The Placer herald., 1874-12-26
MEG's CENTURY PLANT.
BY Il. B. CALLAwAY.

Meg Mcsreggor vas merry hearted Ii
lie Scotch girl, with bright brown h.ir rosy
frrckled cheeks, and great dark >eyes Iha'
could hlaze with anger or melt WIN tender
rst feeling. One sunny autumn day she
was walking along The street very rapidly
carving n her arms box with large
Siiif plan, in it. She was going so fast and
hcr eyes were so rimiuI of tears that she
ran rlpht against a neighLor, MIR. Russell
before she saw him at All.
This g ,oa heavy for yon. Meg said
he kind old gentleman. lifting it out Of her
arms and taking lef hand III his. "Now
What are those tears for. little girl ?"
"Oh, noiIins!' said Mig, hastily wipin j..
her eyes on her apro; then, as they fell on
her patched irock and shoes, the tears
-lrcamed down aIresh.
''But it must be something to make sucl
blythe little girl as Meg cry on such II
bright, CHEEKY day as ,his."
''li's just because" said Meg, talking
very fast 10 choke down the sobs, 81 did
want so much to go to school, and Mrs
Pierce promised il would take care Of her
flowers Ibis Summer she would pay me vel
nd grandma said ma, he could get new
dress aud shoes, and then l could go to
-choo and learn something. and be some
oody-" Here Meg'p voice grew toked
'W Well!' said Mr. Rus sell, looking down
t hpr passonaiely.
"All-sl,e gave me--was this old pl,nt, ="
-obbed The little girl She was almost heart
broken.
Mr.. Russell could not trust himself to
.pe"k for While, 20 he just pressed her lii
lie hand in his to express his sympathy.
At Last lie said:
IL would rather lie You than she, Meg
Perhaps things will turn out better than you
hink. D,n't cry, my child. If you will
learn your lessons every day will hea
you reci;e them.
'.Oh, thank you! Why that will be as
going to school. cried Meg, her whole face
lighting up.
This century plant" continued Mr.. Rus
sell, ''s very curious, but | suppose Mrs
Ph rec thought it wonld never do her an,
GOOD, AS it only blooms once III u hundred
years.
"Once in hundred years!" exclaimed
Meg. mentally reckoning up how ola sh.
would be when it blooined. "WI,cre does
I grOwY
'ln al the tropical countries Of America
1t loves 8 mdy plains Al d often Blooms il,
zen Years there lle fower-steus are used
% Il,atch houses and lhe iilres OF the leaves
are made into thread and cordage. The,
nave carried i, 10 the Southern countries o
kurope, TOO, and | have seen it blooming
very beautifully there. IN Spain it is 50
abundant that they use it for fences"
~ am so glad you told me all about it. :"
said Meg. n- they reached her house. Per
bals | shah like il better now.
O.d Mira. McGreggor was almost as macl
d-apr iltcd her granddaughter nj firrl,
"ul sne VAS very tond OF house-plants, s"
she said:
"W eel, dinna. greet lassie; max the bes'
o. it,"
''lts canty lookin' plant" she added,
incl,lng one OF the large thick leaves
."le dn,m 4rirr. Meg. whether 1t bloo'i.'
nee year or ol.rner?"
"On, Grandma, said Meg, "it'sa cen'
"a cent" and she could not get amy fur
III r :or lang ing.
"A scent plant" unused the old lady,
prickms her ,mse on the sh,rp ihor"s, -
Gamma say ns it haze over much fragrance
" ty, Meg gr'-!or that child WAS ho'd'ng Oh
% tie hack OF her chair and laughing until
,lIe tears rolIei down her cheeks. !.
''hs century plant. grandma. g"sprd
Meg, " hen size could catch hrr hr ','h; "Id
she related 10 her u,olLer all that Mr.. Rus
cell had told her. s