A SYLVAN EASTER 55 



off old winter clothes and wear something new 

 and pretty I" cried Pearl, smoothing out her 

 dainty skirt. *'It comes in the spring, just 

 the right time." 



'^When Easter comes," replied Portia, '*I 

 will tell you its true meaning." 



And then they parted, Portia and Pearl re- 

 turning to the big house on the hill, while lit- 

 tle Polly took the path through the wood and 

 over the field to her humble home. 



When the girls had left the lawn, the sil- 

 ver maple said, *^Did you hear them say 

 what they would wear on Easter? One said 

 that it was the day to put on new spring 

 clothes." 



"Then we, too, must prepare for Easter," 

 replied the little dogwood. *^Our fashion of 

 flowers is much prettier than theirs, and per- 

 haps I shall look as fair as the girl with the 

 apple-blossom face. ' ' 



'^That reminds me," said the beech, "that 

 the orchard trees will put on their pink and 

 white frocks before long. Who then will think 

 to look at us 1" 



