The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-01-06

client, Mr.. Crote, is ready TO renew the lease
for three more lives, at the very slight fine
we have named to you. What would yo,
have more reasonabe!"
"Sir, / make no complaint" George an
swered, "only want to abide by the ground,
and have not so much money as you require.
| owe nobody penny; and to puy my way,
and lay by enough money for next years
seeds and roots, has been the most that can
manage, / have saved fifteen pounds. Here
it is, sir: take it, if it will help me in this
business"
"Well," Mr.. Flint suggested, "what do you
say to this! make no promise, but think
l can persuade Mr.. Crote to let you retain
possession of your land for--shall we say!---
two years, at Ne rent Of fifty pounds: and,
at the expiration Of that term, you may per.
haps be able to pay the fine, and to renew
your lease"
al will accept that offer, SIR" Swayne's
nursery would not support so high a rental;
but let the future take thought for itself--to
postpone for TWO years the doom to quit the
roof-tree under which his mother sucked him,
was gain enough tor George.
So he turned homeward, and went cheer
fully upon his way, by short cut through
narrow streets and lanes that bordered on the
Thames. His gardeners eye discovered all
the lonely little pots of mignonette in the
upper windows OF the tottering old houses;
and, in the trimmer streets where there were
rows Of little houses in all shades of white
wash, some quite fresh-iooking, inhabited by
people who had kept their windows clean, he
sometimes saw as many as four ffuwer-pots
upon window sill. Then there were the
squares of turf, put in weekly instalments
OF six inches to the credit of Gagged larks, for
the slow liquidation Of the debt of green
fields due to them. There were also parrots;
Tor large number of the houses in those
river streets were tenanted by sailors, who
brought birds from abroad, There were also
all sorts Of grotcsque shells; and one house
that receded from its neighbors had small
garden in front, which was sown over with
shells, instead of flowers. The walks were
bordered with shell instead of box, and there
were conchs upon the wall, instead of wall
flowers. The summer-house was a grotto;
but the great center ornament was large
fgure-head, at the foot of which there was
bench erected, so that 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 a poor
garden, thought George; for it never waved
or rustled; and did not, by one change OF
future Except that it grew daily dirtier--,
show itself conscious of the passage of the
hours, and months, and seas ms.
1t interested George great deal more to
notice here and there the dirty leaves of new
kinds of plants, which, brought home by some
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, strange plant in blossom.
1t had reddish stalk, small. pointed leaves,
and from every cluster Of leaves hung elegant
red flower-bells, with purple tongues. That
plant excited him greatly, and when he
stopped to look in at it he felt some such
emotion as might stir an artist who should
see work by Rubens hung up in a pawn.
brokers' shop-wipdow. He knocked at the
green door, and pale girl opened it, holding
| in one hand piece o! unfinished needlework
Her paleness left her for minute when SHIT
! saw that it was stranger who had knocked
Her blue eyes made George glance away
from them before he had finished his respect.
ful inquiry.
al beg your PARDON" said he, "but may
ask the name Of the flower in the window, &
where it came 'front.'"
"Will you walk in, if you please, sir!" said
the girl; mother will tell you ali she knows
about it,"
1 With two steps, the young gardener strobe
into the small front room, where sick and
feeble woman sat in an arm-chair. 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 a stale loaf, flanked with two mug,
that contained some exceedingly blue an.
impid milk. George apolvgzed lor his in
lrusion, but said what his calling was, ali,
pleaded in excuse the great beauty aud novel;,
vi lne plant That had attracted him.
"Ay, uy, but ] prize II Tor more tiiun that; !;
sand Mrs. Ellis, "ll vas brought To me 10y IN
son. tie took II as u eating, anu lac brnugll
I
: IRON the West lnIics, nursing it ior me-
4 O.leu he has let MS own lips p arch, sir, y
: lne voyage, that lie might give water enuug
h " The iluSer That he tuok home for hi
!, mother. lie is lender-near:ed boy, ~
d Harry"
i "lle is young, then"
i "Weli, he 10 not exactly IA boy, sir; bl
3, they are ali boys ON board ship, you unde
Y stand. lie could carry oil The house upo
l. his back, larry couic, ne is SO wonaeriull
r, broaa-cnes,ed. He's Just gone on vuyags
e sir, and Pm feared shall he gone long,
10 before he comes back; and he said wheh Il
E, went, Take care ol theplanl, mother, it,
Is have hundreds oil bells To ring when cou
10 back 10 YOU next year. He is always iull
ID his luu, of, is III! Harry"
Id "Tnen ma'auI," George stammered, "it's
as plant you wouldn't like to part With"
,e The poor woman looked angry tor a m
IL nent; and then, after pause, snswer
it geniiy-"No, sir, not until my time comes
in The young gardener--who ought to ha
L..