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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1927-04-14, Page 2"KING , U RU " the gay little mountain streamlet slept in ley fetters. For the last two weeks killer Lee, impatient of the seasbn's delay, had It was an early Easter. Despite clan that she wars, let her hands drop been hoarding the water which, he be- t aln eemc'e stout assertion that the front the kgs and listened in breath- 'gan to fear, had found itself smile beautit'ial, Resurrection time had come;.; less amazement, other ehattnel •and frolicited awby old Winter etill held his own upon the "Splendid!" she cried,.ae Tom Coir- through new -made clefts in the menu-' white hills, where the trees stood, eluded the. verset "perfeetl How did taineide, shivering alto leafless, and the boldest i you ever learn to suing like this I Tam hug been working on the !birds had not ventured to build •a nest. i Listened under the windows, while waster -gate only the day before. He Only e faint, trickling sound under I was digging outside and you were stopped to See if the pond had risen. the snow •told that the mountain rills teaching these boys'and girls," laugh- As he stood there, g silvery Chime ' ed Tom. "As for the singing, guess the village steeple. had broken jack Frost's bonds, and came from the were stealing softly away to follow birds taught me that. Gan whistle "They're ringing in the show," the banner that Spring had unfurled, any of them down right into zny thought Toni a queer pang shooting in the valleys, I hand:" I through his heart. "I wonder who's Here the trees were budding and; "You'll do;" said Mies May, en- king in my place? It will be fine, 1 the grass was growing green, and thusiastieally, "And if Signor Laska reekon..lights and flowers and green even the jonquils and crocuses had thinks as I do, .your fortune will be wreaths, and all the girls in their donned their Easter bonnets. The' made. He won't let you dig ditches grand dresses. And the minister and three stores of the little village of • another day. But you must play king school -teacher and Squire Bond and Latham were gay with sugar -eggs Ofor us to -night, here, try on this Captain More, and everybody—every- mid and cake -rabbits, and twenty little : robe. It's a little short; but no mat-: body but me. Sammy Morton said he heads were fairly turned with delight- i ter. Put on the crown. Now sit on could get me in a corner for nothing, fill excitement and twenty ]little' the throne, and we'll begin." and I meant to go; but I wouldn't throat swelling with Easter song; for Tom stepped up to the raised chair. the grand cantata of "Queen Esther," It was canopied with an old table that the school -children had been prac- cloth. His royal robe was of canton - tieing the last six weeks, was to come flannel, :his crown of tinsel; but, as he off this Easter Monday evening, and everybody, from Miss Alton, the dress- makerw'ho wee putting the finish- ing touches to the queen's royal train —to Boggs, the carpenter -who was constructing King Ahasuerus' throne —was in that state of enthusiastic effort that is supposed to .insure sue - cess. Miss May, the pretty, new school- teacher, who was head, front and in- spiration of the whole affair, was in such universal demand that it was all she could de to keep her bright wits and sweet temper under the strain. "Oh, cut my head-dress, please, Miss Mayr" "Mustn't all the queen's maidens wear veils?" "Oh, Miss May, I can't find niy crown!" "Would you step this way a niin- ute, miss, and give me your ideas about this throne?" "Dear, dear, dear!" exclaimed the little teacher, clapping her hands to her ;head.. "You'll. drive me crazy, children! No, Mr. Boggs, I wouldn't use those gate -posts for the throne. Just two steps, with an arm -chair and that red table -cloth over it, will do nicely. We must have a dress re- hearsal now, before we attempt any- thing else. Esther, put on your robe. Hanan, Mordecai, get ready. Ahasu- erus-- Where is King Ahasuerus?" "Please, Miss May," piped a small . voice near the door, "his mother says he can's come. King Ahasuerus