"SPRING CAME LAUGHING"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 86, 8 October 1938, Page 20

"SPRING CAME LAUGHING"

(Written by "Lassie," of Kelburn.) "Spring came laughing o'er the hill, Crowned with wreaths of daffodil" — Gaily lilted the melody, in a high, sweet voice, and Spring, who was resting beneath a white blossoming cherry tree, turned to see from whence came the song. "There is no one in sight," she said to herself, "but I must find out who that is," and she sped away, light as thistledown. She passed some children on their way to school, but they were chattering of exams, and holiday plans. She caught up to numbers of grown-ups, but they only talked of business. Nowhere could she trace the gay voice of a moment ago, and she stood, puzzled. And then it came again. Spring darted back, In time to see a familiar figure turn a corner. It was Lassie, who gave a little skip of pleasure to find Spring awaiting her. "Good morning, Lassie, my lass! You look as cheery as your mood, in your red hat and silver-buckled shoes!" Lassie laughed. "Is it any wonder I am happy, when I have you for companion on such a morning—l couldn't help but sing!" Spring smiled, and said, "Shall I tell you of the sequel to that song? Once, I came weeping, and not laughing. I'll walk with you, and tell you. You know how I love to wander abroad at dusk? It is my favourite hour, I think. One day I found the most enchanting garden in all the land, and I could not bear to leave it. I explored it from end.to end, its green sloping lawns and green-and-silver river slipp:i g silently by, spanned by an arched bridge. Irises by the river-bank, and blossoming

trees of pink and white and yellow. I wanted to stay there, forever-and-a^day." "But you didn't, Spring, dear?" cried Lassie anxiously. " 'Cos how could Summer visit us, if you did, or Autumn or Winter?" "Ah," Spring replied, "you will see. I played and danced so long in that garden that I quite forgot, until Dawn Wind came to warn nic, that the dew had soaked my slippers. And that meant I must stay where I was, Until dusk again, before I could get another pair. Alas, I could n<j>t stir, try as I would." "Poor Spring! How thirsty and tired you would be." "Yes, I struggled and tugged, but all in vain. All that mortals could see was a rosered japonica bush, its petals scattered on the grass—but it was I, quite helpless in the centre of the lawn. At last I wept and sobbed—dusk seemed so far away. ■ . J "Then I felt gentle Jingers tugging at my dress, and tiny voices clamouring. "Take us, take us, Spring! Use us for slippers!' "I looked down, and there were crocuses, darling little things, looking up at me, a dozen or more of them. So I was comforted, and fashiohedj slippers from their petals of mauve and white and gold. A kiss for each of them, and one last look round the lovely garden,„ and 1 hastened Back here.*' "But you won't forget again, and. be caught in the dew, ... or I'd 1 have no playmate to laugh and sing with," cried Lassie. "Come, let's try it over just once more, together, before we part— "Spring came laughing o'er the kill, Crowned with wreaths of daffodil." *CK=>(><KC>«><__^^