The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-09-27

For you see all gardeners have spIen
did luck, too; and then father says
the market is over-stocked. But
mother says we musn't be selfish
and try to live on other peoples
failures. One year Mr.. Shole, the
gardner, Wasn'tvery well, and didn't
raise half as many vegetables as
usual and that made a great deal
/ better market for father's.'
just then I was looking steadily
at Patty, when she colored deeply.
"I know what you are thinking
about" she said. ''You are thinking
that I was glad that Mr.. Shole was
sick?
No. Patty; I hadn't the thought,
I Ireplied.
Well, now, was almost glad"
said, It's an Ill wind that blows no.
body any good" and I am sure that
is almost the same as being glad.
But I thought it was just as mean
in me as it could be, for Mr.. Shole
needs to succeed as much as we do.
[ never shall let myself feel so again,
for it's too. mean for anything. I
wish everybody co Id succeed in this
world don't you ?''
g Yes, / do, Patty" said I, speak
lug out nay honest thoughts, and
emphasizing the do. ct wish we
could all succeed so well as to have
our work all done up for life time;
and then we conld settle down and
enjoy the world"
Patty looked at me with an anus
ed, inquiring face, as if she thought
ne something of a study, Orwas sur
prised at what I said
"Ohi I don't think I really wish
that" she said. CT think I'd rather
have too much to do than nothing to
do. Sometimes I'm ever SO happy
when George and Katy are pulling
at my dress and climbing up into
my lap. Sometimes, to be sure, I'm
selfish. and get to thinking how I
should like it if the children were big
enough to take care of themselves,
and I could have q chance to do
some other things; but I'm glad
every night, even when I'm tired, be-
cause I know that father and mother
and all the children need me. Why,
even my big brother, Tommy, needs
me; and it would be a dreadful
thing for me to let rich man adopt
me, even if there was one that want
ed to. Why, if Tommy cuts his fin
ger, he always comes to me to do it
up for him. He cut his thumb only
yesterday, and, when I wound some
old linen around it and tied it up,
he kissed me and said he knew he
should never hang himself so long
as I was around. Oh it makes me
ever so happy to work, because I
know I'm always making some one
else happy"
Usage, philosopher, divinity" I
said to myself" not simply Patty
Nelson" Well, Patty" 1 replied,
" 1 see that you don't care to have
me wish that some rich man would
adopt you" lr-s..
Oh, no, sir I could never be
willing to leave my work"
Whether Patty thought I was
looking at her hands, or not, don't
know but Just then she looked at
them, and said: "Poor little brown,
dingy hands / If I were a rich mans
child, you would be nice and white,
and would have on pretty rings, too,
I suppose; but never mind. Hands
were made for use, aud people who
use their hands are a great deal hap
pier than those who don't"
As Patty started to go back to her
desk, she glanced again at her dan.
delions, and said: Tommy laugh
ed at me when I was going out of the
yard, and asked me where I was GO
ing with that great yellow bouquet.
1 didn't know but it was rather fool
ish for me to think of bringing you
such common things; but 1 always
had fancy for dapdelions, and the
truth Is I hadn't any other flowers
to bring you. The few spring flow
ers / had were all rooted up the 9th
er day by the neighbors' pigs, and I
just cried about it; but I laughed at
myself afterward When the chill
dren grow up, or are so much older
that I shall have more time, I mean
to raise great many flowers. They
are such comfort, I think"
"The last bell was ringing, and
Patty went back to her seat, leaving
me wiser, and, I think, a happier
man.
It was long time before that bou-
quet of dandelions was missing from
my table; and then it was not
thrown away, bat was spread in one
of the windows of my old bachelor
sanctnm to dry. ~.-
After I am dead and gone, there
will be found amoRg my relics
a box containing what Whoever
takes off the cover, perhaps, will say:
* What is this ?" And so win an
swer beforehand: (" My dandelion
boquet, returned to dust" And let
eyes that look into the box look rev.
erenDy, remembering that there lie
the remains of what was once very
dear to me; for 1t was the gift of llt-
tie Patty Nelson, who taught me that
patience and cheerfulness brighten
toll, and that love makes all work
easy" O..
A CORRESPONDENT of the Springfield
j. 4 II r. o