has got the measles!" "What!" cried Miss May, the score dropping from her hand. "Got .'em bad!" continued the, mes- senger. "Broke out thick last ,light. Doctor says he must be kept close, or the whole village will be down with A breathless pause followed this appalling announcement. "Whatever will we do now?" , asked a dismayed voice. "0h, .I don't know!" replied Miss May, sinking down hopelessly in the nearest chair. "All the tickets sold he had been indeed the mighty Ahasu- and the invitations sent out; and my erns himself. dear old music teacher, Signor Lasko, But Toni was hurt, for all that. It coming fifty miles to hear my pupils was not the first hurt he had felt, for sing, and not a boy in the place that Fortune had been a step -dame to him can take the part."„ from the first. He had been turned "Pleas'm—yes•'m!" piped the little out of the over -crowded cabin in the sat there -his rags covered, his artist - soul awakened—he looked every inch a king. voice trembling a bit, as he remember - "Come, Queen Esther!" called Miss ed Miss May. "She said, if same fel- May, to pretty Lucy Lee, the rich low heard me to -night, I had a gift miller's daughter, who, robed right that .would lift ms high es any of royally in her grandmother's wedding them yet. But it won't. I'll never gown, had just stepped out on the get there. I'll just dig always. My stage. .goodness! what's that?" cried Tom, But Miss Lucy recoiled, amid a bevy his reverie interrupted by a sound of sympathizing 'Jewish Maidens." that made hini recoil. "Why, it's Bear "I can't!" she objected haughtily. Lick breaking up!" "I won't be queen to—to Toni Carnie. Aye, breaking up, indeed! Swelled I'm going right home!" by a thousand snow -fed 'rills, the "Why, Lucy!" exclaimed Miss May, streamlet had burst its hist frail bond, who, in her Artist's enthusiasm, had and name thundering down the moon - quite forgotten the rigorous grading taus, leaping rock and crag and chasm of rural society. in its jubilant spring -tinge sti gth. "He is nothing but a poor ditch - digger!" declared Miss Lucy. "I won't be in a play with him!" "Nor 1!" "Nor I!" "Nor I, neither!" added half a dozen voices. Miss May stood amazed. In school, she could and would have enforced dis- cipline; but this was a holiday season and a holiday pleasure. Yet to have her whole dramatis personae desert in a body like this! "I think you are all very proud, foolish little girls," she began. "Toni has a heaven-sent gift in his voice, that will lift him far above you yet. And you, -forget the lesson of this beautiful season—you forget that the greatest of all kings came on earth oor and lowly." now—not for barrels of gold. To have all the folies whispering and a -laugh- ing about Tam Carne wanting to make himself king! "She didn't think I was too mean for it, though," continued Tom, his p "It's nxe that forgot. I'm not re- spectable enough to be here, I know. I'm only a ditch -digger. I've no right to be sitting up with quality folks at all. I suppose it was that singing turned my !'lead. I won't stay. Iwon't spoil no one's pleasure. No, ma'am; and I wouldn't," Tom choked a bit— "thank you all the sante for your goodness to me- I wouldn't be King Ashes and Dust, or whatever he is, if you was to give me mints of gold" Saying which, Toni dropped his royal mantle at his feet, flung off the crown, and stalked out of the room, holding .his curly head as high as if voiee. "Tom Carrie can. I heard him last night sing the whole thing clear through." "Tom Carnie! Who is he? Where is he? Bring him to me right now, and here," said Miss May, rising to the emergency, with a plucky little woman's rapid generalship. There was a momentary altercation and confusion at the door, and then mountain by a drunken father when he was scarcely ten year old; he had been bruised by falls and battered by hard knocks on the rough road of boy life ever since; but he had never been hurt before as he was to -day. As he had stood in the robes of King Ahasuerus, with Miss May's words of praise ringing in his ears, something had stirred hi his breast a boy was hustled forward—evidently