The Primrose Ring

stee Day had not fallen on the 30th of Ap

times of the whole year-reason enough to account for any number of strange happenings; and I can point out to your notice that Margaret MacLean, in charge of Ward C at Saint Margaret's, found the flower-seller at the corner of the street that morning

Saint Margaret's-which fell on the 30th

dies. There are golden tales concerning those first years of the hospital-tales passed on by word of mouth alone and so old as to have gathered a bit of the misty glow of illusion that hangs over all myths and traditions. They made of Saint Margaret's an arcadian refuge, where the Founder

nstitutions can change marvelously in half a

sen the trustees. They have made of Saint Margaret's the best-appointed hospital in the city. It is supplied with everything money and power can obtain; leading surgeons are listed on its staff; its nurses rank at the head. It has outspanned the

ployee-from old Cassie, the scrub-woman, to the Superintendent herself; and if one was a wise employee one blazed conspicuously and often. They gathered in little groups and discussed methods for conservation and greater efficiency, being as up to date in their charities as in

d among the trustees of Saint Margaret's. And because it was purely a matter of charity and pride with them, and because they never had any time left over from being thorough and business-like to spend on the children themselves, they never failed to leave a shaft of gloom behind them on Trustee Day. The contagious ward

children go, but we

curables; which meant that twelve times a year-at

ure-store and scatters it broadcast. On this last day of April she was prodigal with her sunshine; out countryward she garnished every field and w

birds, and orioles-even a pair of cardinals-stopped wherever they could find a tree or bush from which to pipe a friendly greeting. Yes, spring certainly could

ur earlier than usual, her heart singing antiphonally with the birds outside. Coatless, but capped and

had been free of crutches and wheeled chairs; and an impartial stranger, had he been passing, would have watched her with the same uncritical delight that he might have bestowed on any wood creatur

in ecstasy; she had spied the primroses in the basket just as the sunshine splashed over the edge of the corner building straight down upon them. Margaret MacLean dropped to one knee and laid her che

raised a significant finger. "Sure, wasn't I knowin', an' could I be afther bringin' anythin' else? But the rest that passes-or

. There are

the most o' them be's ge

ld compass. "See"-she held up a giant bunch-"so much happiness is worth a great deal. Feel in the pocket of my apron and you will find-gold for gold. I

k in his palm; then he remembered, and called after the diminishing figure of the nurse: "Hey, t

lishing brasses, when Margaret MacLean reached the hospital

', Miss

ing,

else seemed to realize that he was only about one-fifth

ically. "That's right-

e especially b

's happeni

ng, and-noth

with a most mysterious smile, there

time a feller don't know what she's kid

the door of the board-room ajar, and, glancing in, looked square into the eyes of the F

u must wonder what has happened to Saint Margaret'

primroses until after the meeting-they would be sure to cheer you up; and they might-they might-"

ng some of the hoydenish blossoms into place, w

e his eyes dwelt pleasurably on the small gray figure in the President's chair. For, be it said without par

nger in perfect imitation of the flower-seller. "I am dabbling in-magi

, all right; but I haven't the smallest guess coming

can make a plain statement i

he calendar on the desk to verify the fact

. "Let me see; I counted them, up last night, and I have had two hundred and twenty-eight Trustee Days in my life. I have tried about every

e as Hippocrates, but the rest of the time I believe your feet are eternally treading the nap off antique wishing-carpets.

uggested Mar

tell me how you, of all people, ever evo

at last. "When a person is born with absolutely nothing-nothing of the human things a human baby is entitled to-she has to evolve something to live in; a sort of sea-urchin affair with spines

ieve that Trustee Da

ld only make it something more than-a matter of business? Why, it could be as good as any faery-tale come true, with a dozen

became so alive that it pulled at one's heart-strings, it w

eve I was a 'truster' and say over to myself all the nice, comforting things I wished they would say

ted the House Sur

s and reminded me that a good child never spoke unless she was spoken to. I

p of her hands, "faery-tales have to have stepmothers as well as godmothers-think of it tha

g children-with as normal a heritage as we can scrape together for them. All it needs is the magic of a

It was the hardest kind of a look to resist. She had often threshed this subject out with the House Surgeon before; for it was her theory that when a body's

ir minds run-free-limbed-over hilltops and pleasant places, their natures would never need to warp and wither afte

-gas, with only a passing power, and when the effect wore off there would be the Dickens to pay. He did not want to see Margaret MacLean turn into a bitter-minded woman of the world-stripped of her trust and her dreams. He-all of them-had need of her as she was. Her b

normal and happy as other children. It can't be done. Those kiddies are up against a pretty hard p

tent-have no business with ideas or feelings of their own. He's always saying, 'Train it out of them; train it out of them; and it will make it easier for institutions to take

always; some time they will have to learn to do without you. When that happens it will come tough on them. It would come tough on anybody; and the squar

ng all right to-day? Please-please don't weave any charms against him, little faery people. He is the o

wer struck eight. She jumped with a start. "Time to go on duty." Once again her eyes met the eyes of the Found

to be; and here's to the one who first understood!" She turned from the Founder to