The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-11-20
THE FLOWER GIRL.
1T MINNIE HoLBRooK.

"Millicent, Millicent where is sup
PERI
"God only knows, child"
There she sat staring into the little
fire on 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 seafaring man-first
mate OF an ocean vessel-and her mother
a tidy housewife, who made everything
bright and cozy. How he used 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 mermaids
in them, but nothing was wonderful for
those loving folk at home to credit; and
indeed he probably believed them him
self
The rooms had been pretty with shells
and coral branches, and bright parrots
in swinging cages and pictures Of ships
upon the wall.
1t had been 80 different from this
wretched place in which the two girls
now lived.
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
q far-of cemetery; and who can point
the place of a shipwrecked sailors
grave?
She remembered so well how he sailed
away that last time-how she 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 the 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 that dear old home; toll
and q strange city, sickness, friendless-
ness, and the crowning woe of all, the
mothers death.
The girl had done her best for her
little sister ever since, but she was not a
very skillful needlewoman, and could
not earn as much as some others; and
now work had given out altogether, and
she, pretty and sweet and good, and help
full 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
little creature, with very little strength
in her small body, and now that matters
were 30 bad, who can wonder that she
almost despaired?
81 suppose it isn't quite supper time
yetT said little Jane again.
"What shall I do p said Millicent tc
herself, as she looked about the room
81 have sold ything-the clock, the
books, even mothers work-box and the
parrot. There is nothing left. The
child will starve before morning. Oh
what shall do p
She arose and went to the window
and looked down into the street. 1t wal
dirty and narrow, and swarmed with
filthy children.
Opposite was little drinking shop
about which blind man with a fiddl
drew profitless audience.
Nothing sweet, or fresh, or pure me
her eye there, butbetween that scene ant
herself sudden breeze blew beautiful
screen, and there was waited to he
through the broken glass an exquisite
perfume.
On the sill without stood rose in
broken teapot:
She had picked up the slip among tn
rubbish cast out by neighborinj
gardener, and it had grown well in it
handful of earth.
To-day it had bloomed; perfect rose
exquisite in shape, perfume and color
drooped from one stem, and beside it
half-blown bud gave promise of anothe
flower as lovely.
Until this moment Millicent, in he
anxiety, had forgotten her one treasure
But for gentle shower that had falle
that morning it might have withere
where il stood, for she had not eve
watered II. Now bright though
fitted through her mind. She had ofte
seen children selling flowers in the stree
and ladies and gentlemen seemed glad
buy them. She would force herself
be courageous. She would go out int
the street with this rose and its bud, an
some one would give her enough to bu
a. loaf of bread, or at least roll for littl,
Jane.
She would do it-she would.
She tied on her hood and raped he
shawl about her, and plucking tn
flower and a leaf or two, and that brigh
bud, that seemed perhaps the fairer O
her, and went down stairs and out from
There every one save herself SCENE,
gay and happy, and well dressed.
She seemed to be a thing apart
black blot in all this brightness
She stood at a corner and held out ht
flowers, but IL seemed that no one heede
her.
At last she gathered courage TO touc
one OF the ladies that passed, and say:
Buy a rose, lady-buy rosel Pleas
buy rose"
But the woman hurried by as the res
did. 1t would not do to stand still
She walked on slowly. Whenever sh
caught pleasant eye, she held out h,
tiny bouquet and repeated her prayer.
"Buy a rosel buy a rosep
But the sun was setting, and she WI
opposite the City Hall Park, and still 4
one had bought her flowers. She w,
growing desperate. Some one shoul
buy it. Jane should have bread thi
night.
Buy rosel Seel Look at It'll s.