like the rude earth -clod stirs with the muoh against his will—a well -grown waking flowers—like ., the frozen lad of fifteen, in muddy trousers and streamlet feels the kiss of the spring- _ patched jacket, several sizes too small time sun. For hint, even for him, fartinz. - ' " - there . might be something better, "Is this Thomas Carnie?" asked brighter, nobler, than the coarse, Mies May. • hard life that was all 'he had ever "Yes, ma'•ani, " answered Tom, known blushing furiously, as he shuffled from one ragged -boot to the other. "And can you sing, Thomas?" con- tinued the teacher, noting, after the first shock of his appearance, that the In five minutes the shallow pond was breast -high with the foaming flood. "And the water-gate—the water - gate's wedged tight and fast!" thought Tom, the danger of the situa- tion flashing suddenly upon him. "Here—help! fielp ! Ho, Mr. Lee! Here's Bear Lick burst out in the biggest kind of a spring freshet! Hi, you there!" shouted Tom, in a vain effort to give an alarm befitting the ,occasion. A. ' But there was no reply. With Miss Lucy trailing the silken robes of Queen Esther on the school -house dors, and cried, delightedly: stage, every inmate of the millers "You have the royal heritage, my fine residence was swelling the ad -.',boy! Come with old Lasks, and you IE FIRST EASTER Mary remembered, Vanished years Caine thronging back oto bless her, ,. Bach brieging ler .an image ,of opine happy ended day. • One bore a starlit plcttire of a baby in a, mauger. - One brougltt•a strnaiecked portrait sof a laughing boy at .play. Mary Inman ibered': alienate Strolls with eeens close .beside her; The rainy alay he sat and Watched het bake unleavened bread; The time he crushed blue gra'pee fernier; the aright he, brought her lilies; The meraing in the temple and the eager words he said. Mary reanenxbered as she donned her simple morning garments; irlary renzeniberecV as she ,combed ter darkly fluent hain laid she not show aurprlse, then, that the. Magd Ilene canze,'calltng To take the road to GaliSlee, for Christ .was walking there! Violet Aileye Storey. will be under water!" shouted angry voices. Wild confusion reigned in the crowded hall. Men rushed out in hot haste, women trembled', children 'screamed in terror. ! "The flood—the flood! Oh, we'll all be drowned!" was the cry, as through the wide-open doors they heard the thunderous rear from the hills. But Tom Carnie's brave, strong 'hand had turned the peril aside. When e the panting miller, followed by fifty ! or more men, reached the dam, all danger was past. Mist veiled and foam -wreathed, Bear Lick was sweeping over the broken water -gate down to the deep channeled river that would bear its rushing title in safety to the sea, and prone upon the bank, his right hand I still grasping the pick -ax that had !saved the village a destructive flood, lay the scorned and rejected "King ! Ahasuerus." IIt was a royal triumph truly. Tom I was borne tenderly to the miller's house, placed upon a bed, and his wounded head bathed by Lucy's tear- ful mother herself. And when, the. next `evening; the interrupted cantata was performed With redoubled eclat, Tom Carnie, robed and crowned, tak- ing the part of Ahasuerus, not even pretty Esther herself, kneeling at her royal lord's feet, was greeted with such wild applause. And old Signor Laska nodded and clapped rapturously, and shouted "Bravo!" until he was fairly hoarse. And, when all was over, he stepped up, put both hands on Tom's shoul- mirinauld'ents•re The NN -as not even g . a dog left to bark. And there was not an instant to lose. Soon Bear Lick would be brim- ming the mill -pond. The dam was old and unstable, as Tom knew, the water -gate strong and new. • The stream, turned from its natural Course, ewauld sweep, a nim,» -rushing torrent, dbevn the valley. There was but one chance, and only Tom, sturdy ditch -digger that he was, to grasp it. He snatched up a great pick -ax and sprang to the gate. Earth, timber, stone, flew under his desper- ate blows. With the perspiration standing in great beads upon his brow, his breath coming hard and quiek, the roar of the rushing waters in his ears, Tom struck on until the gate fell, and Tom with it, knocked senseless by one of the huge•timber that struck him down as Bear Lick, tossing aside the scat- tered fragments of the barrier Tom. 