Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-08-30

Oh, I'll NEVER come back any more, ma'am!
st. Nicholas.
The Garden on the Shed.
MARGARET EYTINGE.
This is true story about two little
girls, one the daughter of a rich widow
and the other the only child of a poor
one.
They were both called Glory"
though their names were not alike, the
blue-eyed girl being Florence" and
the dark-eyed one Florida"
They first met at Mrs. McSoper's, the
washerwoman. Florence, coming one
day last May to Mrs. McSoperowho
lived in a couple of rooms just back Of
her husbands grocery-with a message
from her mamma, found to her great
surprise very pretty, delicate looking
girl sitting IN a low rocking-chair be-
side the ironing-table.
Having delivered her message and
given the McSoper baby a stick of pep
permlnt candy, Florence looked at the
stranger and the stranger looked ather,
each with smile, for they were both
pleasant things to look difference,
with her blue eyes and golden braids,
and Florida, with her soft dark eyes
and beautiful wavy brown hair.
So" You don't belong to Mrs. McSoper?"
at last said Florence.
''Oh, no" answered the other in q
sweet, low voice, I am Florida Ran
dolph. Mamma and I came from the
south last week, and we live up stairs
over the store" saa #sa Ja
!" And haven't you any friends
here?" asked blue eyes.
Not one," replied Florida. 1-
q How strange it must seem to you,"
said Florence. az am going to the
country soon, Or [ would ask you to
come and see me. But I'll be glad to
take you for walk some day before [
Co."
''shure," broke in Mrs. McSoper,
holding her iron up to her cheek to see
if it was hot enough, the "poor dear
can't walk much, Miss Florence. Shure,
shes lame, an that patient that do be
thinking the angels are wild her an her
asserting here a-telling me about the
purity garden she had at home, just as
is she was a-reading it out OF a book.
Faith, but that irons hot"
sob, I'm SO sorry for you, said Flor
ence, taking the girls hand-a tiny
hand it Was-and soon-for Florence
possessed the power of winning conf
dence-she knew all about the dear
home in the sunny south, the speckled
hens and the cunning chickens, and
dearest Of al, the beautiful garden.
Il shall miss it SO much +" said the
lame girl, the tears filling her dark
eyes. ':You can't think how. I loved
my flowers. / knew every leaf and
bud that grew for me. The window of
my room was shaded by lovely vines,
that nodded good morning to me as
soon as Enclosed my eyes, and whis-
pered good night as went to Sleep
| had no sisters and brothers, and but
few playmates; but the birds and bees
and butterflies were all my friends
You may think it silly, but pray to
God every night to give me garden
again" eaig ge-
"Shure, an it's meself wishes I could
steal a bit of the Central Park fur ye,"
said Mrs. McSoper.
"And don't think you silly at ALL
said Florence, shaking q funny little
face, as she added, "and here's poor
me with nothing to wish for but a pair
of bracelets /! But I must go; mamma
will wonder where am," and, kissing
Florida good-by, she almost flew home
in her impotence to tell mamma
about her new friend, the pretty lame
girl
''And, mamma" she said at last, with
sparkling eyes. 81 have thought of a
way to give her garden, If you will
help me-"
Mrs Dyckman smiled; she knew
what that meant-Florence would plan,
mamma execute.
"Well, darling, tell me your way"
You know, dear mamma, over Mr.
McSoper's store is a shed-a wooden
awning [ think it is called. Now, why
can't lutte fence be put around that
shed and the place inclosed be covered
with good, rich earth and planted with
flowers? We can spare the plants,
mamma, from our own Cumbersome
geraniums, verbenas, begonias, and a
rose-bush or two. Then Florida can
SOW seeds of whatever summer flowers
she wants, and she can have morning
glory and madeira vines climbing her
window and bidding her good night
and good morning as the vines used
to IN the little home she has left"
A very good idea," said Mrs. Dyck-
man, but to carry it out will cost
quite sum of money"
Yes, mamma, I've thought of that,
too" Florence went on eagerly, "and,
Oh | havn.t told you the funniest thing
yet. Florida and [ are exactly the
same age, both twelve on the list of
June. Isn't it strange ?'And, mamma,
We are alike in another thing-we have
both lost our dear papas," and for a
moment the bright face grew,sad. "But
about the money. The bracelets you
promised me on my birthday, l don't
want them now. They will pay for