The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-05-30

she did with great dexteriiy, and le, i,
grow that it might afford her this amase-
i meni.
| Alpbonsine had never inhaled any sor,
of perfume except the scent of the oranges,
lemons, apples, peaches, aud other fruits,
that came in the basket. The smell Of
these things gave her extraordinary pleas
ure. She rubbed them on her hands, aud
nfter she had eaten, she always kept a por-
tion of some Of the fruit, to regale herself
with its oder.
l asked Leonora to give me little flow
er-pot with rose-bush growing in it. l
had often told my daughter of flowers. and
they were among the most beautiful works
of God; that they grew in the earth, and
bloomed ut certain seasons. had particu-
larly described to her the rose, the most
lovely offowcrs, aud told her also Of its
thorns, which were sharp as the points Of
pins.-Alphonsine was very sorry that we
had no flowers. ! consoled her with the
assurance that if we were very good, aud
submitted without murmuring to the will Of
\ God, he would in time send us some.
Alphonsine earnestly desired them; often
would she stoop down aid search with her
and dreary cavern. hoping that she might
find and gather a flower.
The evening that recei- ed the rosebush
from Leonora, l took il to t.,e oratory, and
making hole in the ground, no, far from
the fountain, ! sunk the flow er-pot down
in it, covering the edges with earth. I
then took the time and trouble carefully to
pull off nll the thoins, and while admired
the freshness and beauty Of five full-blown
roses, sighed to think that my Alphonsinc
would not see them. But went to bed
happy, for knew the delight that was in
store for her the next morning.
| awoke earlier than usual. When my
daughter called ,inc, took her up and
dressed her, and filed with the sweetest
emotion, led her to the oratory. She had
scarcely entered the cave of the fountain
when she perceived the scent Of the roses.
As this grotto was our church, we seldom
spoke wheD,in j., except to pray, but now
Alphonsine pressed. my hand |, aud said IN a
low voice, - Dens mother, DO you smell
this delicious odor ?'-" Yes" replied,
"itis the scent Of roses" "Of roses Is
it possible !--then roses have come here mt
last 7" "They hnve," answered ], "but,
let us first say our prayers, and then we
will seek for these charming flowers. AT
these words Alpbonsine began to run, and
os we Bpproacbed the busI, the perfume be-
came more powerful. Alphonsine pressed
my hand again, and / SAID TO her in low
voice." am certain we shall find roses"
] felt her little hand tremble with Joy.
All J" said she, :. God is very kind to us
how much will thank him for having sent
US roses" She fell on her knees, and hav-
ing said her prayers, and sung her hymn
with great fervOr, she rose and took me by
the hand.
I conducted her to the rose-bush I
guided her hand to the flowers, and made
her touch them ms well as The buds and
green leaves. She nefnbled with delight.
You may gather the charming flowers"
said i, "nnd enjoy them all day in our
chamber" Dear mother, | am afraid
Of the tllorns you described to me-" "Thc
,horns are all gone" "Ah dearest moth
er." she exclaimed, " am sure you have
pulled them off," And forgetting the rose
bush, she threw herself into my arms, and
seeing my hands, she examined my fingers
all over to see they had not been wound
ed. Finding, by the extraordinary delicscy
Of the touch, few puncturcs, she kissed
these dear scratches, as she called them,
and baihed them with her affectionate tears.
l told her that the pain of my fingers was
trifing, and would be amply repaid by the
pleasure | should have in knowing that she
could gather the roses without wounding
her own hands. "Well them" said she,
have counted five roses; I will gather
three; will place one Ut the foot of the
crucihx near our altar, the other shall be
for my dear mother, and the third for my
SELF We will leave tho other two OH the
bush, to make sweet smell through the
church."
l added to the happiness Of Alphonsine,
by making her touch the buds that remnin-
ed on the bush and explained to her
that in few days they would be roses.
When we returned to our chamber, plac-
ed my rose in The hair of AIphonsine, and
she kept hers in her hand to feel and smell
it. Nov we are in no want Of flowers"
said she "we have even more than we
1 can use. Oh! how kind God is to US How
many delightful things lIe sends US How
very great Is our happiness J"
! While this innocent child thus gave vent
to the fuIlncss Of her grateful heart, thought
how many people were in the world, who,
though loaded with every thing tina, fortune
could give them, still murmured and com
planned that their wants were no; grati6cd.
AIpbonsinc ceased speaking to smell her
rose. She felt its smooth soft leaves, she
held it TO her lips, ond she Inhaled iis per-
fumes with rap,ure.-After long silence,
I asked her Of what she was thinking; and,
contrary to her usual habit, she besitated to
answer pressed her to tell me, and with
something Of embarrassment she confessed
to me that she wished to eat her rose. This
desire, which at first surprised mo, after
wards seemed perfectly natural, for she had