River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-06-19
But For This.
rneSeetator.

"God only knows, child.
Perhaps I'd better pray for some
then, said little Jane Blair solemnly.
"Really | think you hau," said Milf
cent; In soft tone.
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 quick
ly, pictures Of the past They had never
been rich people, but always comfortable.
Her father was seafaring man-frst
mate of an ocean vessel--and her mother
4 tidy housewife, who made everything
bright and cosy. How he used to sit
telling Ills adventures to them when he
was at home.
He would not have been sailor had
there not been sea serpents and mermaids
in them, but nofhiug was too wonderful
for those loving folk at home to credit,
and indeed he probably believed them
himself.
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 so different from this
wretched place i'll which the two girls
now lived.
But that was NOT all, the love was
gone-thc tender care that parents have
for their children.
The mother lay in her green grave in a
far-otf cemetery; and who can point the
place of shipwrecked sailors gravel
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; depart
/ IRE 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 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 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 a 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 despairedl
II suppose it isn't quite supper time
yet9' SAID little Jane again. She had
been on her knees behind the bed for d
long while. 81 wonder whether he knows
how hungry ] am9n
'.What shall do said Millicent tc
herself, as she looked about the room. ~
have sold every thing-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.
She arose and went to the window and
looked down into the street 1t was dirty
and narrow and swarmed with filthy
children.
Opposite was little drinking shop
about which blind man with a fiddle
drew profitless audience.
Nothing sweet or fresh or pure me-
| her eve there, but between that seen,
! and herself sudden breeze blew beau
tiful screen, and there was waited to hel
through the broken glass an exquisit,
perfume.
On the sill without stood rose in
broken teapot.
She had picked up the slip among tn,
rubbish cast out by a neighbcring gar
dcner, and it had grown well in its hand
full of earth.
To-day it had bloomed a perfect rose
exquisite in shape, perfume and color
dropped from the stem, and beside it ;
| half-blown bud gave promise of anothei
flower as lovely.
Until this moment Millicent, in he
anxiety, had forgotten her one treasure
"But for "a gentle shower that had fal
len that morning, it might have withereC
where it stood, for she had not ever
watered it.
Now 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 cour
| ageous.
this rose and its bud, and some ON,
would give her enough to buy loaf o
bread or at least 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 fiowe
and leaf or two, and that bright bud
that seemed perhaps the tairer OF thu
two, babe Jane be good and wait for her
I and went down stairs and out from th'
| dinoy cross street into Broadway.
There everyone save herself seemed ga,
and happy, and well-drcssed.
She seemed TO be thing apart =
black blot III all his brightness.
She stood at Il corner and held out he
! flower. but it seemed that no one heedec
her.
At last she gathered courage to toucl
one of the ladies that passed, and say
BUY a rose, lady-buy rosei Pleas
buy rose"
But the woman hurried by as the res
had.
1t would not do TO stand still.
She walked on slowly.
Whenever she caught pleasant eyt
she held out her bouquet, and repeated
| her prayer;
Buy a rosei buy roser
But the sum was setting and She wa'
opposite the City Hall Park, and still nC
one had bought her flower.
| She was growing desperate.
/ Some one should buy it.
Jane should have bread that night.
BUY rose, See. Look at it, See
how pretty it isl she cried, in voice
sharpened by hunger and sorrow. Look
| You don't look at it, or you'd buy it"
"These street beggers should be sup
| pressed, = said the stout man she had adj
dressed .'Young woman. III give you
in charge if you don't behave yourself. :
.He don't know, he don't know, " said
Millicent to herself. Nobody could
guess how poor we are. oh,what a hard,
hard world.'
Then she went on not daring to speak
again. and her rose dropped little in
her fingers, and still no one seemed dis
posed TO buy it.
In her excitement she had walked
| further than she knew.
She was far down Broadway, and be
fore her was the Bowling Green, with Its
newIy-trimmed grass plot and its silvery
| fountain.
A little further ON the Battery, newly
Il L -