152 



SPRING STORIES AND SONGS 



a 



The young man, still smiling, dozed in his 

 chair. 



At length the sun began to rise. A gentle 

 warmth came over the place. 



The stream began to murmur by the door. 



The sweet smell of grow- 

 ing grass and flowers came 

 upon the breeze. 



A robin and a bluebird 

 settled on the roof of the 

 hut and began to sing. 



The young man opened 

 his eyes. He looked upon 

 the face of the old man, 

 now cold and stiff in death. 

 As he looked the old man 

 grew smaller and smaller, 

 and, at last, melted away. 

 And where the fire had 

 been was a small white flower with a pink 

 border. 



The young man touched it lightly with his 

 fingers and went on his way. 



