The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-06-30
PRESERVING A BoQUET.

move it from the parlor. .s. r.
" know an excellent way Of preserving
flowers, and will help you press them if
you wish it," said the eldest.
"or, II you wish to study its language,
am qui Q an adept in such things. and will
gladly nd you, said the youngest sister, mis-.
cliievously.
thank you was The smiling reply, Bnt
| was not intending to do either there are
80 many flowers here already that thou .ht
would pnt mine where they could be better
appreciated.
Where il can receive undivided admira.
ton =
Exactly
How aattered the donor would 70 ], could
h. know j. y
I'VE will not It'll him, then. for two very
good reasons first because we do not knoa
who he is: and, secondly, because think il
wrong to flatter any one and with svery
laugh the young girl passe out OF the room
Well might Lucy s'y there were 80 many
flowers that hers, elegant as they were, stood
in danger oi being overlooked. Every an.
tiqne vase contained berlect wealth Of How
els, while the delicious perfume they diffused
thruughoul the rooms made one forget that
the sc 'son Was still winter. The two Occu.
pants Of the parlor were among the reisnins
bellies Of tue city, and every day they receiv.
ed, from some of their many admirers pres.
ents of most attractive flowers the markets
could furnish. Their mother often remarked
that they had more than they could reallv a..
mire, and That IL some oi them coul J., only
be sent to DIVE lings where tE:.e were none,
how thcy would be prizod! But they were
most amused by un exclamation made by The
housemaid. one morning, while arranging
the rooms. Dear, dear = she said, what
II pity to see 50 many flowers whitening here,
every day. when they could be sold for two
or three dollars bunch lf the young Ia.
dies would only let me sell some Of them,
when they have more than enough, they
might make q right handsome sum of pin
money!
The cousin Lucy introduced to our readers
was n country girl who had been brought to
the city few weeks before, by her relatives,
to be polished up and fitted to enter society.
Though rustic simplicity itself, beside her
que"nly cousins, there was q certain fresh.
ness, u beauty about her, that acted us a
powerful charm. She had. that morning
received her first bouquet from u naneless
friend, and after It had been duly admired,
and pronounced by her cousins the most per.
feet Of the season, it was placed in water,
and the tlio sat down to read. Lucy was
soon called out to inspect and pay Tor some
Of the nne hundred and one articles OF sew.
ing that young lady requires when pIepar-
ing to 80 into society, especially II she isjus'
from the country.
While doing this she learned, through the
inquiries made by her aunt, that the sewing
girl had sick grandmother al home. And,
us she loved to do something for the invalid,
her fingers were instinctively placed upon
the clasp of her portemonnaie, but something
in the young woman's face and manner made
fear that she would only wound her by offer.
ing her money. Then she recollected her
flowers and feeling, with her country tastes
that they would do much towards cheering
n sick room, she brought them ont and re-
que,ted her to carry them 10 her grandmoth.
or.
: Oh, thank you, Miss, was her reply, they
are TOO beautiful for us, but grandmother
was wishing for flowers only yesterday and
thought alter Ireceiyed my pay would
stop in the market and get her some but
never expected to be able to carry home
like this !
That evening Mr.. F-'s parlors were
brilliantly lighted. and the two young ladies
in most becoming dresses-were doing
their best to entertain some gentlemen, while
Lucy sat wondering how they could find 80
much to talk about, and feeling herself cast
quite into the shade by their brilliant con-
yersational powers. After while, the talk
quite naturally turned upon flowers. when
Emma F. simply b. tease her cousin, re-
marked One of the bouquets sent here
this morning was too precious to be leit in
the sight of common people like ourselves.
Cousin Lucy priced It so highly that she only
permitted us TO feast our eyes upon it Tor live
minutes, aud then she bore it away lsup.
poseJ of course she had carried it to her own
room, that she mi.ht enjoy 1t oil alone, and
fully expected to see it on the table besides
her pra overlook, but it was not there"
did you 20 there on purpose to find y
ayes, and no, only that, but ! have actu.
Ally exerted myself so far rs to visit every
room in The houss, in order to discover where
The little miser had concealed her treasure,
but all in vain. Now such carelulness in
hiding away her flowers, certainly looks sns-
picious !"
"It argues strong interest in the g'ver
Something serious VIII como
,f it yet; depend upon it We shall hear
more of that bouquet, ut some inturo time
I" What u happy man must he be who sent
II; how envy him ~
'.If we only knew him, that we might OIL
er our congratulations y
"Well, ir she will tell what she did with
her pretty flowers, we won't tease her any
more " Jos. q. o.. :,
I" Her aowersl know ~ exclaimed
he child, "she gave them 10 Susau ior her
ck Grand. .murtr p, Ifihere had been any
doubt about Lucy's b'ushing before, there
conld be none now "preserye me IRON my
friends - thonght She. -, :.
"Wcll, Miss Lucy Blair. said her eldest
cousin, 81 have always looked upon you rs q
sorl of perfect being; yet, sinner as a'n'
have now detected you in two most helnous
offences SO produce your shilling , ana
come to the confessional at once' US you
hope for nbsolution.
Gas YOU seem so well aware Of my sins
already, you need no confession from mo 70
enlighten you" a'o , p,,;.I
in presence oil the company here assembled
-oftwo gross sins I! First. OF an astemPt 20
ruin all the poor people ofthe city, by giving
them taste for expensive luxaries, oeyond
the reach of any hut the wealthy a. Do you
plead guilty, or not guilty, to this grave &c
cusaiion o.
"Not guilty." said Lucy, of any inten.
,;on &c iniure the poor OF your city, in whose
welfare you seem to take so deep an inter.
eat. And n to giving them taste Tor flow.
o,s n wiser One than ] has implanted that in