The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-06-18
But For This.

"Millicent, Millicent, where is supperon
"God only knows, child.'','S
| "Perhaps Ia better pray for some
then" said little Jane Blair solemnly.
"Really I think you haa," said Mill
cent, in a 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 a seafaring man-frst
mate of an ocean vessel-and her mother
a tidy housewife, who made everything
bright and cosy. How he used to sit
telling his adventures to them when he
was at home. @,> 81
He would not have been sailor had
there not been sea serpents and mermaids
in them, but nothiug 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 in which the two girls
now lived.
But that was not all; the love was
gone-the tender care that parents have
for their children. H..
The mother lay in her green grave in a
| tar-otf cemetery; and who can point the
place of a shipwrecked sailors grave?
She remembered so we'll 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, ab]aze from
one end to the other; and how Roger
Blair, the first mate, was among the
missing. ..r RS. -.
After that, poverty and sorrow; depart.
ure from the dear old home; toll in
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
h 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, rand, helpful
in daughterly way about the house, was
notquite sure that she could win bread
for two in any ~way---bread and shelter
and fire. : I 4 ~ III ~ tSss.'
She was only seventeen, and frail lit
tic creature, with very little strength in
her small body, and, now that matters
were so bad, who can, wonder that she
almost despaired? z>11afasy9 4 .
Il suppose it isn't quite supper time
yet?"' SAID little Jane again. She had
been on her knees behind the bed for a
long while. II wonder whether he knows
how hungry I ,am?"c ..Hl ,..s.@@ss
"What shall do said Ntillicent to
herself, as she looked about the room. II
have sold every thing the clock, the
books, even mothers work box and the
parrot. There IS nothingleft The child
will starve before morning Oh, what
shall I do. s5a5-t : ssgg E...x
She arose and went to the window and
| looked down into the street. It was dirty
and narrow and swarmed with filthy
children
| Opposite was a little drinking shop,
aboutwhich a Blind man with a. fiddle
drew q protitless audience. @
Nothing sweet Or fresh or pure met
her eye there, but between that scene
and herself a sudden breeze blew beau.
tiful screen, and there was waited to her
through the broken glass an exquisite
| perfume.
On the sill without stood rose. in
broken teapot. a{s fs8 sta s4sHR'
She had picked up the slip among the
rubbish cast out by neighboring gar
dener, and it had grown we'll in it's hand
:, full of earth.
| To-day it had bloomed; perfect rose,
exquisite in shape, perfume and color,
dropped from the stem, and beside it a
half-blown bud gave promise Of another
flower as lovely.
Until this moment Millicent, in her
anxiety, had forgotten her one, treasure
Il "But for a gentle shower that had fal-.
len that morning, itmight have withered
where it stood, for she had not even
watered it,
IA Now bright thought fitted Through
her mind. a s,.l
[, She had often seen children selling
flowers in the street, and ladies and gen.
tlemen seemed glad to buy them. :
4 She, would force herself rtoy l,eacour.
ageous.s, afss, t4..,s v ..se d trae1sfs m
\ She would go out into the, street with
this rose and its bud, and some one