The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-11-26
Tommy Green.


that Tommy was bad boy. Tommy
was not boy at all, but only an limo
cent dahlia bulb, whose brown jacket
endured wrongs.
Mabel and Queenie had little garden,
pretty heart-shaped bed, where Mabel
expressed her refined and delicate ma
ture in sea pinks, mignonette and VIC
lets; and Queenie her passionate love for
color in China asters, ragged sailors and
peoples:
Mabel gently objected to ragged sail
ors and peoples, but Queenie could not
resist the melting hues of brilliant
scarlet" "orange satin, Every tender
rose," and "silvery shaded blue" that
illuminated the price list.
"Just think of planting all those
lovely colors, Mabel" she said. 1T
will be like having rainbow on earth. !"
Mabel saw these sturdy ragamuffins
crowding her tender little plants to
death, with anything but patience, and
when Queenie brought Tommy Green"
home, and buried him in the center of
the heart, just beside her lady heliotrope,
that was too much. 1t was no use to
argue with Queenie. Willful Queenie
would have her own way. But that
night the stars winked very hard mt
little girl who, mysteriously enough,
opened Tommy's grave, and planted hum
on the other side of the walk.
81 guess / will have my way this
time" said the naughty girl, smoothing
the bed over, and setting up the head
board again, which said:
"ToMMY GREEN,
"VELvETY CARMINE."
Queenie wondered and wondered why
Tommy did not come up. One day, she
thought she would tickle him gently
with her trowel, just to hurry him up
little, when she found to her horror that
he was not there. Not even a shred of
his brown waistcoat could she find. 1t
was funny Had he walked OFF, She
was still more surprised to find Tommy
himself peeping mp on the other side of
the walk.
"Yes, / did," said Mabel, on being
asked if she had done it. CT won't have
Tommy Green in the bed. My lady
heliotrope could not grow up at all for
him."
After this life became lively for Tom
my. He wandered to and fro like an
Arab, never knowing in the morning
where he might pitch his tent at night,
until, as we have said before, he grew
sick of living.
"Tommy shall stay, here" said
Queenie, putting down her foot.
Tommy shall not stay here, said
Mabel, decidedly.
"You are the provokingest girl" cried
Queenie, passionately. "My Tommy
has just as good a right here as your
lady helitrope."
"But, Queenie, you know my lady
heliotrope was here first.
"Well, think it's pity we couldn't
have had heart apiece, for you always
want to have your own way"
"Oh, Queenie !" said Mabel, reproach-
fully, "you know you must always have
your own way. But / don't like Tommy
Green"
There was silence for awhile. Then,
suddenly, bright thought occurred to
Mabel: Let us ask Jack"
81 won't" said Queenie, working
away spitefully at the weeds. "He
called me Peggy this morning. If L was
boy I'd thrash him. But paid him
back. I found his jacket hanging on
our fence, and [ stuffed the sleeves just
full of burrs ~
"Queenie cried Mabel, dropping
her hoe, while they both laughed till the
tears ran down their cheeks.
Suddenly their merriment was echoed
H., 90 s,, kla +v..
above them, and, to their amazement,
Jacks round, roguish face looked down
from the clustering boughs.
you're Tartar Queen" said he,
shaking bis head at Queenie. 81 was
going to say Tommy Green is the right
man in the right place, but you won't
catch me saying it now. know boy
that's got hatful of thimble- berries, too.
Hold your apron, Nab. I'm afraid to
come down. Peggy-Queen Margaret,
1 mean--might thrash me-"
"Come down, you ridiculous boy, or
I'll shake you down." cried Queenie; and
arms, and Jack pretended to be very glad
to drop speedily down.
Mabel, thoughtful little gardener, had
brought some seed-cakes in her pocket,
in case they should be hungry; so now
they had rare feast under the pear
tree.
eff Tommy Green must CO." said
Queenie, 81 would rather move him my
SELF" She lifted his dropping head ten
derby, as she added, softly, 81 think he
will die this time"
"Well," said Nab, with cheerful res
ignation, we will have some peace then. 4"
Looking mp, she saw Queenie's lips quiv-
ering. Never mind, dearie," a pang
of remorse touched Mab's heart. "Let
Tommy stay and, clasping hands, the
two girls went out of the garden.
Tommy took courage after this, lifted
up his head, put forth new roots, and
fiourished bravely. But the girls did
not visit their garden again for many
days. The winds whispered that Mabel
was sick, and one dreary evening, when
the wind was wailing mournfully through
the trees, and the little birds went to
sleep in their nests without candles, be-
cause the black clouds had put out the
stars, when the wet leaves hung heavily
IN the lonesome garden, and all the
fiower-cups were full of tears. Queenie
1 IL. n