River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-12-25
THE CHRISTMAS ROSE.
BY HEspERus.

The short winter day was fast draw.
ing TO close,~the rays OF sunshine
faded in the plling sly, the grey
clouds darkeRed down till the diamond
sentnels Of heaven twinkled above in
the frosty sky; down below the warm
radiance of the gas.li' windows flashed
forth on the snowy streets. Oh, how
cold it was The men at the peanut
stands swung their arms with all their
might, spread their hands over their
little stoves, stamped their feet on the
pavement, and could scarcely make
change when customer wanted pen.
mics. Jack Frost was king, and had
bound the world in letters Of ice.
Everybody who was abroad buried their
chins in their warm fuIs and hurried
home, laden with gifts for their loved
ones, as fast as ever they could 60.
They glanced in at the glistening
windows, latticed with network Of
wire, and then sped along, for it was
700 cold to wait and look at all the
pretty things displayed behind the
transparent barrier. The biting wind
whistled round the corners, whirled the
fresh fallen snow.cry stalls in circling
wreaths, and went through and through
the thin, scanty garments of poor little
Sally as she stood shivering before Tiff.
lany's big store. Nobody had time to
buy her flowers, her tiny, dirty hands
could scarcely hold her basket, and the
tear drops that rolled out from her
bright blue eyes concealed as they ran
down her thin cheeks. She watched
the people as they came out with smi-
ing faces, laden with Christmas gifts,
and remembered the time gone past
when she hung her stocking in the old
homestead for Santa Claus TO fill, and
woke up to find it stuffed with goodies
and candies and dolls and toys.
Sally had not always sold flowers in
the streets Of New York. There had
been happy time when she lived away
in the country with papa and mamma,
when she picked flowers and woye
chains and garlands out Of them; but
somehow things had not gone right,
and then she had come to the great city,
and papa had gone away, and mamma
had cried great deal and waited long
time for him to come back, but he had
never come. Then mamma took sick
and had gone to the hospital, and the
old woman with whom Sally lived sent
her out with the other girls to sell flow.
ers. Sally did not like the old woman.
She was not bold-faced and impudent
like many Of her companions, and
she brought her basket back with
many bouquets left, and then
the old woman scolded her and Sent her
to bed supperless. To-day flowers were
very dear, and she had sold none. What
would she dot She had been down to
the hospital that morning to ask how
her mother was, and the gruff porter
had talked very kindly to her, his voice
was husky when he told her to come
right early on Christmas Day and she
should spend all day with her mother.
Hr had called her back as she battered
away, and given her ten cent stamp,
and muttered something and then told
her to come right early. Yes, she
would not 60 back to Greenwich street
tonight, she would 60 down to the gate,
and be there as soon as ever he opened
it in the morning.
She ran along until she was all out of
breath, and when she got to the corner
of the red walls, waited for an instant.
Suddenly a strange faintness come over
her and she sank down on drift of
snow gathered in the corner. 1t felt
soft and nice and she rested there, and
when she had lain there few instants
she thought she would not like to move;
no, she would stay there, she was so
sleepy, and it would be SO good if she
only had some supper. What could
she get She had no money, she had
spent all in flowers, for
they were very dear that day,
and she had sold none. She took
bunch of lilies and violets up in her
slender fingers and smelt at 1t. then
it touched her lips and in an instant
the pearly teeth bit one Of the leaves.
How good it tasted and what was still
more wonderful, as she munched it up
the gas lamps vanished, the cold night
air ceased TO nip, and the whole scene
changed to the brook that ran pact the
foot Of the garden in her old home.
Yes, she could see the bank Of blue be.
low where the old stump stood-there
was the gnarled root, and there white
lilies nodded over the ripping water.
She crammed the last lilly into her
mouth. and stretched out her hand to
gather more, but the vision faded, and
she found herself all alone in the cruel,
ditiess night.
She caught up camelia, and as she
crushed the waXen petals to shape.
less pulp, she heard the piano playing
as il did when she gave a party last
Christmas. The room was full Of all
her companions, and there she could
see where supper was laid in the dining
room. She dropped the camellia to
hurry in, but her hand only met the
cold rough wall.
But what was this flowerl Where did
it come front All! yes; that must be
the ugly big bud that the man had
thrown TO her when she paid him. Now
it was no ugly bud, bat beautiful full
blown blossom. with broad, smooth
leaves glowing like Furnished gold; as
he gazed at II an ineffable perfume ex.