The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-06-01
A BASKET or FLOWERS
BY LoTTIE BROWN.

through the heavy folds OF damask, and
sent SILVER over the robust frame of the
old man, who basked in his elegantly up
holstered armchair before the rosy sea coal
fire.
He shrugged his shoulders, rubbed his
soft hands briskly together, and said, half
aloud:
ugh! what night! Itturns my blood
to ice, even in this warm room. What must
it be out in the street ?"
There came sharp ring at the door just
then, and he turned to know who was the
intruder.
A servant entered, bearing square par
Gel in her hand, which she quietly deposited
on the table, saying, ''for you, sir" and
then left the old man alone.
"For mel Well who OH earth has opened
their hearts wide enough to find place for
me ?" said Adam Hartford, as he took up
the package and united it.
A square white box met his gaze, and
with caution which had all his life been one
of the chief regulators Of his being, he lifted
the cover and peered in.
swell Well !"
A perfect bed of fragrant flowers, with
the clip of the hot house yet fresh upon
their green stemps, lay nesting in an ele-
giant basket.
Old Adam took it up daintily. What
wealth of tube roses, hyacnthe, camelias,
buds, soft creamy star flowers and lilies,
lay there side by side! Why, in all his
wealth, he had nothing so fair or perfect as
one of these buds.
| wonder who sent them? Somebody
that knows nothing of the value of money
I'll be bound. These trihes are almost
worth their weight in gold, at this season."
He could not suppress that thought. 1t
was one that was ever the first in his mind
and had been, ever since he had earned his
first five dollars. He had, in early life,
denied himself every luxury, and nearly
every comfort, in the world, until he had
gained enough to enable himself their indul-
gence, without seeing behind them the
dreadful wolf named Poverty. Now that
he had grown immensely rich, he filled his
house with pictures and fine pieces of statu-
ary, because other folks did and because
they looked well. He carpeted his floors
with soft carpet because they were comfor-
table; put great downy chairs in every
the very best food to be obtained, because
his appetite was poor, and he could not eat
anything else. ar
anybody in the wide world, doing anything
but for his own comfort and ease, was
something that never occurred to him.
Adam Hartford had spent his whole life
in the accumulation of wealth, and now
that he had grown old, all he had to do was
to take care of h lnsef. But he could not
help touching with very tender fingers, the
delicate leaves of the flower, and thinking
that his elegant house had never seen any
thing half so beautiful.
" Now who sent them ? Ha! ha ha
You don't suppose that have made con-
quest ?" and he made the room ring with
his hearty voice. "Adam, are you getting
handsome Must be, or no lady land sure
ly it must be a lady who sent these) would
ever think of sending you a basket of
flowers. Halo! What is this ?"
The tidy servant opened once more the
door of the drawing-room, and this time
she had great bundle in her strong arms
"a bundle of patched and faded calico-a
pair of ragged shoes, where the blue, pinch
ed toes peeped plainly through, and pale,
child-lace, with great tangle of its golden
hair falling back from the little colored
handkerchief which served for hood.
Mr.. Hartford! Ii you please, sir, |
found this child just now at the door. /
heard voice, like somebody trying to reach
the bell, and when opened the door, this
poor thing fell right in across the step. Pm
afraid she's dead"
The broad smile on Adams face faded,
and setting aside the basket of glowing
flowers, he came forward and looked into
the child's face.
dead! No, think not, Katy. Lay
her here on the sofa, and bring a little
wine and some warm fiannels. She has
tainted"
And for the first time in his life he
opened his heart. Better let me say the
flowers opened it little way, and this
poor helpless child came before he had
time to close it. At any rate he sat quiet
ly down and took the frigid hand in his
own, and rubbed it smartly, and when the
wine came he took the spoon and forced a
little of the liquid between her closed
teeth. In ten minutes she was wide
awake, her blue eyes taking in the warm
fire, the rich, bright hued furnishing of the
room, and even that mysterious basket of
flowers on the table. She looked at Adam
Hartford next, and then at Katy.
Where is my mother ?'
"Your mother? How do we know
We found you on our door STEP" said the
old man.
"Oh, yes !" she looked very thoughtful
for moment. "My mamma is sick, in a
cold room, and | was afraid she'd die. She
fell asleep, and happened to think of the
man who owns our block. heard tho
folks down stairs say that he was awful
rich and do you know that thought I'd
find him, and tell him that mamma was
dying because we didn't have any wood or
anything to eat. | found out the street
where he lived, and think this is it. /
was trying to read the names on the doors,
and"
"What is his name ?u
"Adam Hartford"
The old man looked at the wan face, the
clear, truthful eyes, the sweet child mouth,
there was not shade of deception there,
so he turned to Katy and said:
"Leave us alone.O
"What do you want of Adam Hart
ford ?'
81 told you my mamma was sick, you
know"
"Yes, but he went care"
The great tears flashed into the blue
eyes.
"Oh, don't you think he will +? What
will do without mammal"
ssVVbara 10 x,o,,r Cotbor OIt