The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-11-04
TOM MEADE.

va eAAASA oeAoAS AoA LIS aye. Ills three
brothers are young men, but his only
sister, Gracic, ls not yet eleven years
old.
Oracle and Tom go to school together
IN the autumn and winter, but in the be-
ginning of June every year they 90 to the
farm OF their uncle, Mr.. John Meade,
near the city OF Frederick, which is also
In Maryland. Uncle Johu is not only a
farmer, but he is also what IS called a
nurseryman, or man who raises Young
trees and plants to sell.
1t was always such q surprise to the
children when they would visit their
uncle for a day OF 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 cultiyating
them. So when Oracle and Tom. went
to Uncle Johns a few weeks ago, to spend
the summer, Uncle John gave them each
a corner of his garden.
The little gardens were easy to attend
to, and as the children watered their
/ plants every night, the plants were soon
in thriving condition.
Gracie's pets were geraniums, of which
she had many XII Dis and co.ors. Tom was
fond of roses, tuschias aud verbenas. and
he sent a number Of letters to his mother
about them.
Uncle, = said Tom, one day in the lat
fer part Of June, 81 was reading in life
OF General Washington this morning.
about the way his father once spelled the
name OF George Washington in letters
made of plants. Don't you think that
was funny ideaG"
Eyes, it was replied Uncle John,
shut 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 cant spell Gracie's name in
flowers in her garden2'' continued Tom.
eve could ask the Ross children and
the Williams boys in, and have regular
surprise. 1twould be as good as pic
nic.''
Uncle John agreed that it would be
very nice if the flowers could be made tn
grow quickly, but flowers are creatures
of sunshine and rain.
He said, however, that Tom might
have all the flowers from the dollhouse
he wanted, which pleased Tom, because
such permission was exactly what he
wanted. He told Uncle john not to saw
word to Oracle about the scheme, for
he wanted Oracle to be surprised as we'll
as the other children in the neighbor-
hood.
As Tom thought over his scheme in
bed that night, he concluded to have ey-
erything ready by the morning of the
Fourth OF July, and on that day to have
q regular garden party.
he went to the dollhouse alone as soon
as he had eaten his breakfast, and exam
med the flowers that looked as though
they would blossom on the Fourth.
He saw that by placing number Of
verbenas of different colors into small
pots, he could sink the pots into the soil
Of Gracie's garden, and so spell whatever
words he pleased.
As the Fourth drew near, the verbenas
began to bloom sure enough, and by the
first Of July, the ones he had selected
were in full flower.
Yes said Tom to himself, as he
TODD and looked at the verbenas, tshere
they are-white verbenas, red verbenas,
blue verbenas just what wanted red !,
white and blue.n
On the evening OF the third Of july.
after Oracle had watered her garden,
Tom took several basket loads of VERDE
ma pots from the hot house to the garden
and set to work. SO
As his plan had all been thought out,
the work was easy to do, and having sent
his invitations around, Tom fell to sleep
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 something 10.
show everybody, and Uncle John and
Aunt Mary walked behind.
As Gracie's eyes .fel. upon the wonder
ull 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 playmates
stood still and looked and looked.
Elbow IN the world did YOU do that.
Ton" said Horace Williams. ssJust