The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-11-05
Tom Meade.
3 Vide Awake.

Tom Meade.
Tom is thirteen years old, and he is
bug and strong for his age. His three
brothers are young men, but his only
sister, Grace, Is not yet eleven years
old.
Grace and Tom go to school together
IN the autumn and winter, but in the be-
ginning of June every year they go to
the farm of their uncle, Mr.. John Meade,
near the city of Frederick, which is also
in Maryland. Uncle John is not only n
farmer, but he is also what is called a
nurseryman, or n man who raises young
trees and plants to sell
1t was always such surprise to the
two children when they would visit their
uncle for day or two during the winter,
TO see house full of flowers in bloom,
and OF leaves that were as green as the
leaves of summer time
Indeed they fell in love with flowers,
and their mother took great pains to
make them interested in cultivating them.
So when Oracle and Tom went to Uncle
Johns, last spring to spend the summer,
Uncle John gave them each corner of
his garden
The little gardens were easy to attend
10, and as the children watered their
plants every night, the plants were soon
in thriving condition.
Gracie's pets We're geraniums, of
which she had many kinds and colors.
Tom was fond of roses, fucilias and YER
benas, and he sent number of letters
to his mother about them
"Uncle," said Tom. one day in the lat
ter part of June, 81 was reading III life
of General Washington this morning.
about the way his father once spelled
the name of George Washington III
letters made of plants Don't you think
that was funny idea?"
eyes, it was" replied Uncle John,
"but was easy enough to do, and if you
would like to try the same thing, I've no
doubt you'll succeed, just as Washing
tons father did"
''But can't I spell Gracie's name in
flowers iii her garden?' continued Tom.
1--WE could ask the Ross children and
the Williams boys In, and have regu-
lar surprise. It would be as good rs
picnic.
Uncle John agreed that it would be
very nice if tho flowers could he made to
grow quickly, bat flowers are creatures
of sunshine and RAIN.
He SAID, however. that Tom might
have all the flowers from tho hot-house
inc wanted. which pleased Tom, because
such permission was exactly what he
wanted. He told Uncle John not to say
word % Oracle about the scheme. for
lac wanted Oracle to be surprised as well
as the other children of the neighbor-
hood.
As Tom thought over his scheme in
bed that night, he concluded to get
everything ready by the morning of the
Fourth of July, and on that day to have
regular garden party
He went to the dollhouse alone as
soon as he had eaten his breakfast,
and examined the flowers that looked
as though they would blossom on the
Fourth.
He saw that by placing a number of
verbenas of different colors in small
pots, he could sink the pots into the soil
o. Gracie's garden and SO spell whichever
words he pleased
AS the Fourth drew near the verbsnas
began to bloom, sure enough, and 10y the
first day of July the ones that Tom had
selected were in full flower.
eyes" said Tom to himself, as he
stood and looked at the verbenas, here
they are-white verbenas, red verbenas,
blue verbenas-just what wanted-red,
white, and blue.
On the evening Of the 3D. of July, af-
ter Oracle had watered her garden, Tom
took several basket-loads of verbena
pots from the dollhouse to the garden
and set to work.
AS his plan had all been thought out,
she work was easy to do, and, having
sent the invitations around, Tom fell to
tleep very happy boy.
When the children met at Uncle Johns
on the morning of the Fourth, they
made jolly party. Tom led the way to
the garden, saying that he had some
thing to show everybody, and Uncle
John and Aunt Mary walked behind
As Gracie's eyes fell upon the wonder
ful letters, that looked as though they
|, had sprung up in one night, her breath
was almost taken away. She didn't say
word at first. but, like her play-mates,
1od still and looked and looked.
''How in the world did you do that,
Tom?" said Horace Williams. "Just
look here Mr. Mead, Tom has spelled
out Fourth Of July in red, white and
blue flowers" Sure enough. There were
the letters growing out of the ground,
each letter being made of several YER
benas put together in order like the fol.
lowing.