Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-11-11
MICHIGAN ROSE.

Two little boys of the street picked up
a bunch of Michigan roses, jefaced,
bruised, trodden on, soiled with dust
stains. Some country girl had dropped
them from her bosom, for they werd
from distance and not seen in any Of
the florists shops. To the children they
we're miracle of brightness, revela-
tion of another world, and they stood
together on the street as the crowd
surged by, earnestly and intently ex.
amining the cluster Of seven small pink
roses and 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 thisa 1t is a 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 like this cluster, pink, with
yards aud yards of flowers"
"Sweet Michigan |" said both boys in
the samo breath, as the girl went on
her way but from that day forth the
search after Michigan possessed these
orphan boys.
street corners, blacking boots, selling
newspapers, and many Other bleak lit
tic contrivances known only TO the
children of want and destitution, they
got together enough money to buy
themselves each white straw sailor hat
with blue ribbon and little gilt picture
of an anchor on one of the streamer and
a small picture of sailing ship on the
front. They bought cheap shoes and
linen clothes also, through anxiously
boarding and saving of pennies all sum.
mer long.
They had picked up all the informa-
tion they could about "Sweet Michi-
gan," 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 bootblack
to another, "that Johnny and Sammy
arc going to immigrate9"
"No; where they goin'9"
"Wall, they're goin' out West, where
roses grow, or suthin' O. that sort"
"Their heads are kinder cracked, l
think it's likely. And faint no won
der, as knows on. Last winter was a
hard I'M 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 morn
in; we must zee 'em off, Bill"
In the morning more than twenty
newsboys and sweepers and bootblacks
went to see the boys start on their jour
ney.
1--WE must take collection for 'em.
Pass round the hat, boys"
"No," answered johnny and Sammy;
"we are going to sweet Michigan and
sha'n't need any money. Keep it your
selves"
eff you get there before I do, remem-
Der me; I'm coming, too," sang out
Josh Bates.
eve will"
The boys got aboard Western ex-
press; their friends waved their hats and
gave them cheerful farewell; the train
was off; Johnny and Sammy had started
on their new lives.
"Tickets, boys" said the conductor.
4" Yes, SIR responded the children,
taking out neatly folded brown paper
from each vest pocket and handing it to
the agent. The packages contained ex-
actly fifty cents apiece. They we're the
remnants of the earnings of Johnny and
Sammy. There were four five cent
pieces and the rest was in pennies, two
and hree cent coins. The man looked
down into those sunburned, 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
ing?"
"Sweet Michigan, lisped the babies
together.
is this all the money you have9"
eyes, SIR"
"Put it back in your pockets. You
are running away, aren't yous"
"Yes, SIR"
81 shall have to send you home"
"We're a-goin' home, sir"
"Where are your father and mo-
ther?"
"Both dead, SIR"
Then the boys told the conductor the
story of the rose, and the desire to 60
into the country of that sweet flower; Of
the hats, shoes, linen clothes and lastly
of the money saved so anxiously and
carefully. "And you had better take
it, sir. for we sha'n't need it where we're
a-goin'."
The loneliness, innocence and youth
OF the boys touched the heart of the