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and collect the beams into one focus of intense heat. 
Sometimes she curved her petals inwards to shelter 
the precious center from the too scorching fire. 
Mary stood silent and full of awe before the 
stately, ■ spotless flower, whose purity looked like 
goodness itself. 
“ Sweet child,” were the Lily’s fragrant words, 
“ the touch of your little hand would sully my fair 
robe, and the dark spot would spread till all its 
whiteness and its elasticity had gone. And within 
your breast is a flower as fair as this you see. Let 
it be unstained. Let no blemish mar the purity of 
your sacred conscience, and then you also can ever 
gaze upward with undimmed vision. My very 
name is whiteness ; let yours be innocence, and 
we will be kindred spirits.” 
The glittering humming birds poised themselves 
in the air, over the two beautiful beings that were 
