ARBOR DA Y MANUAL. 



THE FLOWER MISSION. 



CHILDREN, a flower seems a little thing, but little things often have a 

 mighty influence for good or bad. We are little, but we have an influence, 

 we have a mission in this world. Have you heard the story of the mission and 

 the influence for good, that a simple little flower had, once on a time? Listen, 

 and it shall be told to you, and from it you can learn the lesson that nothing 

 was made to live and die in vain, and that nothing is so poor that it has no in- 

 fluence of some kind, and that the use of that influence for good makes others 

 happy and brings to us a blessing. 



There was once a little flower growing where weeds were tall ; 

 The blue sky bending over, it could see, and that was all. 

 " I know I was meant for something, else I would not be here ! " 

 It kept saying over and over to a briar growing near. 



" I think you must be mistaken," was ever the briar's reply, 



" Such a poor little thing as you are, will live for a day and die." 



But the faith of the flower was steadfast as it turned its face to God, 



Believing it had a mission above the green earth's sod. 



Xow the weeds that hedged in the flower grew close by a sick girl's room ; 

 And the breeze brought in through the windowa breath of the flowers' perfume. 

 " And oh," cried the girl in gladness, I can smell the old home flowers ; 

 Bring in one of the blossoms to cheer these lonely hours." 



They brought in one and laid it in the sick girl's wasted hand; 



She kissed it over and over, but they could not understand 



What it was she said to the flower of the old home far away, 



Or the words that were sweet with comfort that the flower had to say. 



Each morning they brought a blossom to brighten the sick girl's room; 



And the heart of the humble flower was glad in the tall weed's gloom. 

 " I knew I was meant for something; " it said to its friend the sky, 

 " I was sure of a nobler mission than just to live and die." 



One morning they told the flower that the homesick girl was dead; 

 And it gave them its last sweet blossom as they told it what she said : 

 " It has been such a comfort to me, sick in a stranger land ; 

 That is the message I send it; it will know and understand." 



Then the flower looked up and whispered to its steadfast friend, the sky : 

 " I thank God for the mission he gave me ; with a happy heart I die." 

 Be sure we were meant for something ; keep faith in the God above ; 

 And our lives may make others happy with the flowers of human love. 



