lay. Accordingly, he caught up two sticks, and nailed them
together, so as to get the right shape. Then he went down town,--the
town being small, he had not far to go,--begged at the bookstore a few
"show-bills," containing the letters he needed for patterns; bought a
sheet of gold paper and half an ounce of gum-arabic, twice as much of
both as he really wanted; people in a hurry are not apt to calculate
very nicely, or be very economical, you know. He carried his articles
back to the barn, and asked a lady to try to cut out a motto he had
selected, and gum it on a ribbon. "But where shall I get the ribbon?"
said the lady. "Oh! find it somewhere," said Mr. Perseverance; "and be
sure and have all ready when I return." There was one spot in the
woods he remembered visiting months before with a boy in his
neighborhood, on which grew another material, indispensable to his
project. He found the lad: they jumped into a chaise; rode two or
three miles to a grove; and, on searching a few moments, found what
they were after,--a plant green in mid-winter as well as in summer,
and prized by everybody who loves Christmas; gathered a bushel of it,
more or less; and got home again before dinner. Meanwhile, the lady,
with others to help her, had been busy; and all were wide awake now,
entering into the spirit of the matter, thinking that the bright idea
of Mr. Perseverance might possibly be accomplished in season. A
splendid bunch of pure white lilies, not quite open, was fastened to
the longest stick, the stems covered with wet paper or moss; then both
pieces of wood were wound round with thick and rich evergreen, leaving
the glorious flowers standing out gracefully, and white as the
new-fallen snow. Next came the motto, in golden letters, on a broad
white satin ribbon, which Mrs. Perseverance had found: it was the belt
of her bridal dress, carefully preserved for several years, and now
devoted to a good cause. The "emblem" was completed and packed just in
time for the coach. "And what was it?" An evergreen cross, with the
lilies at the centre; the ribbon hanging as a festoon from the arms,
and bearing the words--

"_Consider the Lilies_!"

On reaching the city, it was much admired, and attracted a good many
eyes in the show the next day. I believe there has hardly been a
"Floral Procession" since, without a similar device; and among the
banners used at the Warren-street Chapel, is a bright one of silk,
which has on it the cross an