The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-11-04
FLOWERS.

FLOWERS.
"Ah, if l only lived in a great city,
or near one, where they have Flower
Missionw sighed Alice, as she looked
into the heart of white rose and took
a long sniff of its perfume. She had
been hearing and reading about this
beautiful charity and had warmed at
the thought of sending light into dark
places and happiness to those to whom
little but sorrow ever came. She was
talking to herself on her way to school.
g 1t such sweet, beautiful way of
doing good--nothing unpleasant or
hard about it. I'd have Che grandest
garden! all pinks and roses and panses
and geraniumS. And heliotrope and
mignonette, too-yes, there d have to
be something understanding in every
bunch. I'd send basket-fulls every
dayr'
"Oh-h-h, how prettvr' said voice
very near as she passed. She had gone
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 ia e looking out.
"Did you speak to me?" asked Alice,
looking up.
"No-I only thought them was real
pretty" said the owner of the face
pointing with hand just as thin to the
lowers.
care you sickp"
Il was burnt, long, long time
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
being terribly burnt, months ago it
seemed to her, as indeed it was. How
Alice's heart went out in tenderest
sympathy ms she thought of what weary
days of suffering she must have worn
through since.
Here" she said, don't you want
thesep" ~ t..-
A little color came into her cheeks as
Alice placed them in her hand. She
had no more time to wait, but noddinp
and saying: "I'll 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 EN- to the poor
body next door," said little Maggie,
"she don't have nobody to be good to
her, you seer' ..
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 beer. &C.
cupied all night, and 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, ''Pve brought you
this to put your flowers in, you must
keep it for your own"
She showed pretty little vase, one
of the treasures of her dollhouse. 1t
had cost her something of 2 struggle to
bring it, but she had remembered that
the real spirit of giving always includes
self-denial--some giving p,of what is
dear to, ones self-and had begun TO re-
fleet that the mere giving OF flowers of
which she had plenty. or any other
''sweet, beautiful way of doing good. "
was not the Master 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. ,-
lido you know that all these pretty
| flowers mean something's
Maggieshook her head with an energy
which seemed to say she did not know
very much. indeed! l' sTal 'a.
"Well-Im going to tell you-they
all say something to us if we only know
what it is; mamma told me. Here's a
heliotrope; just smell it! that means: l
love YOU This darling little pansy7-
see how it seems to be smiling up at you
Iii says: Think of me- Now these
roses mean good many things, some
mean beauty, and some grace; and one
Kind of rose means proud. This violet
means love, too-a good many flowers
have love for a meaning"
Little Maggie burst into such laugh
that her mother peeped in in wonder to
see what was the matter.