, "I'l1 be back as soon as I mend my alleluia plant," she said. "Your what?" Molly echoed hollow- ly from the depths of the clothes closet, But Margaret did not hear t: e question. She was already halfway down the stairs. She had one hand firm under the little mould of fragrant, orunrbling earth, and with the other she was steadying the starry pink petals of her flower. As Bees hive' Sweets against Cold Winter's Rage Should Youth store Happy Memories for Age, • • A man hes no more right to say an uncivil thing than to act dee; no more right to say a rude thing to another than to knock him down,—Dr, John - s011. The Easter Lily Pr EIS is the tale of a .lily bud that would not bloom as a lily should. The little girl gave it her kindest care,, .she wanted it se for Easter Pay; but ever the' flower Seemed t � o stay stiffly wrapped in its little green hood, On Easter Eve not a sign of white, The little girl looked, then turned away, She didn't have even a word to say, but she cried herself softly to sleep that night. At twelve o' loeli e , or a quarter of, fairy Raindrop and fairy Light and fairy Beauty and fairy Loire (the four good fairies that set things right) came and worked in the clerk of the night. They climbed the stalk and the tall green stem and dusted the leaves and polished them; ,they slowly opened the tight green bud, and smoothed out its petals creamy white; two of them carefully lifted up the fair frail bell of the lily cup, filled it with sweet ness, all it would hold, then powdered it deep with shining gold. The little girl stirred in her sleep to say, "I wanted my flower for Easter Day," Then her eyelids moved, for she dreamed she heard tinkling laughter and whispered word, flutter of wings and silver cries, -•=- "Quick, be quick, or she'll open her eyes!" And deep in her dreams again she stirred. The fairies fluttered around the room, and hid themselves in the fireplace, and clung in the gauzy curtain's lace, waiting for dawn of day to come; and the little girl slept with a smile on her face, and the tall white flower was fah in the gloom, At peep of daylight she wakened wide, "Easter is here," I think," she said. She sat up straight in her little bed and thought of the lily plant, and sighed. Then day broke over the edge of the wood, and a ray of sunshine came peeping through and shone on the spot where the lily stood. "Oh, most beautiful—look!" she cried. She could scarcely believe that it was true, yet there was the lily, brave and new. "Everyone come," she cried, "and see what a wonderful thing has happened to me!" The flower nodded away in the sun. The fairies folded their tired wings—dear little helpful, happy things—and silently, softly stole away. And the little girl sang all Easter Day! WHEN PEACE CAME 11 By Alva Audrey Merritt itt Easter dawns! And as I watch the glary of the heavens my soul is filled with joy and reverent wonder. The Master Artist is at work. Purple and silver mists veil the sky. These slow- ly disappear and dull blue and rose and palest gold transform the east. Rose -bosomed clouds hide the rising sun; but at length, through crimson vapors, the sun shines forth, casting a radiance over valley and hill and mountain, caressing' every tree and shrub, gilding alike the gorgeous homes of the wealthy and the shabby homes of the poor. In the treetops just outside my win- dow the birds twitter drowsily. An early robin begins to warble joyously; now other birds blend their'note,s with his, and day is ushered in by a multi- tude of feathered songsters. From a distant part of the town come the sweet, solemn chimes of church bells. As i listen I thinly of other towns, of other churches, in a far -away land. A ray of sunshine steals in at the window and rests upon a mass of lilies beside "my bed and as I gaze at their loveliness and breathe their sweet perfume I. think of other lilies —the lilies of France. • The merry laughter of•a child floats up to me from the street below. My heart is fined with joy as I listen. Like the tinkling of bells, like sunshine dancing on the waters, like the rustl- ing of leaves in the breeze, is the laughter of that child. Arany times I have watched the sun rise, many times I have listened to 111e songs of the