Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-04-18
AMY'S FLOWERS.

She always has her face in those
flowers" said Sam. "She isn't a bit O.
good for sister-might as well have
none at all If she isn't darning stock.
ings, she's sitting gravel, or baking dirt
or reddening pots! Fussing about those
old plants forever! Can't play ball, can't
take an oar-one brothers. worth ten
sisters"
II don't agree with YOU" said Deca-
tur. " If Amy were my sister, wouldn't
exchange her for all the brothers in the
world" and his bright eyes followed the
little sylph-like shape, fitting about on
those small errands, with an expression
which meant great deal more than was
said.
Just then Amy turned and came to-
ward them with couple of tea-rose
buds, "The very first" she cried
" And you and Sam shall have them,
Decatur! Got pin?"
Now the ideal" said Sam. 1.-THE
time that Amy spends at those flowers,
she might be learning something useful
in. She's got to earn her own living, or
I've got to earn it for her, Aunt Sophy
says, and think she should be studying.
so as to take school, or making a good
cook of herself, so as to be house
keeper"
"Those were nice biscuit we had this
morning Amy made them. She made
the coffee, too. 1 guess she'll do about
right said Decatur. "And she's second
in her class in school-a large class
more than you or ever were, Sam"
Samuel" said Aunt Sophy, the first
bell will ring before you're ready" and
oA +r,,J nod Gov, to IL r., j
Decatur, who had just begun his appren-
ticeship at a store, went his separate
way.
They were all orphans that Aunt Sophy
Smith had adopted. Decatur was some
years the elder, and was not relative of
Sam and Amy. He was a handsome,
quiet lad, and very much attached to
AIEt Sophy.
He had begun to learn business with
no other ambition than that of being able
one day to have Aunt Sophy ride in her
carriage.
He was learning bookkeeping, and
wondering how he could ever save enough
out of his fifty dollars year to go into
business for himself.
"Well, Sam," said Aunt Sophy, at
dinner, "you thought Amy's time would
be so much better spent if she were help
ing you dig bait. Now to how much has
all the fish have bought of you this year
amountedp"
About dollar" said Sam, as well as
he could for the hot potato.
"Of course am not going to ask YOU
what you did with it" said Aunt Sophy.
"rd just as lief" said Sam, in the in
tervals of his bone-picking. II bought
my bat and ball"
"Well, Amy cut her rosebuds this
morning, and sold them for five dollars .
"Sixties! S'pose you're going to re-
member the poor, Amy!' cried Sam.
"Yes," said Amy, laughingly, and ex-
changing glance with Aunt Sophy,
"but not now. I've spent it all.n
You have! What forp"
Window glass"
"Whew! Window glassp. Well, if
that isn't shame! l suppose you're
going to set up hot-bed, with lettuces
and things-and / did so want q bamboo
fishing-pole and reel. / don't see how
anybody can be so meant"
"Stop, stop, Sam!" cried Aunt Sophy.
" Amy has earned the right to spend
her money as she pleases, and she
mustn't be abused for it."
1t was true. Amy had. earned the
right. From the day she first opened
her blue eyes on the world, she had
loved flower.
She had planted her peas and beans as
soon as she could walk, dug them UP to
see if they were sprouting, and pulled
them up to set them back in the right
way, fully persuaded that they had come
up wrong end first.
AS she grew older, bunch of flowers
was the gift she loved the most. She
had loved her dolls; but her flowers
better. All the neighbors knew it, and
everybody who had plant was sure
to save slip for Amy Smith. The
kitchen shelf and window ledges were
covered with the little pots, and glasses,
and bulbs, put there on account of the
steam and warmth of the kitchen.
So, before Amy was a dozen wears
old, her great window full of blossoms
the year round was the town talk and
admiration.
Aunt Sophy saw it all and like the
wise woman that she was, said little, but
waited for things to take their course.
She sold the stove, and put furnace in
the cellar, although she had to go with
out q new winter outfit to do it and the
boys knowing nothing of it, neither she
nor Amy touched any butter nor sugar
during all that year.
One day, at last, when some wayfarers
stopped at the door and wished to buy a