The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-03
A WREATH OF ROSES.

the quaint, old.fashioned German town,
that iIans Gottlieb could il .he bad so wish
ed have shaken hands out OF the window
with his opposite neighbor.
The sun that shone so bravely elsewhere
was seldom visible here; only in the early
morning few golden CLEANS found their
way in and gave faint encouragement TO
the two or three flowers that blossomed Iii
pots on the w!ndow-sill.
On such occasions Hans would pause in
his work. knowing full well what was COM
ing--how the easement opposite would be
flung omen, and q sirl's voice. singing
blitbe little French song, would ring across
the silent street to his listening ears; howa
slim. pretty figure would for moment
stand framed IN the blossomng scarlet run
ncrs, pretty figure, with dalk French
eyes, and black hair, drawn up under q
white cap, q beautiful contrast, so Hans
thought. to his comeiy, ycllow-haired coun-
trywomen. AS soon as this vision appeared
Hans would pause in his work and turn his
eyes towards il; would wait until the water
ing Cf the flowers and the singing OF the
song were alike ended, and then would ap-
preach his window.
Good morning." his neighbor would
call across in that pretty foreign German
that was so enchanting III bis ears" Good
morning, Monsieur Gottlicb,' and then
with nod and smile the trim little figure
would vanish into the dark shadows, and
Hans return TO his work.
But though life was too busy with these
two, and bread difficult enough to win even
when one worked bard lor it, so that nei-
Their could afford to idle away the minutes
to talk, YET Hans, rs he worked, dreaming
OF The days when stonc-carving would not
mean daily bread, bnt honor and glory to
those he loved, was pleasantly conscious all
the time OF 4 dark head UeEt over. table
drawn close up TO the window opp0S;tc--a
table covered with MANY bright-cclored
scraps Of muslin and papcr-which In due
course. under these delft. small hands. be-
came sunmcr flowers: at this short dis.
lance seeming to the looker-on the spols OF
q June garden.
Thus they wo:ked Gay after day. these
two, so near together, yet 50 far apart, alb
staining firm al! conversation which might
hav. made the days pass more quickly; but
then an hours iGlcucss might mean going
u;perle,s to bed. so that even Rose Cordier,
deHriy as she loved the sound OF her own
voice. rcfrained from making Use OF it eX
cent for an occasional song. but when the
dry was GYer-wbCn the coO!neSs in The lit
tie. close street and the shaGoWy gray OF
the strip OF SKI overhead gave notice that
the lon. Summcr-day was drawing 10 an
enl-when the small room grew dark
then Rose would rise and open the door
to interchange greetings and gossip with the
nei.hbors- the women sitting on their
doorstep knitting in the peaceful twilight,
their children playing about them; with The
fathers returning from their work; with the
Young men lettering about smoking, for
Rose had always bright word and look for
every man, woman, and child she knew.
And they were all fond OF hcr-of this lit
tlc foreigner who had come among thcE
four years ago with an old mother, since
dead, rnt who earned her daily bread hon
cStly among them.
Tncn, as it grew even darker, Hans Gett-
Iie5 wouiG become aware that The day and
its work were over, and would lay aside his
ci;sel, and also seek what little fresh air
there was at the door OF bis dwelling. He
did no, laugh or gossip with his neigh5orS,
rs did Rose Cordicr. 1t was not his way,
and this fact was quite recognized by the
jewellers III William street. Beyond a
"Good evening, neighbour" they did not
seek 10 disturb him in the enjoyment of
his evening pipe, only occasionally Rose
would step across and ask him what
he was 1T work upon, or il he had 4
good order, and then poor Hans. flushing
scribe his work, his prospects, until Rose,
with Il pretty shrug OF her shoulders,
would tell him in her foreign German she
could not undcrsta. d him; he must speak
slower, much slower; it was too late now,
but to-morrow-yes, to-mnrroW--he must
try and explain it all again, for il was in
tcresting, so interesting. But for now it
must be goodnight, Goodnight to every
one" and the Slight trim figure had disap-
peared, and the door was closed.
The neigbbors, watching Hans as he
strolled up and down the little street after
ward, pipe in mouth, nodded and smiled 20
one another. ''Ah, when there is enough
for TWO over yUnder, there will be a we'd
ding!" such was the form the whispering
took.
Even the hardest workers take holiday
now and again, and the feast OF st. John
the Baptist is esteemed in Fredericksburg
the legitimate summer holiday OF all its in
dustrious inhabitants. The happy day is
spent accordin" TO an old custom at small
village some three miles distant from the
town, where time honnred fair is held.
Lion-tamers, fat women, dHarfs, giants,
all the hundred and one shows that are the
righiful property OF a fair, are to be found
there; and later on there is dancing under
soft evening sky, and alter that, home
early, so IS TO be up and about on the NOR
row 10 work, If possible, harder than ever,
to make up for the wasted day.
To Rose Cordier, with her quick French
blood, her youth, herligh this
5ete was one to which she looked forward
for many weeks beforehand, and the little
foreigner knew she was never likely TO
want cavalier, and this was looked upon
as almost sine qaa non OF the entertain.
ment.
The neighbors smiled more than ever
when they saw Rose come out OF her door
the morning Of the Gath Of Juue looking ms
fresh and bright as the red roses in her
belt, and Hans appear Immediately AFTER
ward, companion rose in his button-hole.
They were all Standing about lii little
groups preparing to start themselves to the
scene OF festiyity; many OF them with ba-
bies in their arms aud little things clinGing
about their skirts, but they had time TO give
on admirins glance Mt this other couple
irst.
Before we start, ;, said Hans suddenly,
little constraint apparent In ms voice,
sswouid YOU come into my iateiier, made
m0iselle2 have been working at some
thing I should like to show you." .ss,
3a.2 q Yes, truly, ] should like it,. have
never been there yet. Let us so.
They turned back as she spoke, and he
nushed open The door. ssf lgA!r.f
e7.3.. See, y he said, sit is not finished YET,
Int 1t Is to be q wreath OF roses. Il. &
ae led her he said these words to where
on one side. out OF the way OF dust and
dirt, 1t lay-the balf.completed eircict Of