'had cleared from its way, leaped hi all its resistless strength down 'the. opened channel to the river. ' The schoolhouse was crowded. that evening, as Tom had guessed. There could be no disappointment, for Sig- nor Laska had come down with .a party from the city to witness the performance. So with an apology for the dire necessity of the situation, Miss May had dressed up Harry Mar- ten as a dunumy Ahasuerus, and was singing his part behind the scenes, when a rude voice broke in upon the music. "Miller Lee! Miller Lee!" shouted But the children's scorn had nipped an old mountaineer, bursting. in excit- this budding hope like the cruel frost, edly, "Look to your dam.•Bear Lick's and Tom felt a strange, new hurt he broke losoe! The hills are shaking had never felt before. with its roar I It's the biggest freshet. He took to the woods, that he might we've had for twenty years!" disreputable looking "find" had the be entirely alone. He tramped full "And—and my water -gate!" cried curl -crowned head of a Grecian sta- tue. "A bit, ma"ant; over my woxlc." re- plied Tom, fumbling his mangy fur cap. "What is your work?" "Just now, ditch -digging, ma'am," said Tom, with uncompromising can- dor. This was a damper; but Miss May Was desperate. "How do you sing—by note or ear?" "No. ma'am. With with my mouth, five males up into the hills; he climbed the miller, starting to his feet, his the spur of. Bear Mountain.;,.he beard- face whiter than his best flour. "It's ed old Winter in his dying den. wedged fast!" Ile peered into the eagles nest that '`And that old dam of yours won't hung over the edge of the cliff, and hold ten minutes! The whole village stopped to swing his legs over the rooks, where the "Bear Lick," as the mountain gleam was called, still hung frost -bound and motionless. "He'll burst loose soon," said Tom to himself, as his fine ear caught the murmurous music stealing through these snowy heights. "The ice won't Ma'am!" said Torn, staring blankly at, hold much longer, Miller Lee was the questioner. talking yesterday about Bear Lick There was a general titter. .Even di`ying up, and ,had as . fixing that the little school -teacher smiled. water_gato of his so as to turn the "Didn't come here to be made no: whole stream into his trill -pond. Bear fool of!" growled Tom, . angrily' bice drying t.p!" ehuckled Tom. "Never heard of any sort of being; "Land! It's just the athes way; and that could sing with its ears." ;maybe be won't go it with a jump, "No, not You misunderstand, I bog. when this ice breaks up---yoe bet!" your pardon for laughing. Caine, try; It was late when Tom' carne down this sees with me. Can you read Olaf the mountain, The Sun had set, but' there was a warm :glow in the west, and the moist air was sweet with the ! Whispers of spring, r ! His way led past the mill that lay at! the head of the valley, where Best, Words?" askefl Miss May, handing !tint the scare. "Nem," answered Tom;;"never had no schooling gat all. But If you'll just give out the hytnn, ma'am ,can, I can catch o'a'r The teacher sat down at the piano, danrd, striking the keynote, began play- kagthe opening song of King Ahasu- shall be a kirg of song. The old signer kept his word. Tom is a wonderful tenor now, who sings before kings and princes, whose life - path lies along the sunny, smiling highway of honor and success, And "Signor Carnie" is as good as he -is great. In whatever land his voice.i5heard, there still donees, every Eastertide,. a liberal cheque to La- tham for the poor of the village—his thank -offering, he says, for the suc- eess of his first role, "King Ahas- uerus." The Return. Across wild ways and woodlands slow awaking, Across far hills and o'er the meadows' ,track, With timid sun and fleets of clouds wind -driven, I hear them now—the birds are coming back. Across sad days and hours of hope- less musing, Across the months that felt an aching