GOD S MIRACLE OF MAY. There came a message to the vine, A whisper to the tree. The bluebird saw the secret sign And merrily sang he ! Ami like a silver string the brook Trembled with music sweet— Enchanting notes in every nook For echo to repeat. A magic touch transformed the fields, Greener each hour they grew, t’ntil they shone like burnished shields All jeweled o’er with dew. Scattered upon the forest floor A million bits of bloom Breathed fragrance forth thro’ morning’s door Into the day’s bright room. Then bud by bud the vine confessed The secret it had heard, And in the leaves the azure-breast Sang the delightful word; Glad flowers upsprang amid the grass And flung their banners gay, And suddenly it came to pass— God’s miracle of May ! •—Ladies’ Home Journal. J The Return Home f «> ♦ “Hello, I’liii, digging away at the oid farm yet?" The speaker, leaning languidly against the top rail of the fence, held a cigarette in the most approved style between Ills two forefingers, and occa­ sionally puffed slowly at it. 1*1111 Dryden looked up from his planting and responded : “Why, Ed, Is that you? When did you come down?” "Ran down last night on the early train. Taking a few days’ vacation and thought I'd like to see the old place" Phil glanced rather enviously at the well dressed smoker, and then dropped his eyes a little shamefacedly to bls own coarse, ill-titling mid faded clothes. “Why do you stay down here, Phil, and use yourself up on this old farm?” Ed Spencer continued, "I should think you’ll go to the city and get a better job. If you 1 ite farming as I always did, you would." Phil’s face Hushed a trifle. The con­ trast between his appearance and that of his old school friend made him un­ easy. "I have thought of It several times." he replied slowly, "but there’s -o much to do here, and then------" "Oh. shucks! Ypu hale to make the plunge. So did 1. But after the first break It’s all so much better. Clean sailing then. I just picked up my tilings mid made the start. Ami now well. I’m going to get n raise next i.onth, mid then I'll take it easie Hi.ir tow.” "I suppose tile work is plea- •uter." Phil stammered, "and tin . is bet J.er.” "Better?" answered Ed. li < con­ temptuously. "Why, you g- sh there for your work, but on tlm f irn you don't. I'll bet you haven't seen as uiiK'li money as this in n ji-.ir. Producing n roll of bills, the speaker flipped them carelessly through his fin­ gers. exposing, to view several of high denominations. "That’s what you get in the city,” he continued. "It's cash—every week or month." Phil said nothing, but his mind was feverishly active. Suddenly lie asked anxiously : “I suppose it's hard to get a good position at first, isn't it?" "Yes, mid no. If you have influence It’s dead easy; If you don't you have to hunt around n bit." Ed Spencer flung as»ay his cigarette, and added confidentially: "If you iv thinking of making the change, let me know. I may help yon. I know the roja-s a little. Just send me word when you've made up your mind." Phil kicked a lump of earth with the toe of his shoe. Ed seemed to compre­ hend the state of his mind, and asked, smilingly: “How are crops, anyway— slow as ever?" A flash of resentment appeared in Phil's eyes, for lie knew the question was asked in well-bred derision. “Oh. they're pretty good,” Phil replied with some dignity. "1'11 harvest a good cron this season if------” “If potato bugs don't eat up every­ thing. and cabbage worms don't finish what's left." laughed Ed, as he turned to leave. "Well. I must be going. I want to see the old place, and get back to the city soon's 1 can. It's pretty alow here.” He consulted a handsome gold watch whictl hung at the end of a gold chain. “Remember me to Bess." he called aver his shoulder. “I suppose she's well.” When the two separated, Phil Dryden picked up bis hoe and stood for several minutes staring at the retreating form. Contending emotions possessed him. The old rebellious spirit rose up to niake his thought bitter and disquiet­ ing. Life on the farm was a drudgery, he thought, and a dozen times he secretly longed to leave it behind to begin work lnlhe city. The opportunity had never ta>en presented quite so forcibly as to­ day. and he felt that the decisive mo­ ment liad come. “1’11 do It," he firmly muttered after the space of five minutes of silent thought. ”1'11 do It now. Uncle Ned can get along without me. He can hire someone else In my place. I’ve delayed too long already.” Thereafter the planting progressed slowly. Phil’s mind was not on his work and several times he bad to go over his hoeing to repair,damages care­ lessly done. It was late in the afternoon, and Phil cut the day's work short by an hour. As he trudged up to the old farm house, his face was brightened by the thoughts of his newly formed plans. . “Hello, Bess!” he called, as a slim girl of Hi met |*im. "You’re back early, Phil," Bess re­ plied. "You can't exiiect supper yet a while. Why, the sun Is