Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-01-27

1
one change Of future except that I
grew daily dirtier--show itself consc ioul
OF the passage Of the hours and days an.
months and seasons.
II interested George great deal NOR,
to notice here and there the dirty leaf Of
new kinds OF plants; which brought hons
BY some among the sailors. struggled 10
grow up from seed or root. Through
the window Of one house that was YER,
poos but very neat and clean. he saw
put upon table to catch the rays oI
the summer sun, strange plant In bios.
som. II had a reddish stalk, small poin.
ted leaves; and from every cluster OF
leaves hung elegant red dower.bells
with purple tongues. That plant excl.
ted him greatly; and when he stopped 10
look at Il, he felt some such emotion a.
might stir an artist who should see a work
by kubens hung up In a pawnbroker =
shop-window. He knocked al the green
door, and pale girl opened u. holding
IN one hand piece OF unfinished needle.
work. Her paleness lcft her for a mo.
ment when she sew that II was strane-
or who had knocked. Her blue eyes
made George glance away from them
before he had finished bic respectful In
curry. Il beg your pardon, no said, but
may ask the name OF the flower Ia tho
window. and where Il came fromr
win you walk In, u you please, sir.
said the girl. mother will tell you all she
knows about L.
With two steps, the young gardener
strobe into the small front room where
a sick and feeble woman sat In an arm
chair. The room was clean and little
furnished. There was only sand upon
the floor, aud on The table with some
more o, the girls work. was part OF a
stale loaf, banked with two mugs that
CONTAINED some exceedingly blue and
lmpld milk. George apologlzed for hi.
intrus,oni but said what his calling was,
and pleaded In excuse the great beauty
and novelty OF the plant that had attrac-
ted him.
sAy, ay, but prize Il far more than
that, said Mrs. Ellis. III was brought 10
me by my son. He took Il as a cutting,
and he brought II long way, the dear
fellow, oil the way from the West In
dies, nursing Il for me. Often he let his
own lips parch, sir, on the voyage that
he might give water enough to the Aow-
er that he took home for his mother
lie Is tender-hearted boy, my Harry
lie Is young them
well, he Is not exactly boy, sir; but
they are all boys on board ship, you I'M
derstand. lie could carry of the house
upon his back. Harry could; no is 10
wonderful broad-chested. He's Just
gone a long voyage. sir, and I'm feared
| shall be gone longer before he comes
back; and he said whom he went, Take
care Of the plant, mother, Il will have
hundreds OF bells to ring when | come
back TO you next year. He IL always
full OF 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 a
moment, aud then, after pause, an
swercd, gently, No, sir, not until my
time comes
The young gardener, who ought to
have gone away-still bent over the
flower. Tho plan, was very beautiful,
and evidently stood the climate well,
and Il was Of a kind TO propagate by slips,
George did not we'll know what TO say,
or do. The girl, who had been nlmbly
stitching, ceased from work, and loosod
up wonder lngly Al the stranger, who had
nothing more 10 say, aud YET remained
with them. AZ Last the young man,
.s~.sA Aha ealsf al ths Hover on liis cheeks
said, I'm a poor man, Ma'am and not
much taught. IL I'm going 20 Say any
thing unbeeomIng. hope you'll forgive
Il, but, II you could-ll you could bring
your heart TO part with thls plant, /
would give you ten gulneas for Il. aud
tho trst good cutting raise shall DO
yours
The girl, looked up In the greatest as
tonlshmeni, Ten gulReasi' she cried,
why mother, ten gulneas would make
you comfortable Tor thu whole winter
How glad Harry will bel
The poor woman trembled nervoualyl
Harry told ne 10 keep II for his sake,
she whispered TO her daughter, who bent
fondly over her.
Does Harry love flower better than
health and eomfort' pleaded IIarry's
sister.
a long debate was carried on In low
tones while George Swayne endeayored
TO look as though he were hundred
miles oil. listening 10 nothing. But the
loving accents OF Tho girl debating with
her mother tenderly. caused Mr. Swayne
IA stout aud true hearted young man OF
twenty.hye--to feel that there were Ger.
tainly some new thoughts and sensations
working In him. He considered II i'm
porlanl 10 discover from her mothers
manner of addressing her that the name
OF the young woman was Susan. When
the old lady at last consented with a
sigh to Georges Offer, he placed ten
euineas on the table beside the needle
work, aud only stole one glance at Su-
san as he babe goodbye and took the
flow rpo, away, promising again ear
nesty that he would bring back TO them
the first good cutting that took root.
George Swayne then, having the law
yers almost put out OF his head, Carried
the plant home, and duly busted himself
In his greenhouse over the multiplied
ton of his treasure. Months went by,
during which the young gardener work.
cd hard and ate sparingly. lilo had left
TO himself but five pounds for the gener-
al maintenance ofhis garden; more was
needed, and that he had TO pinch, as far
as he dared, out Of his humble food and
other necessaries OF existence. He had,
no wever, nothing TO regret. The cut
tings Of the flower bells throve, and the
thought oil Susan was better 10 him than
roast b eef. lie did not again visit the
widows house. He had no right to go
there, until he wentto redeem his prom
ise.
Ayear went by; and when the next
July came, George Swayne's garden
and greenhouses were In the best con-
dltion. The new plant had multiplied
by slips and had thriyen more readily
than he could have yertured 10 exoect.