Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-12-18
NO. 13z.


parish church. And suson Swayne did sound well.
That was certain. Not that be thought Of marry
ing the pale girl, whose blue eyes he had only seen
and whose soft voice he had only heard once. bat
he was young fellow, and he thought about her.
and young fellows have their fancies which 90 now
and then shoot oct in unaecountabIe directions.
Ihe desired event happened one morning. The
"cs' customer Of Swaynes nursery ground, the
Wiie oi city knight, Lady Salter. who had a fine
seat IN the nelghborhOOd. alighted from her car
rage at the garden gate. She had come IN has.
flowers for the decoration of her animal granl
summer party, and George, with much perturba.
tlon, ushered her into his greenhouse. which was
glowing with the crimson and purple blossoms of
his new plant. When Lady Salter had her sdmi
ration duly heightened by the information that
there were no other plants in all the country like
them-that, in fact, Mr.. Swayne's new flowers
were unique-she instantly bought two slips at
guinea each, and took them home in triumph. OF
course the hower-bells attracted the attention OF
her guests; and Of course she was verv proud To
draw attention to them. George sold, for a guinea
EACH all the slips that he had potted keeping only
enough for the continuance of his trade. ond care
iuily reserving his finest specimen That, in due
time' he took to Harry's mother
The ten guineas added to the produce Of Susan's
iaoor-she had not slaekened it iot-had main
tanned the sickly woman through the winter. and
when there came to her letter one morning in
July, in Harrys dear scrawl, posted from Ports
mouth, she was half restored 20 health. TTe xopl5
be with them in day or two, he said. The two
women listened in feverish state for every knock
at the green door, Next day knock came. but
it was not Harry. Susan again opened to George
Swayne. He had brought their fOwer-bells back;
and apparently, handsomer than ever He was
very much abashed, and stanlmered something; and
when he came in, he could find nothing to say.
The handsome china vase, which he had substitu-
ted for the widows hover-pot, said something,
however for him. The widow and her daughter
greeted him with hearty smiles and thanks; but he
had something else to do than to return them
something of which he seemed to be exceedingly
ashamed. At last be did it. Il mean no offence"
be said: but this is much more yours than nine
He laid upon the table twenty guineas. They re-
fused the money with surprise-Susan with eager
ness. He told them his story; how the plant had
saved him from the chance of being turned out Of
his home; how he was making money bv the flower.
and how fairly he considered half the profits 10 be
due to its real owner. Thereupon the three be-
came fast friends and began to quarrel While
they were quarreling there was a bouncing knock
at the door. Mother and daughter hurried to it;
but Susan stood aside that Harry might 20 first
into his mothers arms.
~Heres fine chime of bells" said Harry. look
ing at his plant after a few minutes. why. it
looks no handsomer in the West Indies. But
wherever did you get that splendid pot?"
George was Immediately introduced. The whole
story was told, and Harry was made a referee upon
the twenty guinea question.
"God bless you, Mr.. Swayne," said Harry, "keep
that money if we are to be friends. Give US your
hand, my boy; and mother, let US all have some
thing to eat" They made a little festival that
evening in the widows house, and George thought
more than ever of the Ginning of the bells as Su-
san laid her needework aside to hustle to and fro
Harry had tales to tell over his pipe; "and tell
you what, Swayne," said he, I'm glad you are the
better for my love of roofing If wasn't a sailor
myself I'd be gardener. I've a small cargo Of
roots and seeds in my box that l brought home for
mother to try what she can do with. My opinion
is that you're the man to turn EN- to account: ana
so, mate, you shall have 'em. If you get lucky
penny out of any one of EN-, you're welcome; foe
it's more than we could do
How these poor folks labOred to be liberal to
wards each other; how Harry amused himself on
holidays, before his next ship sailed with rake and
spade about his friends nursery; how George
Swayne spent summer and autumn evenings in the
little paror how there was really and truly chime
rung from Stepney steeple, to give JOY to little
needlewOman's heart; how Susan Swayne became
much roster than Susan Ellis had been: how luxu-
riOusly Georges bees were fed upon new daaties;
how Flint & GrinstOn conveyed the nursery ground
to Mr.. Swayne, in freehold to him and his heirs
forever, in consideration of the whole purchase
money which Swayne had accumulated: how the
old house was enlarged; how, year or two later.
little Harry Swayne damaged the borders. and was
abetted by grandmother Ellis in 50 doing; how. a
year or two after that, Susan Swayne the lesser.
dug with small wooden spade, side by side with
giant uncle Harry, who was a man to find the cen
tire of the earth under Swaynes garden when he
came home ever and anon from beyond the seas, al
ways with roots end seeds his home being Swaynes ;
nursery-and, finally, how happy and how populous
home the house in Swayne's nursery grew to be.
These are results connecting pleasant thoughts with,
true story Of the earliest cultivation in England
! Of the flower now known as the Fuchsia.