Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-12-18

wash, some quite fresh-looking, inhabited by peo
pie who had kept their windows clean, he some
times saw as many as four dower-pots upon win
dow sill. Then there were the squares Of turf pui
in weekly instaments of six inches to the credit o
Gagged larls for the slow liquidation of the debt o.
green fields due to them. There were also parrots
for large number of the houses in those river
streets tenanted by sailors who brought birds
from abroad. There were also all sorts of grOtes-
que shells; and one house that reeeded from its
neighbors had a small garden in front, which was
sown over with shells, instead of fowers-The
walks were bordered with shell instead of box and
there were eonchs upon the wall, instead of wall
howers- The summer-house was grotto; but the
great centre ornament was large igure-head, at
the foot of which the owner sat under its shadow.
1t represented a man with great beard holding
over his shoulder large three-pronged fork which
| George believed to be meant for Neptune. That
was poor garden, thought George; for it never
waved or rustled, and did not, by one change Of
feature-except that it grew daily dirtier-show
itself conscious of the passage of the hours, and
days, and months, and seasons.
1t interested George, a great deal more to notice
here and there the dirty leaf of new kinds of plants
which, brought home by chance among the sailors,
struggled to grow from seed or root. Through
the window of one house that was very poor, but
very neat and clean, he saw, upon table, to catch
the rays of the summer sun, a strange plant IN
blossom 1t had reddish stalk, small pointed lea
yes, and from every cluster of leaves hung elegant
red hower-bels, with purple tongues. That plant
excited him greatly and when he stopped to look
in at it. he felt some such emotion might stir an
artist who should see n work by Rubens hung up
in a pawn-broker's shop-window. He knocked at
the green door, and pale girl opened it, holding
in one hand a piece of unfinished needle-wOrk. Her
paleness left her for minute when she saw that it
was stranger who knocked. Her blue eyes made
George glance away from them before he had fin
ished his respectful inquiry.
al beg your pardon, said he, "but may ask
the name of the flower in the window, and where
it came frOm?'
"Will you walk in, if you please sir?" said the
GIRL mother will tell you all she knows about it.
With two steps, the young gardener strobe into
the small front room, where sick and feeble wo-
man sat in an armchair. The room was clean. and
little furnished There was only sand upon the
floor; and on the table with some more of the girls
work, was part of stale loaf, fanked with two
mugs that contained some exceedingly blue: and
lmpid milk. George apolOgized for his intrusion,
but said what his calling was and pleaded in ex-
euse the great beauty and novelty of the plant that
had attracted him.
"Ay, ay, but 1 prize it for more than that,
said Mrs. Ellis: 1T was brought to me by my son.
He took it as cutting, and he brought it long
way, the dear feIlow-al the way from the West
Indies nursing it for me- Often he has let his own
lips parch sir, on the voyage that he might give
water enough to the flower that he took home for
his mother. He is a tender-hearted boy my Harry"
"He is young, them" g.. ...--
'.Well, he is not exactly boy, sir; but they are
all boys on board ship, you understand. He could
carry off the house upon his back, Harry could, he
is so wonderful broad-chested. He's Just gone on
long voyage, sir, and I'm feared | shall be gone
a longer before he comes back; and he said when
he went-'Take care of this plant, mother, it'll
have hundreds of bells to ring when l come back
to you next year. He is always full of his fun,
sir. is my Harry"
'Then, ma'am," George stammered, 'it's plant
you wouldn't like to part with"
The poor woman looked angry for moment;
and then, after pause answered gently-~No o, sir,
not until my time comes"
The young gardener-who ought to have gone
away-still bent over the flower The plant was
very beautiful, and evidently stood the climate
well, and it was of kind to propagate by slips.
George did not well know what to say or do. The
girl who had been nimbly stitching, ceased from
work and looked up wonderingly at the stranger,
who had nothing more to say, and yet remained
with them. At last the young man, with the col
or Of the flower on his cheeks, said, Il am a poor
man, ma am, and not much taught. If I'm going
to say anything unbecoming, 1 hope you'll forgive
| it; but, if you cOuld-if you could bring your
heart to part with this plant, would give you ten
guineas for it, and the first good cutting 1 raise
shall be yours" F.. .fsl 't a' '.-
| The girl looked up in the greatest astonishment
Ten guineasr' she cried; "why mother ten guineas
| would make you comfortable for the whole winter
How glad Harry will be-
| The poor old woman trembled nervOusly. "Ilar
| ry told me to keep it for his sake" she whispered
to her daughter, who bent fOndy over her. .
"Does Harry love flower better than YOU
health and comfort?' pleaded Harry's sister.
A long debate was carried on in low tones
! while George Swayne endeavored to look as thOUgl
he were a hundred miles off, listening to nothing
But the loving accents Of the girl debating witt
her mother tenderly, caused Mr.. Swayne-a stou
and true-hearted young fellow of twenty-five 4
feel that there were certainly some new thought
and sensations working in him. He considered
important to discover from her mothers manner G
addressing her, that the name of the young woma
was Susan. When the old lady at last consente
with sigh to Georges offer he placed ten guinea
on the table beside the neede-work. and only stO
one glance at Susan as he babe them gook-bye an
took the lower-pot away, promising again earnes
ly that he would bring back to them the first GOO
cutting that took root
George Swayne, then, having the lawyers 8
most put out Of his head, carried the plant HON
and duly busted himself in his green house over Il
? multiplication Of his treasure. Months went b
\ during which the young gardener worked har
G and ate sparely. He had left to himself but ny
n mounds for the general maintenance oil MS garde
e More was needed, and that he had to pinch, as 4
e L. humble food and other 7,