The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1873-06-11
THE TEA ROSE.

There it stood, in its little green vase,
on n light ebony stand, in the window
of the drawing room. The rich satin
curtains, with their costly fringes, swept
down on either side of it, and around
it glittered every rare and fanciful trife
which wealth can offer to luxury, and
yet that simple rose was the fairest of
them all. So pure il looked, it's white
leaves just touched with that delicious,
creamy tint peculiar to its kind it's cup
so full, so perfect; its head bending Us
if it were sinking and melting away in
its own richness-oh! when did ever
man make anything to equal the living
perfect flowerl
But the sunlight that streamed
through the window revealed something
fairer than the rose--a young lady re-
clining on IN ottoman, who. was thus
addressed by her livelier cousin. "I
say, cousin, have been thinking what
you are to do with your pet rose whom
you go to New York, as to our conster-
nation you are determined to do; you
know it would be sad pity to leave it
with such a scatter-brain rs am. I
love flowers indeed that is, I like u
regular bouquet, cut off and tied up, to
carry to party; but as to all this tend
ing and fussing, which is needful to keep
them growing, have no gifts in that
line"
"Make yourself easyas to that, Kate, !"
said Florence with a smile; Il have no
intention Of calling upon your talents /;
j have On asylum in view for my favor
ite,
"Oh, then you know just what wns
going to say. Mrs. Marshall, pre-
sumo has been spea&ing to you /; she
was here yesterday, and was quite pa
thetic upon the subject, telling her the
loss your favorite would sustain, and so
forth; and she said how delighted she
would be to have it in her greenhouse,
il is in such a fine state now, SO full Of
buds. / told her l knew you would
like to give it to her, you are 50 fond Of
Mrs. Marshall, you know"
CHOW, Kate, L am sorry, but I have
otherwise engaged il"
"Who can it be? you have SO few in-
Inmates here"
".Oh, tits only one of my odd fam
cies." .
a''But do tell me, Florence"
"Well, cousin, you know the little
pale girl to whom we give sewing2}
"What2 little Mary Stephens? How
absurd, Florence This is just another
Of your motherly, old-maidish ways,
dressing dolls for poor children, max
ing bonnets and knitting socks for ali
the little dirty babies in the neighbor-
hood. I do believe you have made
more calls in those two vile, ill-smelling
alleys behind our house, than ever You
have in Chestnut street, though you
know everybody is half dying to see
Won and now, to crown all, You must
give this choice little biiou to seam.
stress-gid, when one of your most init.
mate friends, in your own class, would
value il 50 highly. What in the world
can people in their circumstances want
with fowers?"
"Just the same as do, . replied Flor
ence, calmly. d" Have you not noticed
4 that little girl never comes here without
looking wistfully at the opening buds
And don't you remember, the othel
morning she asked me so prettily if
would let her neither come and see it,
she was so fond Of fowers?"
"But, Florence, only think of this
rare flower standing on q table with
ham, eggs, cheese, and -four, and stifed
in that close little room where Mrs,
Stephens and her daughter manage tc
wash, iron, and cook. "
"Well, Kate, and if were obliged
to live in ono coarse room, and wash
and iron, and cook, as You say if I has
to spend every moment of my time il
toll, with no prospect from my window
but brick wall and dirty lane, such I
flower as this would be untold enjoy
ment to me.
"Pshaw, Florence: all sentiment
Poor peo,lle have no time to be senti
mental. Besides, don't believe II vii
grow with them; it is greenhouse
flower, and used to delicate living.
"Oh, as to that, a flower never IN
auires whether its owner isrich or poor
and Mrs. Stephens, whatever. else sh
has not, has sunshine Of as good qualit'
as this that streams through our win
dow. The beautiful things that Co
makes are his gifts to all alike. Yol
will see that my fair rose will be as wei
and cheerful in Mrs. Stephens room
IN ours"
'tWell, after all, how odd WlieI
one gives to poor people, one wants
give something useful--a bushel o. pe
tatoes. ham, and such things.
"Why certainly, potatoes and han
must be. supplied; but having miAiste'