Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-11-24
A Flower Charity.

v
enough to dazzle her eyes and burn her face,
she was out among the flowers, pulling up
the weeds, loosening the soil around the
roots, sprinkliug the more delicate plants
with her little watering pot and making the
tiny garden look as neat and pretty as posi-
BILE Ellen loved her flowers and that was
the reason they nourished so, her papa said.
suppose It was for love makes us bestow
the right kind Of care, and such care is al
ways rewarded with success.
The little girl that | am telling you about
was the daughter of a farmer in Rhode
Island The land is very poor in some parts
Of that little state, and Mr.. Manchester's
farm yielded very small income indeed
In some of the fields there were huge
masses of rock that made splendid play
houses for Ellen and her little sister but
these granite boulders were not as useful to
the farmer rs rich grass and sturdy corn
would have been. The children liked them,
however, and many an hour they spent
there, with their rag babies and bits Of
broken china, and acorn cups, that they pre-
tended to drink tea out of. But in all her
play Ellen had one steady purpose She
had a strong desire to study music, and was
determined to begin taking lessons Just as
soon as possible. Her father sympathized
in her wish, and did all he could to help her
but as | said, the crops were small and the
expenses many, and Ellen's music seemed a
long way off. This summer the child had
thought of n new plan. There were great
many summer boarders at the hotel in the
village, only mile from the farm, and the
| thought had suddenly come TO her that she
might cultivate flowers and sell little bou.
quets TO the ladies and gentlemen. so that
was the secret of the unusual display OF
| flowers in Farmer Manchester's garden. They
were doing remarkably WELL these dainty
summer blossoms, and Elleu's heart was full
Of hope. Like the milkmaid in the old
story, she had already begun to calculate hei
| gains so many roses, so many sprays OF
mignonette, so many bright-faced purple and
yellow pausies, would make so many bou
| quets. The little girl counted her stock on
her brown fingers, and planned how much
money it would all come to. She saw in
her Imagination the little roll Of bills that
would pay for her first term OF music les
sons, and one morning in her enthusiasm
she knelt by her prettiest rose bush, and
kissed the precious blossoms.
Fortune favored our little ilowergirl. Their,
were more boarders than ever before at tn,
Elmwood hotel and Ellen's sweet face anC
frank eyes were almost as attractive as hei
roses.
1t came to be the fashion TO buy bouquets
of the farmers little daughter, and it wa
very rare indeed that any of her flowers re
manned unsold As to carrying any home
again. that she never did. She had a BETTE
use for such odd bits of blossom as were ne
elected by the gentlemen and ladies. Their
was sick girl in the village, not far from
her own age, and she always carried her wha
was left of her pretty stock. Poor littl,
pale-faced Susie Allen lay all day on her bed
watching the blue shy through the open win
dow, and many were the lonely hours sh'
passed while her mother washed and ironeC
for the rich people at the hotel.
The happiest hour of the day for her wa
when Ellen came. Then her sad eyes bright
ened, and smiles came to her sweet, paten
lips. Ellen told her all that happened il
the busy outside world, read stories TO he
often, and the flowers made her happy frou
one visit to another The two girls talked
together about the success of the sales, abou
the future music lessons, and when Ellen ha,
made large profits she always confided he
Joy to Susie, and found a most sympathetic
listener
One day, when Ellen had sold all her flow
ers, TO the last sprig Of geranium, she wen
10 Susies as usual. She found the sick cir
with her mother. Both looked as if the,
had been weeping
Z" am glad you have come" said Mrs
Allen. Susie is clear discouraged. ~,
doctor says if she don't 60 away, she'll die
and that's all there is about it,"
The poor woman could hardly finish hel
sentence for tears, and the sobs came so fas
that she went out of the room to cry bl
herself in the hot kitchen.
"Mother takes it to heart dreadfully,
said Susie. But you see I'm all she's got
and it is hard to go and leave her. Poo
mother
But you sha'n't die" burst out Ellen
You've got to 60 away and get cured"
"low can | 2 We have no money, an,
maybe if could go it wouldn't cure me; onll
mother cant bear to give up any chance"
Ellen couldn't bear this kind of talk Sh,
went away in little while, thinking, witt
all the power of her earnest brain, about tn,
sad dilemma OF the Aliens.
" ! mean TO 90 and see the doctor, and tall
with him about Susie" she said to herself.
So she went straight to Dr. Browns office
and finding that gentleman in, she began;
Z" Do You think, Doctor, that Susie AlleI
can live if she goes away ?"
" Yes, dear; il she can leave the yicinit,
Of the seashore, | see nothing to hinder hel
getting we'll"
Wen, then, Doctor, she must 90 but
but they haven't any money" The girl hes
itatcd a minute, and bushed deeply ther
she added Would fifteen dollars do any
thing towards sending them ?"
4" Certainly; it would be quite help-a
great help, in fact, said the kind gentleman
4" But who has fifteen dollars for them?
Tell me all about it,"
Thus encouraged, Ellen poured into the
good doctors ear her plan OF selling flowers
to get money for music lessons.
:" have got fifteen dollars and III give
every cent to Susie, if it will do any good"
" 1t will do good, my child The tears
came to the doctors eyes as he spoke, and a
sudden resolution was formed in his gener.
GUS heart, Bring me the money tomorrow,
and III see what can be done right away"
Oh, will you, sir How kind you are
didn't think | should get any one to help
so soon. III bring the money tomorrow
it's all in nice new bills, and it's so pretty p
Poor Ellen Her voice faltered as She
thought Of her beautiful new money. But
she would not let the tears come. She hur.
ried off, and kept bright face till she was
! ~ hei httlo SdIueh tHcu sue sat down
among her flowers and had good, long crv.
The next day she carried her little roll Of
bills TO the doctor, as she had promised lie
took them without word he was getting
into his carriage to visit a sick woman, and
Ellen, as he drove away, felt very down.
hearted indeed. When would she ever yet
money enough again to pay for music She
was sure she never should--never in her
whole life.
week passed by. Ellen still carried her
flowers TO the hotel still visited Susie, who
| grew weaker and weaker in the hot weather.
AT last a golden day dawned for the two
little girls. Ellen was going along the street
slowly and sadly, when she heard her name
called 10y loud pleasant voice. She looked
up and saw the doctor in his door, opposite.
e" Come in here, my child" he said. 81
have good news for you"
Ellen ran across the street and went into
the doctors study, On the table lay great
pile of money The doctor pointed 70 it,
and said
That is all for Susie; you may take il
to her now, II you will"
shall not even try TO describe Ellsn's
surprise and joy. Twill only tell you that