The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-02-16
or LeautifuI, and alas, that his sad dream

! or teautlfui, and alas, that his sad dream
should have .such-a rude awakening, !,
! The blood rush ID up to his face, aud a
glance full Of evil and defiance flashed in
! to his eyes; But, before the boy couId
retort: little girl aprang out from the ar
Dor, and looked very eagerly from Gus
child to the other. She was very fair,
Nth soft hazel eyes, over which dropped
long shining isLes Rich curls hung
over her bare white 81, 6uIders, and LEI
| lips were the color Of the crimson full
blossomas
How could you speak SO cross to the
boy, Hinton ?" she asked with a tone of
sad reproach quivering through the sweet
ness Of her voice. " | am sure it doesn't
do us any harm to have hiM look at the
flowers as long as he wants to-"
"WeI, Helen" urged the brother,
slightly Modified, and slightly ashamed,
" l don't like to have beggars gaping over
the fence, it looks so low"
"Now, that's all notion of yours, Hin
ton. Pm sure if the flowers can do any,
body any good, we ought to be very glad.
Little boy, and the child turned to the
beggar boy and addressed him as courte-
ousIy as though he had been a prince
" I'll pick you some Of the tulips if you'll
wait a moment
"Helen, do believe that you're the
funniest girl that ever lived 2" calculated
the chiId's brother, as he turned away,
and with low whistle sauntered down
the path-feeling very uncomfortable
for her conduct was a stronger reproof to
him than any words could have been.
Helen plucked one of EACH specimen
of the tulips, and there was 4 great varl
ETY. of them, ana gave them to this child
His face frightened as he received them,
and thanked her.
Oh. the little girl had dropped "pearl
Of great price" into the black, turbid bill
lows of that boys lifc and the after years
should bring it up, beautiful and bright
again . a .5
Twelve years had passed. The little
brown eyed girl had grown into a tall
graceful woman. One bright June after
noon, she walked with her husband
through the garden, for she was on a Wis
il to her parents. The place was little
changed and the tulips had opened their
lips Of crimson and gold to the sunshine,
just as they had done twelve years before.
Suddenly they observed young man in
workman's blue overails, leaning over
the fence, his eyes wandering eagerly
from the beautiful flowers to herself lie
had frank, pleasant countenance, and
there was something in his manner that
interested the gentleman and lady
Look here, Edward" she said, 9Th
pluck hin some of the flowers; it always
does me good to see people admiring
them; and releasing her husbands arm
she approached the paling, saying-and
the smile round her lips was very like the
old, child one" Are you fond Of flowers,
sir? 1t will give NE great pleasure to
gather YOU some"
The young workman looked moment
very earnestly into that sweet face
" Twelve years ago, this very month" he
said, in a voice deep, and yet tremulous
with feeling, " stood here, leaning on
this railing, dirty, ragged, little beggar
boy, and you asked ne this very question
Twelve years ago yol placed the bright
flowers in my hand, and they made NE
new boy-aye. and they have made man
OF me, too. Your face has been light.
ma'am, all along the dark hours of my
life, and tnis day that little beggar boy
can stand in the old place and say to you,
though he's humble and hard working
man, thank God, he's an honest one"
Tear drops trembled like morning dew
on the shining lashes of the lady, as she
turned to her husband. who had joined
her, and listened in absorbed astonish-
ment to the workmau's words. God, ,"
she said, 'put it into my child heart to
do that little deed of kindness, and see
now how great is the reward that He has
given me-"