lac was so beautiful.

One bunch lay on the table in the church, and one, the loveliest of
all, stood in a cup of water on the lame girl's window-sill; and when
she went to bed that night she moved it to the table beside her head,
and put her thin hand out to touch it in the dark, and went to sleep
smiling.

And each of the lilac flowers was glad that the bush had bloomed.

* * * * *

The children drew a deep breath. They smoothed their flower-sprays
gently, and one pale boy held his up to his cheek as if it had been a
living thing.

"Tell it again," cried the tomboy.

"Is it true?" asked the boy in kilts.

"I think it is," said the girl gently. "Of course, Tommy, the flowers
never tell us their secrets in words; but I have watched that
lilac-bush all through the winter and spring, and these are the very
blossoms you are holding to-day. It seems true, doesn't it?"

"Yes," they said thoughtfully.

"Shall you press yours, Miss Polly, and will it tell you a story, too,
when you look at it?" asked one little tot as they all crowded about
her for a good-by kiss.

Miss Polly caught her up in her arms, and I saw her take the child's
apron and wipe away a tear as she said, "Yes, dear, it will tell me a
story, too,--a long, sad, sweet, helpful story!"

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