an hour high." "Oh. I’m not after supper," the boy refunded. "I've made up my miml to quit for good. Bess, I'm going to the city.” Ills sister stared at him In amaze­ ment for a moment. Phil continued In explanation of his sudden announce­ ment: “I’m going to get a position in the city, and leave the farm for good. I've just had a talk with Ed Silencer, and he says lie cau get me a position when I want It.” "Ed Spencer? Is he home again?” asked Bess. "Only for a few days. He can't stand It here much longer than a few days at a time. It’s so slow. 1 don't blame him, either, for it Is slow—terribly slow and dull." The boy removed his bat and wiped his forehead. "But, Phil, If you go to the city, what will become of me?" queried his sister in a weak voice. "You? Wliy, can't you stay here with Aunt Matty and Unde Nisi?" There was genuine surprise In the taiy's voice, and this was increased when he saw that Bess had turned a shade paler than usual. “Oh. yes. 1 supjajse I could stay,” was the quiet answer, “but did it ever occur to you that I might be lonely— and—and ” There was a suspicious weakness In the voice, and when it grew husky, the girl stopped and turned her face away. "MHiy, Bess, I don't see—why. In time I’ll take you to the city, too. I'd get a good position, and work In it. and then we'd live there together.” "Yes, but how many years would I have to wait?" resentfully replied the girl. "Do you think Ed Spencer could support his sister? And If he could, why doesn't he? I'm sure she has a hard enough time to pinch along.” "But—” began Phil In self-extenua­ tion—"I'm not like Ed in some respects, u nd " “No. and I’m thankful you’re not," interrupted Bess. A glow of pride made Phil quiet and more thoughtful. He remembered now “I' ve delayed too long already .” that Ed's sister worked hard at dress­ making, besides her ilutles .on the farm, to make both ends meet, tn n dim way he seemed to remember several of Ed's selfish ways when they were school companions, and he admitted that lie did not treat Ills sister liberally. The fiasli of the roll of bills appeared before his mind, and he wondered if Ed would present Ills hard-working sister with some of the money. Probably they were nil for her—a birthday present, per- .haps. for Mandy was III that month. "Oh, Ed lias his bad points." he re­ plied* "and so has every fellow. But lie's doing well In the city, and I don’t see why 1 shouldn’t do as well. I was always smarter lu my studios than Ed.” "Yes, and in everything else,” loyally responded Bess. "Then why shouldn't I go to the city and make something of myself? I can never do it here.” “Phil, I don’t think you would do much better," protested Bess. "In a few years now you—we—will have the farm to ourselves. Uncle Ned and Aunt Matty must turn It over to us then— they only hold ft In trust until you be­ come of age, you know—and they'll be glad to get rid of the responsibility. Then we can----- ” Phil kicked viciously at a stone. Tills sort of argument did not please him. "But. Bess, there's no money In farm­ ing.” he interrupted. “Uncle Ned says that, and everybody else. What's the use of killing yourself on the farm for nothing?” “But what would you do with It?” gasped Bess in surprise. “Oh, sell It, or—or let Uncle Ned run it until I become of age. Then—” a new light shone In his eyes—“then the money will start me In business I'll have the ex[>erlenoe, and—and ” "Oh, Phil,” exclaimed Bess In a pain­ ed voice, "bow could you sell It?” "Why not?" stubbornly asked Phil. Boss did not reply. If he could not understand the sacredness of tile asso­ ciations that clustered about the ol.l homestead, she could not make him. She turned abruptly and walked away, but not until Phil saw a tear glistening In her eyes. -“Girls are so funny ami—and—un­ reasoning.” the discontented boy re­ marked aloud. Phil was strongly minded and deter­ mined in bls way. Once his mind was made up. It was difficult for him to change his point of view. For three years now he had Geon steadily drift­ ing toward this Important decision. He longed for the city, and wished to make his mark In a wider field than farm­ ing. “Bess will be terribly disappointed at first." he reasoned, “and shell be lonely her arms around fils neck and stain- MAN FLIES AT LAST. the first mouth. But she'll s x>n see the nierixl "But of course I know It wisdom of my way. When I can take couldn't have lieen you.” her to the city she will have a happier Nei rtheless she sobbixl rather ner­ time of It than here.