Litchfield enquirer., 1876-09-07
MICHIGAN ROSE.


 s4 ssssrss rt fe. ------r - -. T<st Two little boys of the street picked up a bunch of Michigan roses. defaced. bruised, trodden on, and soiled with dust stains. Some country girl had1dropped them from her hair or bosom, for they were from a distanc6 and not seen in any of the florists shops. To the children they were miracle of brightness, reve- siatiou from another world and they stood together on the street as the crowd surg ed by, earnestly and intently examining the cluster of seven small pink roses and a bud. iei aEa11 aa5 sH F841 s+o,t < A girl passing by and attracted by the eager and interested look on the child ren's faces, stopped.t inquire what they were talking about. sf rs .h 4sWhat is this ?'' It Is bunch of Mich igan roses. said the girl, witha twinkle infher eyes land it grows tall, away up to the sky, and all the bush is like this cluster pink, with yards and yards of How ers" fsIG fsa@fl I9 s,ftEai fst Ffi'.Sweet Michigan, ]. said both boys in the same breath.i as gthe girl went on her wiay;ab but from that day forth, ,sas the quest fo. the Holy Grail possessed Sir Galahad, 1, so the search after Sweet Michig gan pos ss- sed these orphan boys. ST. $ .4t.f i,a zr By great perseverance, in sweeping street crossings, blacking boots. selling newspa- pers. and many other bleak little contri- vances known only ito the ehildrenlo of want and destitution, they got together enough money to buy themselves each white straw sailor hat, with blue ribbon and 8 little gilt picture of an anchor on one end and small picture of @ sailing ship on the front. They bought cheap shoes and linen clothes also. through anxious hoard ing and saving of pennies all summer long. sl s3#s ra= E.4.ts H.srz. ...-,s.,,
 They had picked up all the information that they could concerning Sweet Mich igan, asking big newsboys in what direc- tion that happy country lay. ''Oh, out over the Erie. aaE 1..s....rs. ....~
 Delaware and Lackawanna IS just as as good" responded another ,.-5
 Central with Lake Shore is best of all, shouted a third |. ss s...sf.,a .,....
 The children could not learn much, but what little the newsboys told them they remembered. ..c "Did you know" said one bootblack to another, ''that Johnny and Sammy are goin to emigrate ?'' ...,......... s', r...,
 ''No where they goin.
 "Wall, they're goin out west, where roses grow, or suthin of that sort"
 ''Their heads are kinder cracked, I think it's likely. And 'taint no wonder as knows on. Last winter was hard un on bigger coves than they be-" ..5..
 'They was always clever creetprs and clever as the day is long, .s = ....-
 'Yes; and the littlest newsboys on the street."
 ''They're agoin to start in the mornin. we must see 'em of, Bill" s....,,
 In the morning more than twenty news boys and sweepers and bootblacks went down to Erie to see the boys start on their journey. .
 We must take collection for them. Pass round the hat, boys,"
 ''No," answered Johnny and Sammy: ''we are goin to sweet Michigan and sha'nt need any money. Keep it your selves."
 ''If you get there before do remember me I'm coming too. sung Josh Bates.
 i've will.'s
 The boys got aboard western express; their friends waved their hats and gave them cheerful farewell the train was of. Johnny and Sammy had started on taeis new lives. a.---.z--E.
 Tickets, boys; ;" said the Conductor.
 'Yes sir;' responded the children, ta- king out neatly folded brown paper from each vest pocket and handing it to the agent. The packages contained ex- actly fifty cents apeice. They were the remnants of the earnings of Johnny and Sammy. There were four five cent pie ces, the rest were in pennies, two and three 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 yon were going ?"
 Sweet Michigan" lisped the babies to gether.
 "Is this all the money you have?
 ''Yes sir
 ''Put it back in your pockets. You are running away, aren't you? ,...
 ''Yes, sir.''
 ''I shall have to end you home. "We're agoin home. sir"
 Where are your father and mother?'
 Both dead sir .... --- .-,.s
 Then the boys told the conductor the story of the rose, and their desire to go the country of that sweet flower of the summers toil accomplished in this hope : of the hats, shoe, and linen clothes, and lastly, of the money saved so anxlously and carefully, "And you had better take it we sha'nt need it, where we're agoin." The loneliness, innocence, and youth, of the boys touched the heart of the agent.
 - "How do I know but Gods calling them there." said he to himself. ''I am not agoing to do anything contrary to fa G. he took two tickets and wrote on them:
 ''Erie-pass these boys along to Sweet Michigan, and ask Lake Shore to do the same. eo- fa s.r SAM. z..
 So Johnny and Sammy were passed over the route. and their story was borne along with them. Travellers gave them food from their baskets. At night a old woman folded shawls to put under their heads, covered them up, and made them go to sleep in seats near her own. Sammy and Johnny really had a glimpse of Paradise as they steamed along the Erie that, day. An old farmer and his wife sat in the seat in front of the boys There was a small book rack with one book in it between the two seats. The children had wanted to take it all day and look at it, but they would not, for they were afraid their kind friend, the conductor, would not like to have them and would think they were meddlesume So long toward night Johnny and Sammy touched. the old farmers coat sleeve. .
 s'Wall, lads" said the farmer, kindly. "what do you want?" .45eb 2a f9s'Wil1 yon please tell us what that is?'' E "Why. good Lord, boys. that's Bible: didn't yOu know what if wasp"
 ''No, sir.
 Cant you read?:" ...... ., f''No sir"qs z1,. "a. sasz
 '.'Now. Mar;er, I call that a shame after all the school tax pay that them aie two babies cant read Shall read some thing to you out of it?" ...
 ssYos air if un1 rnloaSa ,, L----.