Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-19
But For This.


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
~ erfather was "a seafaring man--first
mate of an ocean vessel-and her mother
atidy housewife, who made everything
bright and cosy. How he used to sill
telling his 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 nothiug was too wonderful
for those loving folk at home to credit
and indeed he probably believed them
himself. rN @#wa#a
The rooms had been pretty with shells
and coral branches. and bright parrots in
swinging cages and pictures of ships
upon the wall. ga
It 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.
The mother lay i'll her green grave in a
far-otf cemetery; and, who can point the
place of shipwrecked sailors grave.
She remembered so we'll how he sailed
away that last time-hoW they looked
after him, her mother and herselt-how
they waited for news, and waited in vain,
until at last there came to them a 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
browning woe of all, the mothers DEATH
The girl had done her best for her lit
tie sister ever since, hut she was not a
very skillful needlewoman, and could not
earn rs much as some others; and now
work had given out altogether, and she,
pretty and sweet and good, and helpful
in a 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 lit
tie creature, with very little strength in
her small body, and now that matters
were so bad, who can wonder that she
almost despaired:
Il suppose it isn't quite supper time
YETI" said little Jane again. She had
been on her knees behind the bed for Il
long while. Il wonder whether he knows
how hungry ann"
What shall do" said Millicent to
herself, as she looked about the room. 81
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 a little drinking shop,
about which blind man with fiddle
drew protitless audience.
Nothing sweet or fresh or pure met
her eye there, but between that scene
and herself sudden breeze blew beau
tiful screen, and there was waited to her
through the broken glass an exquisite
perfume.
On the sill without stood a rose in a
broken teapot
sShe had picked up the slip among the
rubbish cast out by neighbOring gar
dener, and it had grown we'll in its 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-hiown bud gave promise Of another
flower as lovely.
Until this moment Millicent, in her
anxiety, had forgotten her one treasure.
But for gentle shower that had fall
len that morning, itmight have withered
where it stood, for she had not even
watered it.
Now a bright thought fitted through
her mind.
She had often seen children selling
flowers in the street, and ladies and gem
tlemen seemed glad to buy them.
She would force herself to be cOur-
sgeous.
She would 60 out into the street with
this rose and s~bud, and some one
would give her enough to buy loaf of
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 her
shawl about her, and plucking the flower
and leaf or two, and that bright bud,
that seemed perhaps the fairer of the
two, babe Jane be good and wait for her,
and went down stairs and out from the
dingy cross street into Broadway.
There everyone save herself seemed gay
and happy, and addressed
She seemed to be thing apart
black blot in all his brightness.
She stood at corner and held out hel
flower, but it seemed that no one needed
her. -..-
At last she gathered courage to touch
one of the ladies that passed, and say:
"Buy rose, lady-buy rose! Please
buy rose."
But the woman hurried by as the res
had.
It 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 rose! buy rose p
Bat the sum was setting and she wa
opposite the City Hall Park, and still n,
one had bought her flower.
She was growing desperate.
Some one should buy it.
Jane should have bread that night.
BUY rosei See! Look at i'll Sc,
how pretty it is!'' she cried, in voic,
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