Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-12-22
MIscELLANEo
TIE CHRISTMAS FLOWER.
[Erom Peterson,s Macnzine

LFrom Peterson's Magazine
~ was late in the afternoon before Christ
q mas, bright, frosty day, and Lucy G raf
ton, taking her usual brisk walk, was attracted
by little girl, who stood wistfully regarding
some hot-hOuse flowers in florists window
The child was neatly, but poorly clad Her
hands were clasped, her lips half parted in
admiration, her eyes riveted on supurb cloth
of gold rose.
"Was anything ever so beautifully" Lucy
heard her say, under her breath.
"Would you like it, my dear?" asked
Lucy; for though rich, beautiful, and flatter>
ed, prosperity had not spoiled our heroine {:
she still had heart.
oh, SO much ~ replied the child, looking
round to the speaker, and 6udug assurance
in the soft, kind eyes. But, it was not of
myself was thinking" she added, with
blush, ''it was of my brother. he is hump.
backed, you know, and sick in bed, and, oh
he loves flowers So"
The earnestness of the girl brought the
moisture to Lucy's eyes. "Wait my dear"
she cried /; and going in, she bought the rose
'Give that 20 your brother as a Christmas
gift, " she said land now tell me where YOU
live; to morrow Ilf come and see you; and
perhaps" with smile, "I'lI bring more aow>
ers"
''Oh g.! thank you so much" And then
she told Lucy where to come and as our
heroine, with nod and another of her sweet
smiles, passed on. tho child looking after her
ns it she had seen an angel.
Hugh Wi!loughby had been, unnoticed, a
spectator of this scene.
Who can she be 2" he said to himself,
watching the graceful figure going down tho
street "l've been in Europe so long that
l. I,,k e.,
ask her where she and her brother lives.
NAV he able to help them"
He sincerely meant to help them, hut in
his secret heart there lurked a hope that he
might. sometime. meet this sweet almoner at
the bedside of the dcformcd boy
Meantime the girl hurried homeward, and
bursting into the attic, where the poor invalid
lay, held np her rose in exultation.
Oh, May cried her brother, feeblv,
where did you get it Such a beauty. Do
let me touch it,
at is yours. all yours, Harry And a
beautiful lady gave it to me. and said she
would come to see you, to>m0rrow." And
then she told the whole starry, breathIess with
enthusiasm.
Harry took the rose in his thin. wasted
hands. 81 thought It was only in heaven
that such flowers could grow" he said
ooh maybe the beautiful lady was one of
Gods angels. They used to come on earth,
in the Bible tines; and why not now? ? Per.
haps lie sent her to let me know how bright
it was up there, with trees, and grass and
living waters. and no night no pain, no hun.
ger Often, when my back hurts me, ]. won.
der if G God thinks it wicked, that want to 20
to Him ? I'll not be hump backed in heaven
will I, mother 2"
Christmas morning broke bright and beau,
tiful. The church bells rang out their glad
chimes Happy people, in hundreds, went
trOopiDg up the street But Harry, in his
narrow attic, was racked Wit pain. A. great
change had come over his flee: It had 5a
pinched = gray look and lis sister glanced
anxiousf first at it and llei II her lndditt
The pe6s iittte il0F kfa to sFe ffia Z q
which HI. beea plit 8 etl tuIi