The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-11-30
ALICE'S FLOWER MISSION.

or near one, where they have E1Owe
Mission!" sighed Alice, as she looket
into the heart of white rose and tool
a long sniff of its perfume. She hat
been hearing and reading about thi
beautiful charity and had warmed a
the thought of sending light into darl
places and happiness to those to whom
little but sorrow ever came. She wa
talking to herself on her way to school
''It's such a sweet, beautiful way O
doing good-nothing unpleasant o.
hard about it. I'd have the grandes
garden! all pinks and roses and pansies
and geraniums. And heliotrope anc
mignonette, too-yes, there'd have tc
be something sweet-smelling in every
bunch. I'd send basket-fulls every
day."
"Oh-h-h, how pretty" said voice
very near as she passed She had gone
a little out Of her way to leave a mes
sage at the tumble-down row of houses
in one of which lived the washer.
woman. In the window next to hers
was pale. thin little face looking out.
did you speak to me?" asked Alice,
looking up.
MOI only thought them was real
pretty" said the owner of the face
pointing with hand just as thin to the
| flowers.
"Are you sick?"
ago."
Alice saw that her other hand was
bandaged and that there was scar on
| one side of the poor face. She remem-
bered having heard of the little thing
beng terribly burnt. months ago it
seemed to her, as indeed it was. How
Allce's heart went out in tenderest
sympathy as she thought of what weary
| days of suffering she must have worn
through since.
Here she said, "don't Won want
these?'
A little color came into her cheeks as
Alice placed them in her hand. She
had no more time to wait, but noddino
and saying: "Tll bring you some more
if you like them gave her message
and ran on to school.
Going around that way as she went
home in the afternoon she saw only one
rose and bud of those she had given.
on the windoW-sill stuck in an old
bottle.
II give the rest of 'em to the poor
body next door," said little Maggie.
"she don't have nobody to be good to
her. you seer Y !
The next morning Alice left home
early, having her mothers permission
to call on Maggie. She now went into
her room, and how her heart sunk at
sight OF its discomfort The air was
close and sitting from having been oc-
cupied all night, ard the cook-stove in
the shed behind added its heat to that
OF the summer sun. Dirt and disorder
seemed to have taken up their abode
here and found themselves at home
Alice's bright face and bright flowers
seemed to bring freshness with them.
Look, she said. give brought Won
this to put your flowers in, you must
keep it for your own"
She showed a pretty little vase one
OF the treasures of her dollhouse. It
had cost her something of struggle. to
BRING it, but she had remembered that
the real spirit of giving always includes
self-denlal-someg giving up of what is
dear to ones self-and had begun to re-
tect that the mere giving of flowers of
which she had plenty, or any other
sweet, beautiful way of doing good,'
was not the Masters way. She sat down
by the bed from which Maggie had not
yet risen to be helped to her all-day seat
by the window.
DO you know that all these pretty
flowers mean somethingp''
Maggie shook her head with an eneerov
which seemed to say she did not know
very much, indeed,
Well-I'm going to tell you-tbev
all say something to us if we only know
what II IS; mamma told me. Here's
nelotrope; Just smell it. that means: Il
love you: This darling little pansy-
see now it seems to be smiling up at You
1T says: Think of me- Now these
roses mean good many things, some
mean beauty, and some grace; and one
k'no o. rose means proud. This violet
! love, too-a good many flowers
nave love for meaning"
Little Maggie burst into such laupb
mat her mother peeped in in wonder TO
see what was the matter.
An indade it's many long dav
since I've heard such sound from the
chllt!' she whispered to herself.
dldn t know flowers could talk :,
laughed Maggie, as Alice went on:
., This sweet briar means SYMPATHY
tnat' you know, is when people are sor-
~ ior you when you're sick or sorry.
ana here's bit of mignonette, that |
smeils sweet, too. and it says-I don't |
remember just the words mamma told
me but it's all the same as: .You look |
ever SO nice but you're ever so mncb |
nicer than you look.''' 'i
THAT'S Just like you." said Mappie
looking earnestly into her little VISITORS
race as her mother cam with her break.
last and Alice got up to say goodbye. !!