lack, My life a -sudden thrills to sweet renewing, I thankful know that hope is com- ing back. --Alix Thorn. New April. . This makes my heart stand still— April, white April dancing And stirring on each hill Newness—with old entrancing. This makes me breathe a prayer, April's soft wealth and me-- Alive• -an, this crisp air Sweet with each budding tree. Yet are words wasted in My plea; what can I say Soul deep as I have been In April's soul to -day? —George Elliston. Liolz, caught in its frolicsome leap! down the rocks, Was made to turn, the huge Wheels ere they let it slip down =rn—='' the water -gate to the liver, a utile ages, "My fair queen, below. Instantly the strain was taken up But the past winter had beena, lig a tenor, so deep and rich and heed one, and the mill -pond was. $ronb, that Miss Mar, trained intim shallowthe mill wheels silent, while tej Carnation Miele Lizzie, rhampiolt milk pradueing Uolsteia dairy cowv.ot Pennsylvania, ennsylvattla, enc! third in the world. She will be eight years old In May, weighs 1;e00 The., andis always milked by hand. At the ago of six, her official record was 850,5 lbs, pt milk and 33.07 lbs. o£ butter for 30 days. Easter, It is significant that the chief festi- val days of mankind call for an atti- tude of both joy and reverence, Espes cially is this true of Easter. So it is the accepted date for the appearance of new spring hats and other finery, faz• egg races an ail manner joicing. And that is but in keeping with the example set by Nature her- self, for she, too, at this season dis- plays • her most opulent charms. • But Easter has another and deeper significance. It is inseparably linked with the resurrection of Him who carne to teach and to demonstrate that life could be victorious over death. It commemorates the most hope -filled event known to man. And the, very atmosphere . of the season is remindful of this meaning. Life is reviving• itself, the earth re- newing its fruitfulness, the deathlike inertia of winter disappearing. It is this aspect of Easter that those who live in the country, far better than they who dwell in the city, are Ole to ,see and understand. They have all about then symbols such as the grain ;of wheat bursting into new life by which Jesus, as told in John xii, 24, illustrated the very fact of the resur- rection. Por H�e, too, lived in the country who said: "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." An April Prayer. • Creative Spirit, vital breath, Inspiring, quiekening Love, All life, all light, all loveliness, Are Thine, below, above; And sweetness infinite, and peace That none may understand Who have not heard Thy still, small voice, And clasped Thy living hand. A voiceless harp,, I crave Thy touch To tulle the silent strings, That melodies may wake to life In heavenly echoings. While music thrills from budding bough, And ripples in the rain, Give'me to sing, this morn of spring, Some new, some noble strain! My soul, a thirsty garden ground, Awaits Thy blessed showers, That beauty -thoughts may spring and bloom, A. paradise of flowers, Where Thou may'st walk at eventide, Among the fillies white, The roses and forget-me-nots That blow far Thy delight...,Master of music and of flowers— All loveliness, all joy— Inspire and ase my utmost powers In Thy divine employ. Let distant harpings float to me Adown the April skies Frotn.fragrant fields of asphodel Abloom -in Paradise! .Lilian Loveridge. On Easter Even. When the son sets,. let me say, Each day is an Easter day, When the Lord niay rise in me, Bringing life and victory; Every eve an Easter eve, When my heart a glorious guest Must make ready to receive, Swept and cleansed and dressed. On its altar there shall lie Lilies white of purity: Roses white and roses red Shall their grateful colors shed; Passion flowers with cross on breast, Violet purple sweet, I'll lay Where my Lord's dear feet may rest Haply—on this Easter day. No long waiting need we know, While the slow months come and go No sat Lent observe, if we Make all time our Lent to be; Not one festal, brief and bright,. But a year, where every morn Hearts made ready over