"BOX O'SPRING

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 96, 20 October 1934, Page 20

"BOX O'SPRING

._- :: :- ;•■ : ;(Wjßteit'fof out Spring Page bjr ''Ms^fl,I'Kclliurn.) ' ; ■'■ SPEINGT'OHIiD'-lAy half-Jasiecp and half awake—that ddieious sta.ta when' anything pleasant might-happen! •' "Wliaf ifiight' it- be,:now?? - ; slie woii- - aercd.'-" "A now"iiress for visiting the-"JairyKing-?.: -A' new song .to ishij?. V iii'-''tho iearljf"moniing? A: new joy to-' (lisobvor^ .0r..^.: new friend: to' make? - " Why/-iFm;||ht; be-any—pt all of thdiii^i .:Aud;; Spring Child-.ga\-b a.sigh otf sheer'delight.-" :''; ■■'■:"■'■■■: ■ ■•..:..: .:.'.._ .::■.;■;. -.■.■.•:■■. : .:. '•' '■"; '; ■Just- v theli, something landed with a.sbft thud on her pillow -and ..tickled. . ' her ear v-ery:^gently. Open came her eyes-, tov.find.;Tho .O.at Who.Lives.in tlio ''■ ' Cherry-! Tree calmly' washing "his face, ami ..talking- to .liiniself.. in .a', rumbly',., : 'furry,::purry>s'ort--of-voic-e!-.lAiid since slic Spxiug. Chilcl. took good notice of his strange words. ;- .. ' :;.:■ . ' ■■ ".. 7; ;_ ""Two fqi- colour—- two; for fragraiieef1:." .-...-.■'..- _'";'■ _■ ;-..-. . :''.'.. ',".."'. One'for .grace^aiid lill-for loyg." .-■';;'■": ;: " ; •''••' .'.''"."•'' : '.. v:;' ' While she still ■pbride'recl,' The Cat AVtfo'..L'ivosl'.i.n, th(j''.Che.n-y Tree gave an extra flick of his tail and bounded oil into tlio shadowy night. ■ ' "Aftevthat, of~course, Spri^ Child couldn't rest any longer. She drew a,.cloak round, h.,er.,,sl)ou,lders and. sapped out into tht> garden. Over the dewy law*.: she, went^; -.pa^t:>,i:hc:*slb;epitig Kwb^eUsy I rb!ih'd''tli.e 'tfbfAl efV;ljy:^fie'.'.''s.celi'tjr< flowering-currant,..and. •up. tbo .empty '^oad. ~_La.dyHoQn ."sniiled" down "at her, and Spring Child blow her a kiss as^he went. The Singing Stream at the" bottom of the hill murmured drowsily—;" Two for colour —two for fragrance—" and forgot the rest! / Suddenly, Spring Child spun right' round on her heel —and darted across tho path. "The very one to tell me!;'' Cherry-Tree-in-Bloom is sure to know," she said to herself. ,-/ And a lovelier sight never w;:'s seen, in all a fairy lifetime (which is always^—and—always) than Cherry-Tree-in-Bloom as sho leaned over the green lattice fence. Spring Child \w>~-i. up, cont§n£ £or, .1 moment just to gaze at1'; the piled-up blossoms made yearly transparejit'" by, Lady TMooii's'kisses. Then she curtsied, and •■( Sl^l<l cr friendi.if. she knew what" The Cat had ■ meant. "Well," said Cherry-TftiW-in-Blooin, "it might be this. Lassio passes here every day. She always smiles at mo, and.l know she delights in flowers, -whether for colour, for frugrance, 01. forVgwitSe'. ,■■; Yon might, perhaps, send . - her your love by that means," .'.'•".'..■■'•■'*7'-'■'? ■:■.■ -.'-: ::-k- ~: .■-'.:■.' ; •; "It is n lovely idea, Doarncss," "said Spring Child, "and" I'ni'so; glad j you've told nic. May I take this cluster of your blossom for my very own ■self?" and she fastoncd it in her hair, before kissing Cherry-Tree farewell. . Back eho went, and wakened Moruing Breeze, hoi* messenger.' 110 was a merry fellow, and had 110 objections to carrying out his dutios. ."Go over the aea to the Place of Pleasant Hills, and in a garden you will find Alarian-Called-Fuzz. Lift her curly hair, and whisper from me: "Two for colour—• two for fragrance, one for grace—and all for lovo," Off went Morning Breezo, and Spring Child rested by the Singing Stream.

And next day she smiled, as she peeped in at Lassio opening a parcel. "Oh! How lovely! See the colour of the red anemones—and the clear yellow of the jasmine! And the freesias and violets aro heavenly-sweet! While tho grape-hyacinths are gracefulness itself, I must send Marian my love for her gift. It's a real Box o' Spring!"