The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-04-26


light and satisfaction with which tho poor girl re-
garded her baby in its dress and ca p,was
thing quite worth creating; do believe she could
not have thanked me moro II L had sent her bar
rel Of -four
well, / never before thought of giving TO the
poor any thing but what they really needed, and
always have been willing to do that, when
could withou going lar out of the way,
well, cousin, if our Heavenly Father gave TO
US as often as we give,we should have only coarse
shapeess piles of provision, lying about tho world,
instead of all the beautiful variety of trees, traits,
and flowers which now delight u.s.
well, well, cousin, suppose you are right, but
pray have mercy on my poor head; il is TO small to
hold so many new ideas at once; even so your
own way and the little girl began practising a
watzng step before the glass with great satisfaction,
1t was very small room and lighted by only
one window. There was carpet the floor;
there was a clean but coarsely covered bed in one
corner; cupboard with n few plates and dishes in
The other; chest % drawers; and before tho win
dow stood small cherry stand, quite new, and
indeed the only ar cle in the tina, seem ed So
A pale sickly looking woman Of about forty was
leaning back in her rocking cnair, her eyes closed
backward and forward few moments, pressed her
hand hard upon her eyes, and then langudly re-
sumed the fine stitching It on which she had been
slender lille girl of about twelve years of age en-
tered, her large blue eyes dilated, and absolutely
radiant with delight, she held up the small vase
with the rose tree in it.
ooh see! mother, see! there's in full bloom
and two more half out, beautiful budsr
The poor woman's face frightened, as she look.
cd first on the rose, and then her sckly gIr, on
whose face she had not seen so bright Il color fer
months.
God bless her' said she Involuntary.
Miss Florence | knew you would feel SO
mother; don't it make your head ache better 10 see
this hower' Now you won't look wishful at
the gardners stands in the market will you? We
have rose handsomer than any Of theirs WHY
1t seems TO me, that it is worth as much TO rs al
our whole little garden used TO be. See how ma.
ny buds there are on it, just count, and only smell
the flower Where shall we put III? and Mary
skipped about the room placing her treasure first
IN ION one position, and then in another and walking
oil TO see the effect, until her mother gently re.
minded her that The rose tree could not preserve
its beauty without sunlight.
'oh yes, truy!' said Mary: well, then, it mus,
that we have such handsome stand for it, it will
look so much better And Mrs Stephens laid
down her work and folded piece of newspaper
on which The treasure was duly deposited.
There, said Mary, watching the arrangement
eagerly, ihat VIII do; now, though it does show
both the buds-turn it farther round-a little more
there, rs right and Mary walked round the
room 10 view the rose in various positions afer
which she insisted that her mother shonld q,
round with her 10 the outside 10 see how it looked
there How kind it was in Miss Florence to
THINK oil giving this to u.s. said Mary, Though she
mas done SO much for US, and given us so many
thihgs, yet TINS present seems the best ofall be-
cause ii seemed as if she thought of us, and know
just how we felt, and so few do that
Yes, indeed, said Mrs. Stephens signing
What bright afternoon that small Gift made in
that little room. How much faster Mary s tongue
and fingers few the liveong day, and Mrs Ste PHI
ems IN the happiness OF her child almost forgot she
had headache, and thought as she slipped her
evening cup of tea, that she felt stronger Than she
had done for some time.
Ihat rose lis sweet influence died not with that
first day; Through the long cold winter that fol-
iowed me watching, tending, and cherishing of
that Hover, awakened thousand please nj trains of
thought that beguiied the sameness and WEAKNESS
oil thelr lie. Every day the fair growing thing
put forth some fresh beauty; a budea Iea1-or =
new shoot, constantly excited fresh delight in its
possessors AS 1t stood in the window, the passer
oY Mou,u sometimes stop and gaze, attracted by
ITS beauty, and then how proud and happy was
Mary NOR did even the serious and care worn wild.
ow,nohce win indifference when she saw the eve
VI chance visitor rest admiringly their favore
But Ii tie did Florence know when she gave
that gift, that there was twined around il an nys;
pie thread, that reach far brightly into the web
of her destiny.
One cold afternoon in early spring, tall, grace.
fui young man called at the Iowly room to receive
and pay Tor some linen which the widow had been
making up. lie was way -farer and stranger In
s sno p,aos rs Ieeommended through the charity Of
was going out rested admiringIy upon the rose; he
stopped and looked earnestly at it.
1T was given to US, said little Mary, quickly
10y young lady as sweet and beautiful as that
AN! said the stranger turning and fixing upon
ne par OF very bright eyes, pleased and rather
struck with the simplicity Of the communication,
and now came she to give il to you my little grip
.on, because we are poor, and mother is sick,
anu we never can have any things pretty. We
used to have garden once, and we loved flowers
so much, and Miss Florence found all this out, aad
SO she gave this ll.a la ttas..
'Yes.M Miss Florence lEstrange,a beautiful young
lady they say was from foreign parts, though she
speaks English just like any other lady, only
sweeter.
is she here now? Is she in this cityl said the
gentleman eagerly. ats.
NO. she left some months ago. said the widow;
but noticing the sudden shade of disappointment
on his face, she added, but You find all about
her by enquiring at her aunt Mrs. Carsle's, No.
10,-street. ISL. vHH IS
AS the result of all this, Florence received from
the Office in the next mail, a hand writing that
made her trembe. During the many early years
of her life spent In Fance, she had well learned
that writing; had loved a woman like her loved
only once; but there had been obstacles of parents
and friends, separation and long suspense, ill as
length, for many bitter years, she had believed
that the relentless had closed forever that