The daily gazette., 1879-04-29
BUTFORT9IS
BY MINNIE HOLBROOK.

"Millicent, ,Millicent, where is supper?"
"God only knows, child"
"Perhaps I'd better pray for some
then," said little Jane Blair s0lemnly.
"Really think you had," said Milli-
cent, in soft tone.
There she sat, stirring into the little
fire OH which their last atom of wood
was burning, and seeing in the red ashes
into which the light wood dropped so
quickly, pictures Of the past. They had
never been rich people, but always COM
Portable.
Her father was a sea-faring man-first
mate of an ocean vessel-and her mo-
ther tidy housewife, who made every
thing bright and cosy. How he use to
sit telling his adventures to them when
he was at home.
He would not have been a sailor had
there not been sea-serpents and mer-
maids in them, but nothing was too
wonderful for those loving folk at home
to credit; and indeed he probably believ-
ed them himself.
The rooms had been pretty with shells
and coral branches, and bright parrots in
swinging cages and pictures of ships up
on the wall.
1t had been so different from this
wretched place in which the two girls
now lived.
But that was not all the love was
gone, the tender care that parents have
for their children.
The mother lay in her green grave in
far-of cemetery; and who can point
| the place of slipwrecked sailors grave?
She remembered so well how he sailed
| away that last time-how they looked
| after him, her mother and herself--how
they waited for news, and waited in vain
until at last there came to them sailor,
saved from the wreck of the "Flying
| Scud," who told how she went down in
mid-seas at the dead of night, ablaZe
from one end to the other; and how
Roger Blair, the first mate, was among
| the missing.
After that, poverty and sorrow; de-
parture from the dear old home toll in a
strange city, sickness, friendlessness, and,
crowning woe of all, the mothers death.
| The girl had done her best for her lit
tie sister ever since, but she was not a
very skillful necdlewoman, and could
not earn rs much as some others; and
now work had given out altogether, and
she, pretty and sweet and good, and
helpful in daughterly way about the
house, was not quite sure that she could
win bread for two in any way-bread
and shelter and fire.
She was only seventeen, and frail lit
tie creature with very little strength in
her small body, and now that matters
were so bad, who can wonder that she
almost despaired?
81 suppose it isn't quite supper time
yet ?" said little Jane again. She had
been on her knees behind the bed for 9
long while. 81 wonder whether He
knows how hungry am?"
"What shall | do?" said Milicent tC
herself, rs she looked about the room
81 have sold evcrything-the clocks, the
books, even mothers wOrk-bOx and the
parrot. There is nothing left. The chile
will starve before morning. Oh, wha
shall dOw
She arose and went to the window, an(
looked down into the street. 1t was dir
ty and narrow, and swarmed with filthy
children.
Opposite was a little drinking shop
about which a blind man with a fiddle
drew profitless audience.
Nothing sweet, or fresh, or pure mel
her eye there, but between that scene ant
herself sudden breeze blew beautiful
screen, and there was waited to hel
through the broken glass an exquisite
perfume.
On the sill without stood rose in 6
broken teapot.
She had picked up the slip among the
rubbish cast out by a neighboring gar
dener, and it had grown well in its hand
fll of earth.
To-day it had bloomed; perfect rose
exquisite in shape, perfume and color
drooped from the stem, and beside it {
half-bloom bud gave promise of another
flower as lovely.
Until this moment Milicent, in hel
anxiety had. forgotten her one treasure
But for gentle shower that had falleI
that morning it might have witheret
where it stood, for she had not even wa
tered it.
Now a bright thought fitted through
her mind. -.
She had often seen children selling
flowers in the street, and ladies and gen
tlemen seemed glad to buy them.
She would force herself to be coura
geous. -,
this rose and its bud, and some one wOult
give her enough to buy loaf OF bread
or at least a roll for little Jane.
! She would do it she would.
God would give her strength.
She tied on her hood and wrapped he
shawl about her, and plucking the tlowel
, and a leaf or two, and that bright bud
that seemed perhaps the fairer of the two
, bade Jane be good and wait for her, ant
! went down stairs and out from the dingy
cross street into Broadway.
There everyone save herself seemed
CAV and happy, and well dressed.
She seemed to be a thing apart;
black blot in all this brightness.