birds, but this Is Easter Day! The sunrise is more beautiful, the birds' songs sweeter, the sunshine more golden, for upon this morn I have found new strength and courage. New life is stealing through nay veins. hope is born anew. Three years ago I watched the dairn of Easter Day from a shell -hale in No Man's Land. Severely wounded, I prayed to God to let me die, for I knew that I would be badly crippled if I lived. But the thread of life was strong, my life flickered like a flame, but the hand o.f God shielded. it from the breath of death, Through blinding, bitter teal's I watched the glory of the Easter heav- ens, and I cursed ney fate; cursed, and cried like a child. Then uncon- sciousness blotted out everything. One year later the Easter sunshine awakened me from a troubled' sleep. I was lying in a snowy bed, my head rested on eoft billowy. pillows. I was at home ie my eld room. I glanced about. Ah! everything was the same: There was any clut- tered desk, Isere was the big cozy arm- chair, there were my college trophies Jus'r \ H5'l' t >~XPe.C-reo! TWo terms i-ESs -rNrtr 'rN015 HmWOULD 1 : and pictures of college chunk. But, no. The 1'OO1n was 1101, quite the same, something was missing, Then I remembered. Try old snow shoes that had decorated one side of the wall were gone. Who hail taken them away? Ah, in a flash I knew --moth- er! 1 glanced down at my legless body and 1 turned my face array from the .Faster sunshine and wept tears of agony. The door opened quietly; some nae was coming toward me with light steps. A hand eareraed my hair, a voice murmured, "sly son! iSy loved one!" Then a pair of arms en- circled my neck, a soft cheek rested against my rcttgh one, and tears like summer rain fell upon my face. "Mother," I sobbed, "nether! mother!" 5 p 5 * 5 Well, I have found peace at last. And the old rebelliousness against Pate is gone now, I /lave found head- ing in the Easter sunshine, in the beauty of the lilies, in the laughter for a little child! * Ab, some one is coming! "Bother!" I cry gladly. Her hand caresses my, hair, iter tears fall upon nay face. Bnt I smile and whisper, "Dry your tears.. dear. I have found peace anc1Q cour- age and strength to -day! Though my body is crippled my soul isn't -1t la free io climb the heights!" An exquisite smile is upon my mall- er's face tow! I hear her voice say-' ing, softly, sweetly, "My son, you have been very near to God." Then gently rho draws my head down upon her breast just as she used to do when I was a little child, and her teem fall upon lay upturned lace. and as they fall they heal my anguished heart. All, now I face the future unafraid, for 1 have found peace and courage and strength, Spring Joyousness. Spring 1s 001111ng. yea 1 know, For the birdies tell me so, They are singing in the trees, My delighted heart to Please. .411 of nature, everywhere. In their joyousness will share. Nodding, blooming flowers say, Spring is coming back our wa3-. They will make the world so gay, fn her floral, spring array. All my heart is singing, too, 3n this ioyoes time to woo. Love is creeping in oar hearts, .As old winter now departs, And the warmer days will seem Malting us so sweetly dream. Thrilling spring is in the air, Making life all seem so fair That aur hearts all long to sing Will the joyousness of spring. Concerning Rabbits—aind Eggs. Easter eggs which are pretty and novel may be decorated as follows: In several small cups, set in hot water, melt up odds and ends of Christmas or birthday candles of different calors, having previously boiled the eggs in soda water, on each egg draw with a pencil, lightly, a rabbit, a tiny chick, a flower, or anything that will be soniewha/t appropriate Then with a small camel's•.bair blush, apply the melted wax, which' cools rapidly, the design standing out like a cameo. Next have ready luke- warm dyes of any color desired, and dip in the eggs, Dyeing the eggs will net affect the wax, Many artietie results may be ob- tain01. Thus a pure white rabbit with pink eyes, on a yellow or purple egg, Is very attractive; or a yellow Made Olt a 1111 of greed grass on a pink egg Is lovely, Success consists in Ending the elt0rtest line between two points: r:htre we lira Orad ,where we *tint to be,