Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-04-01

rangement eagerly, ''that will do; now,
though il does not show both the buds-turn
il farther round-a little morc-,hcrc, it's
right y and Mary walked round the room to
view the rose in various positions, after
which she insisted that her mother should 60
round with her to the outside 10 see how it
looked there. "ITow kind it was in Miss
Florence to think of giving this to u.s." said
Mary y" though she has done so much for
us, and given us so many things, yet this
present seems the best of all, because it
seemed as if she thought of us, and knew
lust how we felt, and so few do that
eyes, indeed" said Mrs. Stephens sigh
ing.
What bright afternoon that small gift
made in that little room. How much faster
Mary's tongue and fingers flew the livclong
day, and Mrs. Stephens in the happiness of
her child, almost forgot that she had a head
ache, and though, as she slipped her evening
cup of .ca, that she felt stranger than she
had done for some time.
wiTIat rose its sweet influence died not
Goth that first day. Through all the long
te Id winter that followed, the watching,
nding, and chcrisIing, of that flower,
Weakened a thousand pleasant trains of
hought that bcguiled the samcness and wca-
riness of their life. Every day the fair
growing thing put forth some fresh beauty; a
bud--a leaf-ora new shoot, constantly cX-
cited fresh delight in its posscssors. As it
stood in the window, the passer by would
sometimes stop and gaze, attracted by its
beauty, and then how proud and happy was
Mary, nor did even the serious and care
worn widow, notice with Indifference when
she saw the eve of a chance visitor rest adj
mi,ingly on their favorite.
But little did Florence know when she
gave that Gift, that there was twincd around
il an invisible thread, that reached far as
brightly into the web of her destiny.
One cold afternoon in early spring, tall
graceful young man called at the lowIy room
to receive and pay for some linen which the
widow had been making up. He was a
way-iarer and stranger in the place, recon-
mendcd through the charity of some Of Mrs
Stevens's patrons. His eye as he was 90.
ing out rested admirlngly upon the rose; he
stopped and looked earnestly at it.
sit was given to u.s." SAID little Mary
quickly, "by IA young lady as sweet ant
beautiful as that IS"
"Ah !" SAID the stranger, turning and fix.
ing upon hera pair of very bright eyes, plea
scd and rather struck with the simplicity o
the communication, and how came she I,
give ii to yonmy little gir!'
"Oh, because We are poor, and mother i
sick, and we never can have any things pref
ty. We used to have garden once, and We
loved flowers so much, and Miss Florcnc,
found all tins out, and SO she gave us this.
Yes, Miss Florence rEstrange, beau
,ful young lady,-thcy say she was from for
cign parts, though she speaks English jus.
like any other lady, only sweoter."
"Is she here now is she in this city ?
said the gentleman eagerly.
"No, she left some months ago" said th'
widow; but noticing the sudden shape of dis
appointment on his face, she added, but ''yo'
cant find all about her by inquiring at he
aun, Mrs. CarliIc's, No, TO- street."
As the result all this, Florence receive,
from the Office in the next mail, handwri
ting that made hcrtrcmble. During the man,
early Years of her life spent in France, sh'
illl well ItdTuCu mat "lltll0 ldu itNCt a
woman like her, lovedunly once; but thcr
} ladbeen obstacles Of parents and friends, sep
Grafton, and long suspense, till at length, TO
many bitter years, she had believed that til
relentless Sc, had closed forever over tia
hand and heart and it was this belief tina
f had touched, with such sweet calm sorrow
! every line in her lovely face. But this lette
: told her that he was living, that he had trace
her, even as hidden streamlet may be trace
} by the freshness, the greenness oiheart, whic
her deeds of kindness had left wherever III
had passed.
, And thus much said, do our fair reader
: need any help in finishing this story for them
, selves OF course net.