" Oh ! why have 1 been so mean ?” she wailed . Here am I going about the town and seeing life and grumbling , grumbling , and here is that poor umbrella beaten about by school children and it never says a word .”
After this the big umbrella was looked upon by her friends as always seeing good in everything and having a cheery word for everyone . Nor was she again heard to complain about the hard tasks that people have to bear .
ELSIE ROGERS .
_________ ■ )>
The sun , as it sank behind the tall gray bushes which crowned the hill , filled the whole sky with a rosy glow like the new petals of a rose folded around its golden centre . Its dying radiance lighted up the casements windows of a little cottage , over which pink and white roses climbed in great profusion , mingling their scent with that of the honeysuckle by the gate .
The gentle wind , which stirred their leaves and swung their flower-laden heads , softly kissed an old lady sitting on a bench beneath the trees and the sun himself seemed to pause to look at that peaceful scene , and then to sink to rest made happier by the sight . The sweet gray eyes were closed in sleep ; one small but wrinkled hand grasped the handle of an old umbrella — so old that nobody could see any good in it , unless it was in the simple legend —
“ To Susan , from James ”— on its handle out of sight .
As the sleeper dreamed , lo , the little cottage stood once more in the glare of the morning sun , the red and yellow tulips stood in stately rows . She lived again that dreadful day when her lover came to tell her of his father ’ s ruin and his own resolve to seek his fortunes in America . Again he gave her ( and the sleeper ' s hand caressed the handle ) the old umbrella and told her how he had bought it in London and would always like to think of her with his gift over her golden hair .
Again she dreamed . She was opening the first letter — loving and true , with high hopes of fame in the new world . Then she lived on still again those long intervals which followed until all was silence , not knowing whether he was dead or alive ; but still she patiently hoped lie would yet come back to her .
Thus thirty years with their petty joys and sorrows passed in reveries before her and the old lady awoke .
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