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Show A LONG AGO TALE it It was the night before the great festival of May was to be celebrated In merrie Kngland. The young people peo-ple of the village started off into a neighboring wood to gather hawthorn boughs with snowy blossoms. F.ach tongue- was busy chattering about who might be chosen as Queen of the May. One girl said, "You know the Queen must be the fairest and most beautiful beau-tiful girl in the village in nature as well as looks. Of course it couldn't be Helen. She is pretty and has many nice clothes to wear, but she is very selfish." "I'd like Marion," said another. "Jail know she wanted to come so much today, but she stayed at home because her Granny needed her. She's always doing something for some one else." Just then a sharp pair of eyes spld a group of people moving off together into a lane. v "lrf)ok! There go the ones to choose the Queen. It's a secret until the very last minute, you know." The older hoys chopped down the straighlest and tallest tree in the wood, for the Maypole. The children chil-dren helped to strip it of its brunches and leaves, to paint it with Vay colors and to fasten the bright rrvons from its top. Then came the greatest fun of all. The pole in all its splendor had to be dragged into the illage. With many joyous shouts It was fastened to a low-hung wagon, drawn by twenty sleek, white oxen. The young maidens threw wreaths of tlowors over the patient beasts' heads and the crowd followed gayly into tiie village. I'.y this time soft twilight had appeared ap-peared and soon the pole was erected in a shady green spot In the center of the village, ready and waiting for the inonow,. In the meantime, tucked far away in a remote part of the village was a tiny cottage. I'y a stone fireplace sat an old woman and at her feet a lovely love-ly girl. Her clothes were ragged but clean. A kindly nature and sweet thoughts made her face beautiful, but tonight It had lost its usual merry look ait had become wistful and Quite snd. "Don't cry, lassie," said Oranny to tur r. "Tomorrow some way shall be found and you will be able to dance, with the others at the Maypole. Come, go to bed, and sleep. You shall see what tomorrow will bring forth." Granny led her off to bed and tucked her in tenderly and soon the child was fast asleep. As soon as Granny was sure of this she went to a huge chest, black with age, and unlocking the hasp, found a bright colored skirt and a gay tinted neckerchief, as gay as the Spring itself. "Just the thing," she chuckled. "I had forgotten it was still here." Granny laid the costume beside Marion's bed, certain that it would be the first tiling she would see when she opened her eyes In the morning. May day dawned bright and clear and when Marion awoke there was surprise indeed. "Granny, Granny !" she cried. "See, now I can dance with the others now I have the prettiest costume in all the village." And she twirled around in her new dress lightly light-ly and gayly in anticipation of the day's happiness. But hark ! What was that rumbling sound coming closer and closer? Marion peeked from the window. The music grew louder and nearer, and nearer came the group of laughing, talking boys and girls. "They're out choosing the May Queen," said Granny. "I wonder who they will choose." Nearer and nearer came the voices until t lie young people were gathered outside of Granny's gate. Marion scarcely dared to breathe. A rap! Another rap at the door! Granny hastened to open it.. "Marion, Marion," Mar-ion," the voices called. "Hail Queen of the May !" Marion could not believe her ears. Did they mean that she had been chosen? Quickly they surrounded her. and upon two of the tallest shoulders in the crowd she was borne in triumph to the village green. There she sat on a henltif til throne of flowers while the Ladies-in-Waiting knelt about belaud bel-aud the Lord Chamberlain placed in her hand the royal scepter of long-stemmed long-stemmed roses. In and out and back and forth skipped the Maypole dancers, danc-ers, and when the last ribbon had Muttered Mut-tered into place the revelers bowed low before their queen, the fairest nnd happiest queen they had chosen for mauy a year. |
