Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-01-06
FLOWERS OF THE DAISY
BY JOHN EsTES COOKE.

perehed on his three legged stool, in the count
ips-ro of the great house OF WOrthingtOn
Brothers, old Joe Darling, the ancient book
keeper Of tASfIm, was finishing his Saturday
While thus eaaased, a hand wa. laid on his
shoulder, and, turning his head, he saw his old
pay-haired employer, the sole survivor OF the
hrn. beside him.
&" 1t is the last time, my old friend" aid the
merchant, pointing To the ledger " the news
this evening decides everything. Unless some
thing happens before the first of January, wor-
thington Brothers must close doors, and wiHJ
up business -fOe ~
Old Joe started as he listened to these melsn-
shOly words, and tremOr ran through him.
Don't say that don't say Tat, Mr. Worth
isstOn, sir" Ne exclaimed Aud he ,Iabbed his
bald forehead with his old bandanna hsnGk,r-
chief a. he spoke. . Don't say that Working
"s.SH BLo'f ts vii ,h susgesd payment, s.r :!
merchant, with heavy sigh. " 1 see hope
Of resuiaing. The great failures in Europe have
bopelesSiy Involved us-so that'-he stopped
with gloosny expression in his eyes--s.so that,
CT OF before the first of January" he aided
the house will close its doors. could bear that:
but when think that the name OF NOrthington
Brothers will be-dshOnored-"
There the old merchant broke Down. Joe Oar
ling seized his hand, and cried, in a trembling
Don't don't don't saw that sir, Don't use
that word .disAonoredi IL is not so bad :"
~. Kuhn ruin tptter run''' groAned the rner-
.'N9, no; NOT ruin: See here, sir. I-I-ycr
Anu ore zoe urcW IRON els pOcher-U0pk. " it'll
unsteady hasds. certificates Of deposit in bank
Take il. sir! IL was made in your service =
honestly made-there's rot a dirty shilling IN it,
SIR. IL - yOurS-and-7
He thrust the papers into the merchants
hand. But Mr.. Worteington pushed them back.
No, Old friend, said the merchant, signing
seep!y, but speaking I'm voice of resignation
I" No, that is not the way Worthiny tor Brothers
d. business, Ii We fail, il shall be EonestIy-
Alone-atter honorable eNertion. We will not
eTag down our friends; and you, Zoe, are our
eldest and best No, the house Res kept faith
and honor for fifty years. II rain comes We
val go down sione. IL is not our fault. will
% ny duty, and trust i'm God. Joe, to the end.'
As he spoke, the old merchant went to his sat.,
and took out roll OF bank notes. Then he
eTeeted the various employe. tc be sent for and
PAID ihem a.! upto the end of the week. He had
Kind word Tor each, and an inquiry aboat
every mans family or concerns; and then he
tu.h NIL 10 hls desk. But the men did not go.
hat are You waiting foT. NV friend>S Can
chant.
g Ii ven please. sir >ai6 the foremost of the
yoUT haHd<-Eh"''
And the speaker turned toward his rouyb
Companions who uttered hOar>e murmUr o.
assent.
Leave your money in my hands.r said the
merchant.
how times are hard with worthington Broth ri.
and the house in difficulties. Now we don,t
want our money a. Vet, Mr. worthins tOn.-El?
And he looked toward those in the rear. An
other grow at assent replied.
All whichyp the spokesman aided. goes 10
saw SIT, that we are not iii want. Keen the
money. Mr.. WOrJhington,''
The merchant gszed, with deep en- 1tion. at
The rough, honest faces.
Thanks. thanks, my kind frien,isl" he said.
- now see what II Is 10 try To- do our duty This
proof OF your friendship touches me deepiy-but
eannOs accept your offer. Such a small SHIN
sesideS, would he OF little service to ma No
ho,-keep IL, and nav God bless YOU and yours,';
The employees retired on this, net daring il
IN iI.rF Ia. frIrfIt
house.
