THE SNOWDROP BABY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2849, 21 October 1908, Page 83

THE SNOWDROP BABY.

, -Bt Edith -Ho-wnes. I The Snowdrop Baby Tay in her little j cradle under the ground! - Do yon know : . how while .and smooth the Snowdrop ctadle j is, acd- how .snngly the silky sheets are tucked round- ihe <ba-by? .Above th« ground it was summer. The birds sang, the bees hummed, the roses j <and pinks talked to one another across the beds. " What a number of flowers are out this year!" they said. "The garden is j full of blossom." Do you know that the | flowers talk? ' | The Snowdrop Baby listened to it all. " I am not needed yet," she said. -- She turned over and went to sle e p. j Summer passed, and autumn came. Asters { and dahlias talked to one another now, and' tiger lilies bloomed in the garden. The Snowdrop Baby woke and listened. "My time is not yet come," ehe said. She elept again. Winter came. Frost following frost killed all the flowers; storm after storm b'ew fcb^e dead leaves away, leaving the brown stalks bare. Snow fell, and melted. A' tiny drop crept down to where the Siujwdrop Baby lay. Do you know how the watetf drops creep down? "'Your time ha« come," it said. " Yes," said th c Baby joyfully. "I am making my white frock. Soon I rhall go up." Next day she x was ready. She pushed her way through the soft wet earth; and reached the top. Up yet, and up, till she hung on her green stalk high above tho -ground. How beautiful she looked in her snowy frock! ,Pure white it was, except for' here and there » «p!ash of softest green. Do you know j how lovely Snowdrop Babies are? Bhe turned' -her 4o the ground, ;for the sun. dazzled her, and made her shy; _but a bird caw her. " A Snowdrop ! Ai - Snowdrop!" he sang. " Spring is ccraing. sweet spring is coming!" Do you know how sweet spring is?