The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-09-24
A FLOWER STORY.
BY CELESTE.

The house was thronged with company,
gay visitors who had come to spend a
week with my cousins, and seeking quiet,
l went out from the briliantly-lighted
parlors TO wander alone in the large and
beautiful garden. The moon was pour
ing floods of silvery light over the trees
and flowers-it was just such an evening
as we so frequently see described in books
but do wo ever weary of those descrip-
tions, or the oft recurring reality
walked through the mingled silver
and shade to the extremity of the gar
den, and there nothing disturbed The ST.
lence save slight rustling leaves, or an
occasional stir in the trees where unhedg-
cd birds yet fingered in their nests. AT
least, thus il at first appeared to me, but
/ soon discovered that something unusual
was going on; sweet incense arose on the
air, and commingling of fairy voices,
faint and as ETHEREAL as might be fancied
the tinkling of blue-bells. Until / had
listened attentively for sometime, failed
to distinguish any words, but after awhile
it became evident that the flowers were
enjoying a social chat, the principal topic
of which seemed to be the recital of their
individual good deeds, and discussion ms
to their respective usefulness in the world.
Flowers of all hues, robed in gorgeous OF
paler corollas, were there; brilliant Grim
son Roses, wax-like Lilies, and the exquis-
ite Grape Myrtle, in her dainty, airy robes
of pink gossamer.
One splendid Camelia, who had just
come from the greenhouse, said, with q
lofty air, that her family supplied the
most beautiful young lady Of the mansion
with ornaments for her jetty hair, aud re-
ally, she conld not avoid hearing the nu-
merous compliments bestowed upon them.
Indeed, that very eve, the lady came to
see her, accompanied by her elegant broth.
er, who-the Camelia added she had man
aged to ascertain-had recently returned
from Europe with a highly cultivated
taste, and even he expressed great admi'
ration for his sisters favorite flower, and
said nothing accorded so well with hel
style of beauty.
"Ahy said Moss Rose, every like
ly, but one of the young ladies always
chooses my rose-buds to wreath in bel
brown tresses; and only last eve, thai
same grand gentleman of whom you
speak, plucked one Of my sweetest, and
offered it, as though it were the rarest
treasure he could find, to charming
young lady with eyes the color of thai
little blue Forget-me-not, down yonder
and she accepted it, and seemed very
much pleased, thought"
Upon this, the Forget-me-not looked
as if she wanted TO speak, and they lis
tened, though several agreed in n rather
contemptuous undertone, that not mucl
could be expected of such little things.
"a great many say We remind then
of their absent friends, and they love Vi
for their sakes, so l think we must be o
some use in the world if we are small,
she said plaintively.
Then the tri-colored Violet, or Pansy
murmured with her sweetest breath, 6
have heard young lady who is visiting
at the house say that l am dearer to he
than any other flower"
The Mignonnette's faint voice arose oil
cloud of fragrance, 81 am very usefu
for boquets," it said briefly.
"Wcll," said a fine China Aster, "thi
morning l heard an old lady say it dic
her heart good to look at me, for she uscC
to have so many when she had a bous
and garden of her own, a long time ago
Then the snowy Tubcrosa spoke, anC
her words hoated on the most exquisite
perfume; 81 delight all who gaze on me
and send sweet odors to those who ap
proach me; l would willingly bestow o
my fragrance upon every one, were it pos
sible"
"I regale the Humming-birds ever,
day with the contents of my nectary,
said the Honeysuckle, "really, l thinl
they would starve, were il not for me !
"Just as if there were no other flower
who possess stores Of honeyp Indignant
ly exclaimed half dozen flowers at once
There was moments silence, and thel
low, timid voice came from one corne
of the garden, and all gazed with sur
prise upon little golden Buttercup, VIII
had in some unaccountable manner stray
ed into that elegant enclosure. 1t coul,
not be heard for some time, there wa
such fluttering among the moro aristo
cratic flowers; great crimson Rose said
with great deal of emphasis, she won
dered how such rustic happened TO hav
been permitted TO enter their circle-sh
would speak to the gardener Immediately
and have the intruder removed.
i A tall Dahlia said, doubtless it was
mere oversight on the part of the garden
er, he presumed no one had seen the lii
tie country blossom before, he was pos
tive he had not, and thoupht all woul