Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1872-09-28


the market is over-stocked.' But
mother says we mustn't be selfish,
and try to live on other peoples
failures. One year Mr.. Shole, the
gardner, wasn't very well, and didn't
raise half as many vegetables us
usual and that made a great deal
better market for fathers
Just then / was looking steadily
at Patty, when she colored deeply.
Il know what you are thinking
about" ghe said, "You are thinking
that was glad that Mr., Shole was
sick?
ono, Patty; I hadn't the thought
| replied.
DWELL, now, I was almost glad" l
said, cts an i'll wind that blows no.
body any good;" and am sure that
is almost the same as being glad
But l thought it was just as mean
in me rs 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. l
wish everybody co Id succeedin this
world don't you?"
"Yes, l do, Patty" said l, speak
lug out my honest thoughts, and
emphasizing the do. Il wish we
could all succeed so well as to have
our work all done up for life time;
and then we conId settle down and
enjoy the world"
Patty looked at me with an anus
ed, inquiring face, as if she thought
me something of n study, orwas sur
prised at what | said.
"Ohl l don't think I really wish
that" she said, "I think I'd rather
have too much to do than nothing to
do. Sometimes I'm ever so happy
when Georgia and Katy arc 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 could have n chance to do
some other things; but I'm glad
every night, even when I'm tired, be-
cause know that father and mother
and all the children need me. Why,
even my big brother, Tommy, needs
me; and it would be q dreadful
thing for me to let a rich nan adopt
me, even if there was one that want
ed to. Why, if Tommy cuts his fin
ger, he always comes tC me to do 1t
up for him. He cut his thumb only
yesterday, and, whom | wound some
old linen around it and tied it up,
he kissed me and said he knew he
should never hang himself DO long
as | was around. Oh ! it makes me
ever 50 happy to work, because l
know I'm always making some one
else happy"
"Sago, philosopher, divinity" ]
said to myself" not simply Patty
Nelson" i" Well, Patty" I replied,
" see that You don't care to have
me wish that some rich man would
adopt you"
"Oh, no, sir l 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 l were rich mans
child, You would be nice and white,
and would have on pretty rings, too,
| suppose; but never mind. Hands
were made for uae, and people who
use their hands are 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 | was 60
ing with that great yellow bouquet.
| didn't know but it was rather fool
ish for me to think of bringing you
such common things; but | always
had a fancy for dandelions, and the
truth is l hadn't any otheg flowers
to bring you. The few spring flow
ers had were all rooted up the 9th.
er day by the neighbors' pigs, and ]
lust cried about it; but l laughed at
myself afterward. When the chill
dren grow up, or are so much Older
that | shall have more time, | mean
to raise a great many flowers They
are such comfort, | think.
"T6e last bell was ringing, anC
Patty went back TO her seat, leavint
me a wiser, and, l think, q hoppie
man.
1t was long time before that bou
auet of dandelions was missing iron
my table; and then it was no
thrown away, but was spread in on
, of the windows of my old bachelo
sanctum to dry.
"After l am dead and gone, ther
, will be found among my relic
> q box containing what? ? Whoeve
: takes off the cover, perhaps, will say
! "What is this % And so | will an
swor beforehand: "My dandelio
y boquet, returned to dust" And le
r eyes that look into the box look re,
s erently, remembering that there Ii
/ the remains of what was once vel
t dear to me; for it was the gift Of 1t
h tic Patty Nelson, who taught me th'
patience and cheerfulncss brightc
toll, and that love makes all wol
easy"
h A CORRESPONDENT of the Springfe'