Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-16

white face, and laid the rose-wreath over
! her fair hair
1 am so sorry for youI" was all she
could find to say, but it was quite
enough; and then she sat down and
| heard from poor Mrs. May the sad, oft
repeated tale of the sudden illness and its
fatal ending.
Miss Marchant's name was beloved at
the farm from that sad evening.
The time Of roses was drawing to q
close when Mr.. Hunt and Miss Marchant
next met in her pretty garden.
You must exhibit at 3IilIfield flower
show next Saturday. said Mr.. Hunt,
/ pausing by a standard rose. This bud
/ will be perfect then, judging by the open
( flower near"
That bud will be a gem" said Clara,
4 decidedly; but it shall not 90 to that
dirty, smoky Millfield; | have promised
it to young Lawrence; it is the new ross
/ you know, and he was r0se-fancieT in
his day, poor fellow"
Can't you make it answer both pur-
/ pOses:n said Mr.. Hunt Send it to the
I show, where it will certainly take the
/ first prize, and then give it him"
1 Il must ask his leave" said Clara.
/ But why should patronize the Millfeld
! show?"
Because 1t is your duty" said Mr.
Hunt; you are one of the great folks
round, and you should encourage the
/ Millfield folk in such wholesome recre-
alton as gardening"
Are you going?" asked Clara.
Certainly! | shall drive my wife
over"
Then letme take some of your children
with me-"
No, thank you; children worry you,
said Mr.. Hunt, laughing. Il am too
! proud to let mine be in your way"
Nonsense r' said Clara, blushing
| good children don't worry me-"
" You shall have Mrs. Hunt and Laura
! then, the two well-behaved ones" said
Mr.. Hunt; and l will take my riotous
! boys"
So Miss Marchant went to the Mill
/ field show and won the first rose prize,
| and came home full of resolve to stir
up the Barton people to rival Millfield
next year. Her roses were certainly
| drawing her nearer to her neighbOrs, and
| daily involving a visit to one or another.
Poor young Lawrence had the prize
rose in 4 glass in his bedroom for many
a day after the show; he liked it all the
better that it had been to smoky Mill
field, where his best days were passed.
The last rose of the year, sickly-
looking bud, was gathered by Clara and
placed in his dead hand as he lay at last
free from suffering in the cottage room.
q" | shall bless you all my life" said the
poor, weary mother. IF ever any one
sOOthed dying mans path to the grave,
you did"
With little Mary May and Oliver Law
renee in the churchyard, Miss Marchant
felt she had an interest there Mr.. Hunt
was willing to assist her in her plan of
making it the garden of the village, and
many a one came to her to ask her advice
how to make the last home of wife or
child, parent or friend, more beautiful.
And not by her flowers only did Clara
Marchant win her way to the hearts of
her poor neighbOrs; she had kind words
for all. Barton was no longer dull, and
she had made the discovery that there
was more than smoke in Millfeld
From the mill-people she came to know
the millOWners, and a certain pleasant
Mr.. Thornbury, of large possessions in
the place, was lucky enough to attract
the interest Of Miss Marchant In the
ensuing summer he often wore one of her
rOsebuds in his button-hole, and before
winter Miss Marchant became Mrs
Thornbury. She was to live at Barton
still, however; her father needed her and
her poor people could not spare her, even
if she could leave her roses.