Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-08-02
Watching the Rose Bush.
From the Detroit Free Press.


Watching the Rose Bush.
From the Detroit Free Press,
Over the ruins of house, which was
half burned, on dreary, unuaved
street in the eastern part of the city,
rose-bush is slowly climbing. It is so
small yet that that the passer who
glances at the blackened beams and
rafters would not notice, it, but for
months it had no one to cut away the
rank grass, give it water, and help it in
it's struggles to hide the sad work of
fire. One day little lame girl discov-
cred the stunted bush, and her ewes
filled with JOY. A father buried beyond
the sea-a mother in Elmwood- she
lived in cottage near the rose-bush
with a queer Old couple whose hearts
felt kindly toward the orphan, but who
saw nothing in the rose-bush beyond
what they might have seen in weed.
It was early spring time when the
child found the bush, and she carried
it rich earth, lifted the poor twigs ten
der hands, and talked to i as if It were
a playmate. Rough boys soon discov-
cred why she visited the ruin, and at
first they were mind to pull up the
bush to see her weep over their work.
They remembered that she was lame,
and they went in and helped her move
the blackened timbers. Day by day the
lame girl watched the bush. When the
wind moaned loudly she trembled for
fear it would injure the bush, sand
when the raindrops fell she hoped they
would not strike the leaves too harshly.
No watcher was ever more vigilant,
faithful and patient. She told no one
her plans,
One morning week ago she found q
bud. Every day, for days and days,
she had peered among the leaves to see
if bud was forming; each day she had
been disappointed, and less brave and
hopeful heart would have despaired.
She smiled with JOY when she found the
bud, and she nestled in the grass beside
the bush and watched it. The bad
grew and swelled, and by and by it
opened a bit, and the lame girls heart
sang joyful song. Yesterday morn
ing, when she hurried down to see the
rose bush, the bud had blossomed, and
deep red rose smiled at her.
There was but one bud, only one
r1se,-it was natures reward for the
child's patient care and long watching.
She carefully plucked it, and that
morning people driving in Elmwood
saw lame child tenderly drop, q deep
red rose on "poor folks" grave, Nc
other ornament-no other flower. [!
sunk among the green grass and spark.
led and shown like star of night, and
when the tears Of the child fell upon il
its lustre was that of diamond Fol-
days, and weeks, and months she had
| tended the rosebud and watched over il
to secure flower for the grave without
mark or name-a grave so like the
thousand others that only love coulo
have told the child that mothers hear
was moldering there.
The Army and Navy of China.
The Chinese navy, says French
journal, consists of forty-fve ships OF
war, divided into three squadrons, sta
toned respectively at Canton, Foochow
and Shanghai. In the Canton squad
ron are two gunboats bought by the
Celestial Empire from Great Britain
An English captain named Traver also
commands one of the corvettes al
Foochow. Each of the divisions is
under the command of provincial
governor. The army consists of 1900,
600 men, stationed at various parts OF
the Empire over an area of 1,5OO,OO(
miles. The division under Genera
Tso-T sung- Tsang, the Viceroy Of Kan
sou and Chensi, which numbered not
long since 10000, has been reduced te
10000 by the constant vars with the
Mohamme dans of the Northwest, the
absence of sanitary and medical organ.
ization, and their horrible methods OF
transport. The division under Si-Hung.
Chang consists of 10000. Most OF
these carry breech loading rifles and
European side arms, and are highly
trained. These are the two best divi-
sions. Most of the forts are defended
by English, German and Am erican
cannon: Nothing" says Captain
Pryewalski, of the Russian army, "can
equal the moral degradation of the
Chinese troops. Officers and men be-
come complete beasts by the quantity
of opium which they inhale, sometimes
| falling down utterly helpless and in
sensible in the presence of the enemy.
When it rains it is necessary to threaten
them with death in order to drive them
from their tents, and often the Gen
eralin-Chief is compelled to execute
half a dozen of them before the rest
are aroused from their apathy. When
ever the army is ordered to tents for a
night, the officers and men scour the
immediate neighborhood and rop and
plumber to such a degree that the ar
rival of the military at any point is
regarded as disastrous as plague. In
fighting the troops form in q semi
circle, and attack simultaneously from
the front and TANKS, always discharg-
ing their rifles without taking deliberate
aim and often dance and sing during q
battle"
Self Condemned.
Two very peculiar marriages in low
life were performed the Otis day in