Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-02-13
S Ell ECT TALE.
From Sharpe's Magazine.
The Pot Of Mignonette.

"oou, tio hoWot ooy, dS He Hoooieu painfully
up Brick Court in the hope of getting Gus
toner. Brick Court one would hardly con-
lecture to be eligible spot for the vending of
such wares, seeing that it was narrow, dark,
dirty, and but rarely visited BY the airs from
heaven. How could Dicky Wood think of
getting customer for his mignonette there I,
But Dicky Wood had faith in unseen
things;' and the unseen thing in which he
trusted at that particular moment, was Gus
toner. Here's your fine mignonette 2 he
cried, in childish, and not unmusical voice,
as he proceeded slowly up the court.
1t was eleven O'Clock on June day; and
Brick Court was, in manner, devoid of lfe
1t was inhabited solely by working people,
and they had nearly all gone away, long ago.
to work. The sunbeams-few enough of
them, am sorry TO say had crept down from
the chimney tops, and were gliding one or
two OF the upper windows, on one side of a
narrow alley, doing their best TO make the
poverty of the place look a little less poor than
ordinary. 1t was towards of these tempo
rarily bright windows that Dicky looked up,
as he said invitingly, Only sirpence pot to-
day, ma am 1t was clear that there was a
possible customer hidden up there, behind the
window -blind-the only blind in the court, by
the way Dicky Wood paused, with his eve
fixed on that spot. After minute, the blind
was raised slowly; then the window-and a
pale, thin hand beckoued to the child, and
pale, thin face looked wistfully out up to the
strip of beautiful azure which was all of heav-
ems DER arching canopy visible even from the
highest rooms in Brick Court 1t was fe-
male face, which might once have been beauti-
full
The boy understood the beckoning hand
and advancing to the door of the house, which
stood open, he entered it with his basket of
plants. Ii was heavy load for such child.
He set it down eagerly at the foot of the stairs,
drew long breath, and wiped his flushed face
with the sleeve of his Jacket
He took out from his basket the best pot of
mignonette, and was about to proceed up the
stairs with it, when his eye was attracted By
His basket of flowers was in strange contrast
with the gloomy, dirty staircase and Dicky
Wood thought within himself much as follows
How pretty and fresh they look She
can't get out 10 see flowers. dare say she
would like 10 see these. It's worth twopence
TO look at them, in place like this Then
he looked at the staircase, and again down at
the plants. 'lt's goodsh pull for ones legs
alone. up to the garret and this baskets no
joke to carry, but think Illtry it. She is so
fond of flowers, Come now for it, and
putting back the pot of mignonette he had Sc
lecied, into the basket again, he lifted it up
maniully, aud began 10 toll slowly, with his
burden, up the dark staircase. AS he had to
ascend 10 the garret, and the house was two
stories high, shall have time 10 say few
words about Dicky and his customer before he
gets to the top.
Dicky Wood was an orphan, without BROTH
er or sister; and lived with his grandmother
at Fulham. Old Mrs. Wood was very poor !;
but she never had been, and please God, never
would be, on the parsh-that was her pride
and boast. For manv years she had excellent
health, and managed to support herself and her
lame grandchild by taking in washing, going
out choring or doing any of that miscellane-
Gus work which goes by the name of .odd jobs
in the various neighboring households, where
she was well known, and so much relied on
for her honesty, that they would have trusted
her with untold gold-if it had ever been their
lot 10 possess that indefinite amount of wealth.
When Dicky was in his twelfth wear his
grandmother's health began to give way she
could no longer earn enough to support them !;
and, with the fear Of parish assistance before
her eyes, she at length consented to the lame
chllds earnest entreaty, that he should do
something to help her. Dicky was clever
boy. in bis way, though he could not run fast !;
nor indeed, run at all. He had an enterpris-
ing, active spirit, and was so good -natured and
obliging, that he had host of friends One
nursery-man, to whom the boy applied for ad-
vice and work, gave him both; and another,
with whom his father had worked for many
common flowers 10 hawk about, whenever he
was not employed elsewhere and moreover,
promised TO send him to London with them, in
one of his carts, as he would be unable to walk
so far, and could not find so good marke,
near home. BY working frequently all dav
long, in the open air, the boy became much
stronger, and was well worth his small WAGES
After time Dcky became more and more
impressed with an idea of the dignity of work,
and of the pleasures of an Industrious life
He could not bear to be idle for an hour
This feeling of satisfaction in the work itself,
was connected with the highest ambition of
his mind-yiz to be able to earn so much
money that he might support his grandmother
in comfort during her last years. 1t was this
ambition which fred his youthful soul, and
prompted him to turn every moment OF his
time, every little piece of knowledge he pos
sessed, to account In short, Dicky was an
industrious, afEectionate, grateful, intelligent
boy, Of whom his grandmother was justly
proud, and whom most persons liked to help,
because he was eager to help himself and 9TH
ers. In the winter time he and his grandma
ther had hard struggle to live. There was
no work to be had in the nursery grounds, and