The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-05-31


ofnowspaper on which the treasure wa,
deposited
There" said Mary, watching the ar
rangemcnts eagerly, "that will do; nc
though, it does not show both the buds
turn it farther round-a little more
there It's right )" and Mary walked
round the room to view the rose in vari
GUS positions, after which she insisted
that her mother should 90 round with
her, TO the outside. to sec how it looked
there. How kind it was of Miss Flo
renee to think of giving this to u.s." said
Mary ; " though she has done so much
for u.s. and given us so many things, yet
this present seems the best fall, because
1t seemed as if she thought and knew
just how we felt, and so few do that
T. Yes indeed !" said Mrs. Stevens
signing.
What bright afternoon that small
gift made in that little room. How
much faster Mary's tongue and fingers
flew the live long day; Mrs Stevens in
the happiness of her child, almost forgot
that she had the headache, and thought
as she slipped her evening cup of tea that
she felt stronger than she had for some
time.
The rose its sweet influence died not
with the first day. Through all the long
cold winter that followed the watching.
tending and cherishing of that flower
awakened thousand pleasing trains of
thought that leguiled the samcnoss and
wearinoss of their life. Every day the
lair growing thing put forth some fresh
bcauty--a bud-a leaf--or new shoot
constantly fresh delight excited in its
possess0r.
As it stood in tho window, the passcr.
by would stop and gaze, attracted by its
beauty aud then how proud and happy
was Mary nor did even the serious and
coroworh widow notice with Indifference,
when she saw the eye of a chance visitor
rest admiringly on their favorlte.
And little did Florence know when she
gave that gift that there was twincd
around it an invisible thread that reach
ed far and brightly into the web Of her
destiny.
One cold afternoon in carly spring a
tall graceful young man called at the
lowly room to receive and pay for some
linen which the widow had been making
up. lie was wayfarer and stranger in
the place, recommended through the
charity of some of Mrs. Stevens friends.
His oye, as he was going out rested upon
the rose he stopped and look earnestly
at it.
" 1t was given to us" said little Mary
quickly, by ayoung lady sweet and
beautiful as that is.n
"Ah p said the stranger, turning and
fixing upon her pair of bright eyes,
pleased and rather struck with tho sim,
plicity of the communication, And how
come her to give it to youmy little girl?"
"Oh, because we are poor, and moth
er is sick. and we can never have any
thing pretty. We use to have a garden
once, and we loved flowers very much,
and Miss Florence found all this out and
so she gave us this"
Florence !" said the stranger.
Yes, Miss Florence Estrange
beautiful young lady ; they say she was
from foreign parts, though sho speaks
English just like any other person, only
very much swecter."
" Is she here now is she in this city?"
said he eagerly.
" No, she is gone some months ago"
said the widow, but noticing the sudden
shade of disappointment on his face, she
added, : but you can find all about her
on enquiring at her aunt's, Mrs Carlslo's
No. 10.
As the result of this Miss Florence
received letter in handwriting that
made her tremblo. During the many
years of her life spent in France, she
had vol learned that writing She had
loved as woman like her loves, only
once but there had been obstacles of
parents and friends, separation and long
suspense, till at length, for many bitter
years she had believed that the rolent.
less sea had closed over that hand and
heart and it was tho belief that had
touched with sweet, calm sorrow, every
line in her lovely face. But this letter
told her that he was living, that he had
traced her, even as hidden stream
may be traced, by the freshness and
greonnoss Of heart which her deeds of
kindness had left wherever she had pass
od.
And this much said, do our fair read.
FRS need any help in finishing this story !
for themselves ? OF course not.