Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-11-02
MICHIGAN ROSE.
By FLORA MARCIAN.

Two little boys of the street picked
up a bunch Of Michigan roses defaced
bruised, trodden on, soiIed with dust.
stains. Some country girl had drop.
ped them from her bosom, for they
were from distance and not seen in
and OF the forists's shops. To the
children they were miracle o.
brightness, a revelation OF another
world, and they stood together on
the street as the crowd surged by
earnestly and intently examining the
cluster Of seven small pink roses and
q bud.
A girl passing by. and attracted by
the eager and interested look on the
children's faces. stopped to inquire
what they were talking about.
What is this? IL is q bunch OF
Michigan roses" said the girl with a
twinkle in her eyes; @and it grows
tall away up to the sky, and all the
bush is ike this cluster, pink, with
yards and yards of flowers"
Sweet Michiganl" said both boys
in the same breath, as the girl went
on her way; but from that day forth,
as the quest Of the Holy Grail posses
sed Sir Galahad. so the search after
sweet Michigan possessed these or
phan boys.
By great perseverance in sweeping
strset-erossings blaekins boots, sell
ing newspapers and many other
bleak little contrivances known only
to the children OF want and destitu-
ton, they got together enough money
to buy themselves each a white
straw sailor hat with blue ribbon and
little gilt picture of an. anchor on
one end OF the steamer and small
picture of of sailing ship on the
front. They bought cheap shoes and
linen clothes also, through anxiously
boarding and saving of pennies all
summer long.
They had picked up all the infor-
nation they could about Sweet
Michigan. asking the big newsboys
In what direction that country lay.
The children could not learn much,
but what the little newsboys told
them they remembered. -
Did you know" said one boot
black to another, "that Johnny and
Sammy are goin' to emigrate?"
mo; where they goin'?"
wall, they're goin' out west. where
roses grow, or suthin' o. that sort"
"Their heads are kinder cracked,
I think it's likely. And 'taint no
wonder, as / knows on. Last winter
was a hard un on bigger coves than
they be-"
"They was always clever creeturs,
and busy as the day was long"
"Yes, and the littlest newsboys on
the street"
They're a-goin' to start in the
mornin'; We must see 'em off Bill"
In the morning more than twenty
newsboys and sveepers and boot
blacks went down to the Erie to see
the boys start oa their journey.
"We must take a collection for
EN- Pass round the hat, boys"
NO. answered Jonnhy and Sammy;
I've are going to sweet Michigan and
shan't need any money. Keep it
yourselves"
IF you get there before L do, re-
member me; I'm coming, too," sang
Josh Bates.
I'VE will"
The boys got aboard a western
express; their friends waved their
hats and gave them q cheerful fare
well; the train was on; Johnny and
sammy had started on their new
lives.
Tickets, boys" said the conduc-
Tor.
Yes. sir" responded the children,
taking out a neatly folded brown pa
per from each vest pocket and hand
ing it to the agent The packages
contained exactly fifty cents apiece.
They were the remnants of the earn
ings OF Johnny and Sammy. There
were four or five cent pieces aud the
rest was in pennies. two and three
cent coins. The man looked down
into those sun burned, happy faces.
He read no story Of misgiving there,
but confidence and hope that was
pleasant to see.
where did you say you were 60