-" vously tor a few minutes, uatil Pill) Nothing further .vus said of hie was tempted to say : change of plans for a few lays, but "1 dent know. Bess, I— I might have Phil could not fall to noth • the change fallen, too. Who knows?" in Bess' appearance. Her face was “No. no," protested Bess loyally, pule and demure, and the eyes looked re are you going?" she asked. us if she had spent sleepless nights "1 m going over to set* Mandy," was - the reply. worrying over the matter. "I wish site wouldn’t take It so to " tliout further explanation of his heart." Phil reflected more than once. sudden resolve he walked across the Then a little Irritably. "Girls expect so fields until he reached the Spencer much of brothers. They want to tie home. Without waiting for any for­ them down to their apron strings.” mality, Phil entered and caught the ■ This sort of argument did not tend to girl curled up In a heap, with her sew­ convince Phil of his mistaken line of ing s -uttered in a hopeless mass around her. thought. A week later he had fully made up "Mandy," ho said softly. bls iwinil to carry out his long-cherished Sin* raised dull, red eyes to his. plans. One afternoon lie walked over "Mandy," he repeated, "I'm going to t'l the old Spencer home to get Ed s the city." city address. He would write to his "Oil. Phil!" she cried. old companion and find what he could "I'm going,” he continued, “to see HENRY l-'ARMAN AND HIS AEROl’I.ANl- do for him. what 1 call nlo for Ed. Then I'm com­ Tlie Spencer home was a tumble­ ing home to stay.” The most extraordinary feat yet performed in the navigation of the air down. neglected farm of some half "if Ed had only stayed," she moaned. was ansmiplislieil at Issy, near Paris, when Mr. Henri Farmau covered the dozen acres. The only one of the fam­ "He will come back—In time,” Phil circular kilometer with his aernpli...... It Is not the first time that Mr. Ear­ ily, in Phil's estimation in the pasltion If----- " softly shut behind him. Country Gen­ the grades are for the large part abso Mandy dropped her sewing, and with tleman. lutely useless to children who have to flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes, said depend upon what litth* education they A BIT TOO SHREWD. vehemently: “Please don't go, then, can get in the public schools. Phil—for Bess' sake and mine.” It was dcwelofwd recently that lu One Venture til Which tlie Captain “Why what------ " Overreached Himself. certain grades, where the children were "Well, because^ we'll miss you, mid One of Uncle Sam's customs officials, from 13 to Id years old not one was then you'll be happier here. Ed Is not noted for Ills success in unmasking able to do an example In simple In­ doing as well as you think, and----- ” smugglers, said tin* oilier day In a dis­ terest. They could not toll what the “I'm not sure of that. He scented to cussion of a custom's officer's duties: Intercut at (I per un- “Didn't Ed remember it?" The vice consul's left eye clo.flsl, and try schools. Thv real, fault Ilea in (he vessel. Business took him up the coast Mandy bent over her work and made indifference of tlm people. We are not to Tampa Bay, and In* bought twenty lie laughed. no reply. She was too loyal to make •'Seriously speaking, though." he ■ .in- stingy in providing money for the sii|>- f dozen chickens from it farmer at $1 u any confession that would reflect upon tinned. ”1 do not liellevo this wedding |s)Tt of public ,«flioolsi but wo Heem to dozen. her brother. will be attended by the disagreeable think that nothing more Is necessary. "'I'lie chickens were all sizes — some a When they parted a few minutes features of those you mentlone 1. Till- School boards and school officers are few days old and no bigger than ca ­ later, she took Phil's hand, and said count Is n splendid type of m-iiilio-al; selected wHbout care and this most nary birds; some fat mid large, like earnestly : "Elease do not leave Bess— Ills family Is one of the oldest mid best important vork in the life of a nation and me. We should miss you so much, turkey gobblers. Tlie captain expect­ In Austria, lie is wealthy, heroic, kind Is the most woghafled. Farm World. ed tu make a lot of money out of them. Phil.” and gentle. But you Amerlepia ire Phil walked home In an uncertain Ill* was very shrewd nt a trade. such a hurry-up lot. You rush off to III n lloufe. "Well, at Key West a hotel man state of mind. Somehow his desire to business In the morning, cat your lunch On • t .!• of his early concert tours of came aboard and looked the chickens go to the city cooled down, and the standing up In about two minutes an I the west, b<,for<* the famous violinist sight of two anxious faces made him over. rush off lignin to commercialism VVfiat Edouard Iteimmyl was thoroughly fa­ " They are fine birds,' lie said. ‘How hesitate. kli’-d of a home can such mi American miliar with the railway routes of the much?' give a wife? It Is beemise you run off “Ed is about ns selfish as ever," he "‘If you pick them out yourself,’ to your business mid leave your u.i-s I’ldted States, he Inquired in Chicago acknowledged. “A fellow with all of I concerning the best way to reach a s:Hd Captain Harrow shrewdly. 'I'll to their own amusement that yo u- ptown in Illinois. his money who-doesn't remember Ills have to charge you $<; a dozen. If I wealthy girls who love travel ami easy own sister's birthday is a good deal of B. Ac