Father ia heaven, I thank Thee muir
INJURED the merchant; and, turning away he
pickea up the evening paper, te hide his emo
tion. As his eye fell upon il. a paragraph at
tIacted ms attention 1t announced the failure
OF the bank in which the old b,Ok-krrnsr's
savings had all been deposited. With a siyh. he
handed IT 10 Joe Darling. and said:
deeply regret this, my old friend. Ny ruin
Old hoe read the announcement with a sink
ING heart, and echoed the sigh of his friend.
The Lords will be done. sir' he said. lyon
might have had all; but am now pennileSs.
Tour trouble Is greater than mine. ANY letters
sI by 10 nights mail? Any resources, or i'm
poFtaHt intelligence"
No resources, Joe, and bad news-alnost
worse than all
Worse, SIR
Yes, yes You remember m = son Charley
OF course you Remember him. You know he
vent about two years since to live with Van
Zandt * Co, at Antwerp
Yes, sir What OF him? Don't tell me-he
ishOt dead. SIR
"NO-that pang is spared nae, but Ihave bad.
very bad news OF Charley, my old friend 1
wrote recently announcing our situation, and
recommending his return, and Nessr. Van
Zandt Co, replied that be lett them nearly
ago"
=. Lett them
Yes, yes. He had fallen -inte evil cour.a.
and they reprimanded him-wheR he went oh:
MO one knew where. Letters were written to me
ey The house, but they must have pliscarrie1
Nothing has since been heard OF Charley I
Tear he has taken to more evil ways still. Ne
MAY be dead indeed. Unhappy that am, All
connected with me seems to turn out b2dy,'
The mereant uttered gTean. Old Joe looked
at him with commisserstion.
- am still more unfortunate than yOu. Mr.
WoTthingtOn, he said in a low tone II had
son-a noble boy-he Is dead, sir, You knew
nav Edmund He was 30 handsome 80 spiriteI,
- bold; and he was lost At sea. lie was on a
~haier-the ship foundered. and the crew var.
lost My poor Edmund! We are truly two un-
fortunate fathers. sir -
There the conversation ended. and mnrchsu,
and bOok-keepcT separated
Throughout the following week untiring
efforts were made 10 collect the resource. al
WOrthingtOn Brothers. But slight success
crowned the merchants efforts to rescue the
mouse Friends OF past years seemed 70 have
grown Geld, and regretted their ina Iiity 70 rem
der assistance; and II was only by great sacri-
tees that the house succeeded in making ALI
payments up tn the DAY before Christmas. In
this, however. the firm succeeded. and A. Mr.
WoTthingtOn locked his safe and put ON his h,t
he drew a long breath OF relief. Then takin,
ms e'd Soo5-keePer's arm, he went homewari
the corner. he murInrred. Let a Keen a ,,,.,,i
heart vet, Old friend
Ii.
Christmas morning, and the snow was falling
ana the wind "Airiing Il about like adj. a
thousand COLLINS seemed laughing. and turning
somer>et-, and hsilng each other. "a they
.PsTted around the gables. and xhs;Ie,I ami
rumbled IN key-hOles and cLinney. Wild with
hairth at the cOnIng or Cristmas and old Loo.
DaTliDg's small house. in a remote street of me
sreat city, seemed especially hon0Ted by the
hobgoblins. who shook the windows till they
ratified again
A great fire was burning, and the breakfast
table wa set: and old Joe rubbed his hands m
'front.' Of the blaze and looked out Of the window
when voice behind him, with a rush Of laughter
m II. and sounding like silver bells, exclaimed.
9" tlristmas-gitt, father, dear I've caught
Old Joe turned round. A. he dit So a pair of
rosy ill,- pressed his cheek, and two arms clupg
round his meek, belonging 10 . little fairy OF
seventeen
Why, you look Ike a sunbeam, DAISY" he
And indeed the fac. r.ssmLl.a 49,. - =,