Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-02-27
fur the Mun1t Gitfle.
THE PRISONER AND THE FLOWER.

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THE PRISONER AND THE FLOWER.
There is beautiful story in French OF
prisoner who became exceedingl gly attach
ed to flower. He was put in prison by
Napoleon, because he was supposed to be
an enemy to the government. One day,
as Charney (for that was his nane) was
walking in the yard adjoining his cell, he
saw plant pushing up from between the
stones. How it came there he could not
tell. Perhaps some one carelessly dropped
the seed, or perhaps the seed was blown
over the wall by the wind. He knew not
what plant it was, but he felt great inter-
est in it. Shut up within those walls, a.
way from all his friends, not permitted to
interest himself with either reading or wri-
ting, he was glad to have this little living
thing to watch over and love. Every day,
when he walked in the court, he spent much
time in looking at it. He soon saw some
buds. He watched them as they grew lar
ger and larger, and longed to see them o.
pen; and when the flowers at length came
out, he was filed with joy. They were
very beautiful. They had three colors in
them, white, purple, and rose-colcr, and
there was a delicate silvery fringe all a
round the edge. Their fragrance, too, was
delicious. Charney examined them more
than he ever did flowers before; and never
did flowers look so beautiful to him as these.
The captive guarded his plant with great
care from all harm. He made frame
work out of such things as he could get, so
that it should not be broken down by some
careless foot, or by the wind. One day
there was hail-storm, and to keep the ten
der plant from the pH1.irg of Rethail, he
stood bending over it as long as the storm
lasted.
The plant was something more than a
pleasure and comfort to the prisoner. 1t
taught him such things that he never knew
before, though he was very learned man.
When he went into the prison he was an
infdel. He did not believe there was a
God and among his scribblings on the
prison-wall he had written, Call things
come by chance" But, as he watched his
loved flower, its opening beauties told him
that there is God. He felt that none
but He could make that flower; and he said
that the flower had taught him more than
he had ever learned from the wise men of
the earth.
The cherished and guarded plant proved
of great service to the prisoner. 1t was
the means of his being set free! There
was another prisoner, an italian, whose
daughter came to visit him. She was much
interested by the tender care which Char
ney took of his plant. At one time it SEEM
ed as if it would shortly die, and Charney
felt very sad. He wished that he could
take up the very stones around it; but he
could not without permission. The Italian
managed to see the Empress Josephine,
and to tell her about it, and permission was
given to Charney to do with his plant as he
desired. The stones were taken up, and
the earth was loosened, and the flower was
soon as bright as ever.
Now the Empress thought much of how-
ers. 1t is said that she admired "the
purple of her cactus more than the impe-
rial purple Of her robe, and that the per-
fume Of her magnolias was pleasanter to
her than the fattery of her attendants. -
She, too, had cherished flower, the
sweet jessamine, that she had brough from
the home of her youth, far-off island of
the West Indies. This had been planted
and reared by her own hand; and, though
its simple beauty would scarcely have ex-
cited the attention of a stranger, it was
dearer to her than all the rare and bril-
liant flowers that filled her hot-houses.-
She thought much of the prisoner that took
such care of his one flower. She inquired
about him; and, after little time, per-
suaded the Emperor to give him his free
dom. And when Charney left the prison,
he took the plant with him to his home:
for he could not bear to part with this
sweet companion that had cheered him in
his lonely prison-life, taught him such les
sons of wisdom, and was at last the means
of setting him free.
Some, perhaps, would say that the seed
of this flower got into the prison-yard, and
took root in the earth between the stones
by chance, and that this was all very lucky
for the prisoner. But this is not so. Moth,
ing comes by chance. God sent that seed
there, and made it lodge in the right place
for it to grow He sent it to be the means
of good to the poor prisoner. Little did
Charney think, when he saw that tiny plant
first pushing up from between the stones,
that by it God would free him from prison,
and, what was better, deliver him from his
infdelity.-7he Good News.
HELPERS Of THE PASTOR