Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1879-07-16


silence, and bear their aftliction
with meekness.
But the plant was not to be for
ever alone. Its humility and pa.
thence touched the hearts of the
daisies, violets, and hardy little
myrtle vines, and if the proud Ill.
les and roses had taken the trouble
to look after these simple members
of their society, they would have
seen that each one had tendency
to creep toward the green tub.
And after a little while they
reached and surrounded it, and put
forth new leaves and buds, and
grew into a perfect little hedge,
and in their hearts rejoiced at the
coed they were doing TO the poor,
despised plant above them, just as
dispensers Of charity in our own
world rejoice when they have help
ed some poor, down-trodden NOR
sci of humanity.
They were not without their dali
ly reward, however, for the garden
err had deep interest in the des-
pissed plant, and came morning and
evening to water and watch it, and
thus the little band received many
a draught of cool water that they
otherwise would never have enjoy
ed.
Meanwhile the plant waxed
strong, and grew day by day, send
ing forth new leaves and branches,
and delighted the heart of the
faithful gardener, and of the hum
bic, yet devoted friends who had
ministered to it in the hour of ad-
versity.
"Who are you, and where were
you born 7" asked a violet, one day.
MY name / know not, but l was
born far away where the skies were
blue and sunny, where the air was
rarely sweet and fragrant with the
breath of a myriad of sister flow
ers, where birds with dazzling
plumage few in and out among the
shrubs and trees, and sang rare
songs, such as / have never heard
here"
But as the new plant grew, the
older occupants of the garden gave
no warmth, no friendship to it.
Curiosity, however, overcame
their turbulence, and indignation
meetings changed to gossiping, and
idle conjecturing and speculations.
The gardener came oftener, and
brought visitors, and stood long be-
fore the green tub, with wonder
and amazement in their faces, and
all the care that mortal could give
vas bestowed upon the despised
plant.
At last there were buds all over
the branches, and the plant culver
ed in the breeze, and rustled her
dark leaves with a glad sound as if
rejoicing.
There was q lull there for a little
time.
Roses blushed and lilies paled
when they saw its growing beauty,
and great calm fell upon the gar
den.
One morning, the garden was
still as death. Not flower spoke
or moved a leaf, and even the birds
were hushed 10 a perfect silence.
There was fragrance in the air,
a fragrance that overwhelmed the
other flowers, and there was a sight
which dazzled them.
The poor plant in its ugly tub
still stood there, but its green
leaves glistened in the sun, and its |
buds had burst into blossoms as
white as snow, clear and perfect
like marble, more daintily shaped
and delicately poised than any of
the others of the floral tribe within |
that one garden.
The lilies dropped their heads,
he roses hung listlessly on their
stems, the carnations Redeemed and |
stood in silence.
Who could this be whom they
had despised and rejected, and who
put forth beauty far surprising
their own!
The gardener came and ran
quickly away to return with a
crowd Of delighted people.
"See, see !" they cried: "see the
queen of our garden, the beautiful
Japonica !"
Ard th.v stood and oazad M