Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1880-02-04
THE FLOWER GIRL.
~ MI%NtI HOLBI.GuK.

"MilIiccni. Milliccut. where is
supper"
"Gud only knows, child
There she SIT staring into the
little fire on which their last atom
at wood WIS burning, AMI seeing
in tn" red ashes into Whirh the
Eight wood dropped 80 quickly, PIE.
lrircS ul the past. They had never
been rlch people. but always com.
Portable.
licr id,hrl WaS a Srataring man
Hist mate at du ocean Nr>>ei-
ard lr, 4uulhcl tidy luu>cW lie.
Who made everything bright and
coy. How he used Ia >it telling
hs adventures to them when hc
was at home.
He would not haIr been Il sailor
had there not been sea. SrIpcr'> and
mcrmaids IN them, but uothing WAS
wonderful for those loN ing folks ut
home 10 credit; and indeed he pro
badly believed them himself.
The room had been pretty with
shells and coral branches. aud
hilght parrots III swinging cages
and pictures al ships npon the wall.
1t had been So different from his
Wrrichrd 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 Il tar oil cemetery; and
who can point the place OF Il ship.
wrecked sailors grave
She remembered 80 well how he
sailed away that last time-how
she looked after him. her mother
aud hcrselt-how they waited for
news. aud waited in vain, until at
last there came Ia them u sailor.
saved iiom The wreck at the "FiN.
ing Scud." who told how She went
down in mil seas 1T the Head at
night. ablaIc from one cud to the
other: and how Roger Blair, the
first mate. Was AMONG the missing.
After that. puNrItA and SORROW:
departure from that dear olh home:
toll and Il strange city, sickness.
iriendlcSSnr>s. and the browning
voc of all, lhc mothers death.
The Girl had done her best for
her little sister ever since. hut she
was not Il very SkiIliul ucrdlcwo.
man. and could no, earn rs much
aS some others: and now work had
given ont altogrihrr, and she. pref
" and sweet aud COED. and helpful
III a dnnghrrrlN way about the
house. was not gHiie sure that she
could win bread for two in any way
thread aud shelter aud fire.
She WAS onlN se>rhirrn. and u
irail little creature. with very little
strength III her small body and now
that matters were so bad. who can
wonder thai she almost drspaircd!
Il suppose it isn't quite supper
time Net." said little Jane again.
"What shall ! do said Millicrnl
To herself. iS she looked ;rtnut the
room. Il have sold everything
the clock. the books, even mothers
work box and the parrot. There is
nothing left. The child will starvr
before morning. Oh, what shall |
dor
She arose aud went to the win.
dow, and looked down into the
street. II was dirty and narrow,
and swarmed with filthy children.
Opposite was little drinking
shop, about which blind man
with fiddle drew prottless au'
dience.
Nothing sweet, or fresh, or pure
met her eye there, but between that
scene aud herself a. Sudden breeze
blew a beautiful screen, and there
was waited TO her through the bro
ken glass M exqisite perfume.
On the sill without Stood a rose
in broken teapot:
She had picked mp the slip among
fho r0hkfteh roat mt M, a UolUhh 0r.