The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-05-01
SELECTED TALES.
[ From The Lady's Book for April.
THE FLOWER GIRL.
BY MISS 81. MILES.

"WnL you buy my flowers I" said a
sweet voice TO Mrs. Audly, as she stepped
from her carriage, aud was nbout entering
one of the most fashionable mansions in
the most populous of our southern cities.
Mrs. Audly stopped, and regarded with
an eye of wonder, a child of surprising
beauty-who held forth a bunch of moss
roses. She was struck With surprise TO
see one so fragile and delicate, thus en-
gagged in selling in the public street.
DO you sell your roses, in order Ia
support yourself, little girl !" she asked in
tone of kindness.
"No, ma'am )" she replied, dropping n
rcursy-" but my mother Is sick, and
walked from the cross roads, to sell all the
roses that was on my own bush will you
buy them, lady and her deep blue eyes
filled with tears.
Mrs. Audly was much interested by the
innocence aud arless simplicity of the
child and after few more inquiries, de-
termined TO 20 herself and see The sick
woman, who the child said was a stranger
in b. She was one whose purse was
always open TO the calls of charity, and
taking the little girl into the carriage, she
ordered her coachman 10 drive to the cross
roads, about two miles from The city. They
stopped before low humble-lookiug house;
and the lady entering, saw extended upon
the bed, and apparently dying, a female up
on whose counlenance, wasted as it was,
there yet fingered the remains of grea,
beauty. Mrs. Audly spoke TO her in tones
of compassion, but she only lifted TO her
the glazed and closing eye. 1t was evil
dent she was fast sinking to her rest. A
decent looking woman came forward, aud
from her the lady learned that the strangers
name was Lorton; that she had come
there sick, and as she was poor, she had
boarded her and her child and until the
last three weeks, had regularly received her
pay; aud as she wanted some comforts,
she had given Inez the child leave to sell
the roses" Mrs. Loron, | guess, has
seen better days." said the woman, in con-
clusion, but what ! shall do with the
child when she is gone, | don't know,
though she is so good aud sweet-temper-
ed"
Mrs. Audly sent her servant to procure
the necessary comforts for the night, and
leaving some money with the woman, re-
turned home with the promise of visiting
them the next day.
The windows Of Mrs Audly's mansion
opened upon piazza, and she sat alone
musing on the past. Time had been,
when the voice of childhood sent it's thrill
through the mothers heart, and the sound
of mirth and gladness resounded through
her now silent dwelling; hut one by one,
the brgh, and beautiful beings who clus-
tered around her hearth and board, had
gone down in their innocence to the tomb
only one remained-a son in n distant
land. The lady sat in sadness. Her hus-
band entered, and seeing the melancholy
that rested on her brow, began relating
something amusing th1t had occurred dn-
ring the day. She still appeared abstract
ed, and upon his tenderly inquiring the
cause, she related 10 him the incidents of
the morning." That child reminds me of
my departed ones" said she, and tear
fell upon the hand her husband held.
4" Robert, know that you seldom deny a
request Of mine but still it is an important
one am about making. This poor child,
in all her beauty and sweetness, seems as
if sent TO suppy the places Of the dead I:
why may ] not adopt her as my own ?
Our home will not appear so lonely"
Mr. Audly gladly consented TO any
thing that could cheer the solitude Of his
wife, or while her from the melancholy that
was undermining her health; and they
concerted together to take the little inez,
as soon ns Mrs. Lorton was dead.
The next day, when Mrs. Audly arrived
at the cottage, she found that Mrs. Lorton
had died in the night, without giving any
sign of consciousness, or discovering who
she was. There was a miniature Of her,
taken when young, and set with pearls,
very rich, 10 her trunk-ihe only vestige of
better days. And after the last sad dates
were performed, the little inez returned
with her protectress to her new home.
Many an hour did her endearing affection
render happy, which would otherwise have
been filled with sorrowfuI remembrances
and Mrs. Audly, IN watching each day
some uey charm of mind or person unfold
to view, was doubly repaid for her charity
to the orphan. The child possessed great
sweetness Of temper, united TO great pow
ers of mind, and the best masters were pro-
cured for her by her kind friends. In
music, she particularly exCelled, and the
sound Of her sweet voice, pouring out