night Wake to find an Easter dawn. So each night 0 faithful heart, Keep thy vigil, draw apart. Dress thine altar fair and fit, Sure the Lord will hallow it. Death in vain forbids Him rise, Sin in vain would bar His way And, each morrow, hi; the skies, There shall dawn an Easter day! --Susan Coolidge. "Sing 0 Heaven and be joyful '0 Earth; For lo, the winter is past and goner The flowers appear on the earth, The time of singing of birds is come, The voice of their music is hoard in the land, The trees put forth their green." Wilson P'ublishirx Company 041Achtioar tf ti �a6 At 1 540 THE NEW UNDER -GARMENTS GIVE SLENDERIZING LINES. The woman or girl who delights in making her own lingerie will find these attractive drawers quite easy to fash- ion and a style that does away with needless material at the waist and hips owing to the well -fitted shaped front yoke which fastens at the sides, while the back is slightly gathered to a band. View A shows the straight lower edge trimmed • with wide lace, and View B has the sides rounded and finished with narrow lace. No. 1540 is in sies 28,x 30, 32, 34, 36 inches waist. Size 30 waist requires 1a.'. yards 36 - inch material, or 1% yards 30 -inch; 1% yards wide lace, or 3 yards nar- row lace for trimming. Price 20 cents the pattern. The secret of distinctive dress lies in good taste rather than a lavish ex- penditure of money. Every woman should want to make her own clothes, and the home dressmaker will find the designs illustrated in our nevi Fashion Book to be practical and simple, yet maintaining the spirit of the mode of the moment. Price of the book 10c the copy. ROW TO ORDER PATTERNS, Write your name and address plain• ly, giving number and size of such patterns as you want. Enclose 20e• in stamps or coin (coin preferred; wrap it carefully) for each number and. address your order to Pattern Dept.; Wilson Publishing Co., 73 West Ade- laide St., Toror to. Patterns sent by return maail• The Spring Festival. The word "Easter" comes from "Eastre," a goddess in honor of whom a festival was celebrated in April. In England, at one time, "Easter offerings," or "dues," consisted of money paid to parish clergy at Easter. In Germany, hares, according to superstition, are transformed at Easter -time into egg -laying animals. In the olden days, we are told, hares, modelled in sugar, were to be seen in pastrycooks' windows at Easter- tide. They were usually in a nest, sitting upright, and surrounded by eggs! Fire has played a prominent part in many Easter celebrations in dif- ferent countries. Especially in the East do the people belitive in what is called "The Miracle of the Easter Fire" --a ceremony of elaborate char- acter. It is confined to the (creek and other. Eastern _Churches, and takes place each Easter in Terusa- lam. The pilgrims actually believe that the fire is sent down from Heaven. 'thankfulness. 1 thank Go cl for stiuslxine ,and bird song, for the swveet marulug light upon the hil!t.ops, and the tender ayes of my loved ones. The great world is awake and a throb with. lite. 1, too, .am awake and, Info is pulsing through my veins. 1 have a part in the great world, iu its work, its joy and its son . sow. To -day 1 can be a little centre frons which shall 'radiate peatoe, kindil, nese and good will. I thank God fez opportunity. A be'aatiful golden sun, beam has entered through, my clim- ber window, and awakened me to the gladness and beauty of the morning. May my ep!rit be wakened and !,incited by the Divine Spirit, so thaut all this day it nwy 'warn, and gladden the hearts it touches. --R. L; S•tepheneon. Mary. Gaze not on sepulchres Dark and foreboding; Weep not by dungeons Empty and cavernous. Turn to the garden -- See how the sunlight Streams through the cedars. Whom aro you seeking? Hush, he is coiling, Not from the dungeon, Nor -from the sepulchre But front the garden. 7ttise then and greet Ixiin. .....Robert- I . Key. The best cork comes front Alger! There aro 2,000,000 acres o set° forests ixt that eountry. 1 se he bei bet ga be ha Ens T ,"fif sec th neo bir for am wh str teen 01' S till, but of wi oth. Da tho an "tu. 5114 {