The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1864-02-06
for the gittle folk.
THE BROKEN FLOWER POT.
FROM 1.-THE CATIONS"

ed us mOtnerS laVOrIte 1OWer-pOt
out Of the window, in mischief, and
told the truth about it, From tina.
time ] FIRST date the hour when
felt that ! loved my faiher,and knew
that he loved me; from that time,
too, he began to converse with me.
He would no longer, if he met me
in the garden, pass by with a nod
and smile; he would step. put his
book in his pocket, and though his
talk was often above my compre-
hension, still, somehow, felt happi-
er and better, and less of an infant.
when ] thought over il. and tried to
puzzle out the meaning; for lie had
a way Of suggesting, not teaching;
quitting things into my head, and
then leaving them TO work out THEN
own problems. Not long after this,
Mr.. Squills made me a present fal
exceeding in value usually bestowed
on children; il was a beautiful, large
domino-box in cut ivory, painted
and gilt, This domino-box was my
delight. | was never weary of play
ing at dominoes with Mrs. Prim-
minis, and slept with the box under
my pillow.
"Ah," said my father, one day,
when he found me ranging the ivo-
ry.para!ellograms in the parlor, "ah,
you like that better than all Your
playthings, ehl"
"Oh, yes, papa"
You would be very sorry if YOUR
mamma was to throw that box out
OF The window and break il, for
fuh?''
81 Hooked beseechingly atmy faith
er, and made no answer.
"But, perhaps, you would be very
glad" he resumed, '.if, suddenly, one
Of thosegood fairies you read of could
change the domino box into beau
ti!ul geranium, in a beautiful blue
and-white fower-pot, and that you
could have all the pleasure Of put
ting il on; your- mammals window
SLIP
"lndeed, twouldr- said hall crv-
ing.
my dear boy, | believe yoa; but
good wishes don't mend bad actions;
good actions mend bad actions"
So saying, he shut the door, and
went out. | cannot tell you how
puzzled ! was to make out wha, nv
father meant by his aphorism; but
know that played a, dominoes nc
more that day. The next morning,
my father found me seated by my.
self under tree in the garden; he
paused, and looked at me with hi,
grave. bright eyes. very steadily.
My boy," said he, 81 am going
- walk to---, "a town about
Two mile off, will you comet anc
bye-the-bye, fetch your domino-box
should like to show il 10 persor
there"
lran for the box, and, NOT q little
proud ofwalking with my father up
on the high-road, we SET ont.
Psra, said !; by tfrway, ..thert
are no fairies, now"
What then, my child7"
"Why, how then can my domino
box he changed into geranium ano
a-blue and white flower pot!'
my DEAR" said my father, lean
lag his hand on my. shoulder, "ey.
erybody, who is in earnes, 10 be
good, carries two fairies about with
him; one here" and he touched my
heart, "and one here" and he touch.
ed my forehead.
u don't understand, papa"
81 can wait till you do, Pisisira.-
US. What name.."
My father stopped at a nursery
gardeners, and, after looking over
the flowers, paused before a large
double geranium.
"lAh. This is finer than that which
Your mamma was so fond Of. What
is the cost, SIR"
"Only Is. 3d." said the garden
er.
My father butioned- up his peck
ei. 81 can't afford it to day." said
he, gently. ard we walked out. On
entering the town, We stepped
again, al a china warehouse.
slave YOU a flower not like tina,
bought some months agol Al. here
is one marked IS. cd. Yes, that is
the p:ice. Well, when your nam.
mas birth day comes again, we
must luy her another. That is some
months 10 .s:iit. And We can wait.
Master Sisty. For truth, tina,
blooms al the year round, is better
than . poor geranium; and word
thnt is never broken is better than a
p;ece oil DELI"
Ny head, which had dropped b.
fore, rose again but the ru b of Joy
at my heart almost stified inc.
have called IL nav vour Fri.