The Red Cloud chief., 1880-11-25
NO FLOWERS.

SHE was up at four. She might have
been up at three. or, for the matter OF
that, at any other hour of the night,
for there had been none in which she
had not walked. 1t was the night pre-
ceding Commencement, and her boy
was TO speak. This is why she had
been wakeful; this is why she rose be-
fore the sun.
As far as could be, the preparations
for an early start had been made the
night before. The bath had been taken;
the clean clothes had been laid by the
bed; the old turned black silk with lace
basted IN neck and wrists. had been
hung onthe rocking chair; the bonnet
and gloves and fringed parasol laid out
on the sofa. Never had dress and
bonnet been more carefully busted,
never had lace and linen been more
carefully laundried.
johns mother knew when things
were well done, so il was with COM
placent feeling that she drove, in the
well-kept spring-wagOn, behind the
sleek bay. TO the college-town. But rs
she approached the church her heart
was beating faster, and when the hired
boy helped her from the wagon, he felt
the nervous tremor i'm her thin hand.
She was early. The church was not
yet open. She had half n mind to 20
10 her Johns clearinghouse. Had she
donethisshe would have found the object
of her solicitude not yet dressed for
breakfast, itbeing barelyhalf-pasts seven.
But bound upon getting good seat, she
sat on the church steps, and waited a
weary time till the janitor came to open
the doors and TO ring the bell.
She entered the church followed by
another woman, who was young, and
looked very warm; as well she might,
since she had walked three miles from
the country, and wore IN alpaca dress,
bright blue, with yellow satin ribbons
and white cotton mitts.
Johns mother seemed, by compare
son, most respectable in her thin black
silk and white Grape shawl, and those
loose brown kids. She hurried along
the aisle, as though n%ervously fearful
yet of missing a good seat from which
she could hear and see her John. She
glanced in a frightened way TO right
and to left. after the manner of one
who a linS Althe seats taken,
i aps st ~ad slle pn 4st|l lss frs sns night ihs sd nnss
She took the very front seat. and
heaved a sjgR Il rclief like n safe at
AsAthsople assembled, johns
avoided the front seat. Fearing there
might be a reason for this, she moved
back four pews. But no sooner was
she there seated, than she felt host be-
hind the towering heads and bonnets.
''Oh"' cried her frightened heart,
"rm afraid 1 sha'n't be able to see
John, and how his new clothes look; or
the gestures, or anything. I'll 60 back
TO the front seat"
This she did, and sat there with a
feeling of graduation in her good for
tune, as she saw hurrying people with
anxious faces pressing this way and that
to the good seats.
After a time, a man touched her on
the shoulder and said. "These front
seats are reserved for the trustees,
ma'am."
Johns mother got to her feet trem-
bling, a swift look of alarm-of dismay
coming to the thin face. What if she
should have to 60 away back where she
could not hear his Grafton, and could
only half see him? What if she could
not get n seat at all?
She lost no moment in beginning the
search. Up one aisle and down anoth-
er she went, the poor face turning this
way and that in pathetic appeal. with a
half-crazed look in it
Young women, young men, children
stared, smiled, giggled, but no one
offered a seat. nt6e piteous alarm in
her heart could have been seen as she
was suffering it, all the audience would
have risen 70 their feet and entreated
her aeceptahc@ = =
WSsgjedsA<Aehgth with unavailins
~wanderings, she turned to a little girl
at the aisle end of a seat.
I'm hold you on my lap, my dear, if
you'll lct me have your seat" she said.
"Wnf you let ME do it, mammal? I
want to-" the child said, turning an
eager face to the lady beside her.
The mother gave consent, and the
>hihU ctSplSo iito IL ltSlC.
When Johns mother was seated, the
fine lady said to her child, "You can
sit on mammals lap"
But Johns mother protested.
IL am younger than you, and can
better hold herr said the handsome
lady. zss-sEE taG
Il can't take the seat unless YOU will
let me hold her," persisted Johns
mother. Aud this she held to.
There could hardly have been a
stronger contrast than these two women
presented. the one quantity old-fash-
toned in dress and manner, the other
faultless in style. quietly elegant, her
whole expression ineffably gracious.
II Eouldlt care" said Johns moth
Il. apologetically to the other, "only
my son is a senior. and he's going to
make a speech. and l naturally want to
hear him. A lad doesn't graduate bu,
Oncein a}ifetimAAnc~ zz1
.sMaphma's son Is going to speak,
too; he's a senior. toor' said the child,
with eager pleasure, I'll show him to
What is your sons name?" asked
the elegant lady. wishing to show sym
pathv.A Ess& ~
John Osborne"
81 think 1 have beard my son men
hen pr eeaa nens4ahe eIassa Doesn''
he excel in debate, or is it in compost
oTrhe,sdva eyes were glowing with .
proud smile, and the mother replied
.sJohn does have the name of being :
good debater, though 1 shouldn't have
mentioned it, if you hadn't asked foI
information"
There they GOMEZ" the child cried,
in a loud whisper. Then she pointed
out her brother to the old lady, ane
Johns mother pointed out her boy t.
the girl.
MY brother speaks his piece last
Where does your 0 come on the pro
grammeP' said the child, laboring viii
che printed document. .Oh, i see hi
mamie; here it is,-Aext to the lsstr'
Then the exercises began. As tho
first speaker closed his address OF
1.-The Crescent and the Cross" flower.
YUufctiaupon him-bouquets, baskets
crosses, crescents,