Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-05-01
MISC IL A IT E @ u S.
PRESERVING A B0QUET.
By HARRIET n. BABE.

"Why, Lucy, what are you going to do
with your boquet 7" exclaimed the Misses
F., as they saw their cousin about
to remove it from the parlor.
II know an excellent way of preserving
flowers, and will help you press them ii
you wish it," said the eldest.
| "Or, il you wish to study lis language
am quite an adept in such things and
will gladly aid you," said tire youngest
sister, mischievously.
81 thank YOU was the smiling reply,
''but was not intending to do either 4;
there are so many flowers here already
that thought v ould put mine where
they could be better appreciated. -
NV here it can receive undivided adj
miration !"
Exactly I" 80
Glow battered the donor would feel,
could he know il %
we viii not tell him then for two very
good reasens---iirst, because we do not
know who he is; aud secondly because |
think it wrong to iatter any one" and
with sivery laugh the young girl passed
out of the room. -
Well might Lucy saw, there were so
many flowers there that hers, elegant as
they were stood in danger of being over
looked. Every antique vase contained a
perfect wealth Of flowers while the de-
l;cious perfume they dill'nsed throughout
the rooms, made one forget that the season
was still winter. The two occupants OF
the paror were among the reigning bellies
of the city, and every day they received,
from some of their many admirers, pres
cnts of the most attractive flowers the
markets could furnish. Their mother Of
ten remarked that they had more than
they really admire, and that If some OF
them could only be sent TO dwellings where
there were none, how they would be
priced But they were most amused by
an exclamation made by the housemaid
one morning, while arranging the rooms,
dear, dear p she said "what pity to
see so many flowers whitening here, every
dav, when they could be sold for two or
three dollars punch II the young la
dies would only let me sell some Of them,
when they have more than enough, they
might make right handsome sum of pin
money !"
The cousin Lucy introduced TO our
readers, was u country girl who had been
brought to the city. a few weeks before,
by her relatives. &c be polished up and
fitted to enter society. Though rustic
simplicity itself, beside her queenly cous-
ms, there was a certain freshness, a beauty
about her that acted as a powerful charm.
She had, that morning, received her frs,
boquet from nameless friend and, after
it had been duly admired, and pronounced
by her cousins 1.-THE most perfect one G
the season." II was placed in water and
the trio sat down to read. Lucy was soon
called out to inspect and pay for some OF
the one hundred and one articles of sew.
ing that young lady requires when pre-
pairing to go into society, especially if she
is just from the country.
While doing this she learned, through
the inquiries made by her aunt, that !hs
sewing had a sick grand mother a
home. And, as she longed to do some
thing for. the invalid, her fingers wers
instinctively placed upon the clasp of he
porte monae, but something i'll the young
|woman's face and manner made her fea
that she wonld only wound her by offer
ing HeF money. ueH 5hc sStoiieetSu hs
flowers and feeling, with her countr,
tastes that they would do much towards
cheering a sick room, she brought them
out and requested her 10 carry them TO hel
grandmother.
"Oh, thank, you. Miss, " was her reply
"they are too beautiful for us, but grand
mother was wishing for flowers only yes
tercay, and thought after | received my
pay | would stop in the market and ge
her few but | never expected to bt
able to carry home anything like this -
That evening Mr.. = parlon
were brilliantly lighted, and the two youps
ladies-in most becoming dresses-wer'
doing their best to entertain some gentle
men. while Lucy sat wondering how they
could find so much TO talk about with pei
SONS who were almost strangers and feel
ing herself cast quite in the shade by thell
brilliant conversational powers. After
while, the talk quite naturally turned upo'
flowers, when Emma r, simply t.
, tease her cousin, remarked: Gone OF tn
boouets sent here this morning was to-
, precious to be left iii the sight OF common
I, people like ourselves. Cousin Lucy pIize'
: it so highly that she only permitted us t.
feast our eyes upon it for five minutes AM
then she bore it away! supposed @
course she had carried it to her own room
that she might enjoy it all alone, and i1li
: expected to see il on the table beside ne
! PRAYER book, but it was not there e
odd you go there on purpose to lind 1T
eyes, and NOD only that, but have &C
tually exerted myself SO far as to visit ev
ery room in the house. in order TO discoy
/ er where the little miser had concealed he
! treasure, but all in vain. Now such care