Middletown transcript., 1875-12-25
Select Storp.
THE CHRISTMAS FLOWER.
BY NARY v. SPENCER.

4 IL was iotc ~ tue oisSiu oeOs
Christmas, bright. frosty day. an
Lucy Grafton, taking her usual bris
walk, was attracted BY little girl. VIII
stood wistfully regarding some hot
house flowers in florists window
The child was neatly. but poorly clad
Her hands were clasped. her lips hal
parted in admiration, her eyes rivetet
on a superb cloth Of gold rose. "
"Was anything ever SO beautiful Z
Lucy heard her say, under her breath
Would you, like it, my dear ?" ask
ed Lucy; for though rich, beau iful
and battered, prosperity had not spoil
ed our heroine !; she still had heart
.Ob, SO much!' replied the child
looking round to the speaker, and find
ing assurance in, the soft, kind eyes,
but, it was not Of myself | was think.
ing," she added. with a blush, ut was
Of my brother. He is hump backed
you know, and sick in bed, and. oh
he loves flowers SO "A
/ 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 to
your brother as Cbristmas-gift," she
said ; land now tell me where you
live tomorrow I'll come ana see you
and perhaps" with smile. "1'll bring
more flowers"
sob! thank .you SO much" And
then she told Lucy where to come; and
as our heroine, with a nod and another
Of her sweet smiles, passed on. the
child looked after her as If she had seen
an angel. y ea
Hugh Willoughby had been, pnno-
ticed. . spectator Of this scene.
"Who can she be?'' be said TO him
self. watching the graceful figure going
down sbe Street, .pse benin Europe
SO long that know nobody. But Ill
follow the child, and ask her where she
and her brother lives I may be able
= r q L. -. T.
to help them" isiEt9 !t}
He sincerely meant to help them. but
in his secret heart there lurked hope
that he might, sometime. meet this
sweet almoner at the bedside of the de-
formed boy.
Meantime the girl hurried bomeward,
and bursting into the attic, where the
poor invalid lay, held up her rose in
exultation.
"Oh. May e cried her brother feeb-'
y, where did you get ita Such .
beauty. Do let me touch it p
1T il yours, all yours. Harry And
a beautiful lady gave it to me. and said
she would come to see you, tomorrow.
And then she told the whole story,
breatbless with enthusiasm
Harry took the rose in his thin.
wasted hands. II thought it was only
ID heaven that such flowers could
grow" be asid. "Oh! maybe the
lady was one Of Gods angels.
They used to come on earth. in the
Bible times; aud why not now7s Per-
haps He 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 hunger. Often. when my
back hurts me. wonder if God thinks
it wicked, that want to 60 to Him?
Til not be hump-backed in heaven
will I, mother r. 1qFrs g
Christmas morning broke bright and
beautiful. The church bells rang out
their glad chimes. Happy people. in
hundreds, went trooping up the street.
But, Harry, in bis narrow attic, was
racked with pain. A great change had
come over his face; it had pinched.
gray look; and his sister glanced anx-
ously, 6rst att. and then al tlher moth
sr. The poor little fellow asked to
have the rose, which had been put in a
broken tumbler, With some water.
placed beside him. 1T is beginning |
o fade, but / don't seem to suffer so
much. when can see it, be said. And
,e murmured. as if to himself, "We
II do fade as the leaf"
His mother was vainly struggling to
;eep back her tears. when there was
mock at the door, and Lucy appeared,
ringing . whole handful Of the lowell
ct hot house flowers.
ss0h how hasu<:f.x1i hn. nantsfr1 ~