The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-11-02
FLOWERS 8.

FLOWERS.
"Ah, if ] only lived in a great city,
or near enc, where they have Flower
/ Missionr' sighed Alice, as, she looked
/ into the heart of white rose and took
long sniff OF its perfume. She had
been hearing and reading about this
beautiful charity and had warmed 1T
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.
''Its such sweet, beautiful way of
! doing gOod--nothing unpleasant or
hard about it. I'd have the grandest
| garden! all pinks and roses and pansies
and geraniums. And heliotrope and
mignonette, too-yes, there'd have to
be something sweet-smelling in every
| bunch I'd send basket-fulls every
day!''
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 fa looking out.
- Did you speak to me?'' asked Alice,
looking up.
"No-1 only thought them was real
! pretty" said the owner of the face
pointing with hand just as thin to the
| flowers.
q Are you sick2''
Il was burnt, a 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 Il
seemed to her, as indeed it was. How
| Alice's heart went cut in tenderest
| sympathy as she thought OF what weary
days of suffering she must have worn
through since.
| "Here," she said, "don't you want
theseP'
A little color came into her cheeks as
Alice placed them in her hand. She
had no more time TO wait, but nodding
and saying: "Tll bring you some more
if yoa 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-siIl stuck in an old
bottle.
q 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
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-
cupfed 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.
Alices 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. It
had cost her something of a struggle to
bring il, but she had remembered that
the real spirit of giving always includes
self-denial-some giving up of what is
dear to ones self-and had begun to re-
feet 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 al-day seat
by the window.
| DO you know that all these pretty
flowers mean somethingP'
/ Maggie shook her head with an energy
| which seemed to say she did not know
very much, indeedl
Well m going to tell you-they
all say something 10 as if we only know
what it is; mamma told ME. Here's a
heliotrope; just smell it. that means:
love YOU This darling little pansy-
sec how il seems to be smiliRg up at you
lit says: Think of me- Now these
roses mean a 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 meaning"
Little Maggie burst into such a laugh
that her mother peeped in in wonder TO
see what was the matter.
"An' indade it's many a long day
since I've heard such a sound from the
chiltp' she whispered to herself
Il didn't know flowers couads talk -
laughed Maggie, as Alice went on:
'.This sweet briar means sympathy
that, you know, is when people are sor-
~ for you when you re sick or sorry.
And here's a bit Of mignonette, that
smells sweet, too. and IL says-I don't
remember just the words mamma told
me but it's all the same as: You look
ever 50 nice but you're ever so much
nicer than you look.
That jt1st like you." said Maggie,
looking earnestly into her little visitor 8
face as her mother came with her break
fast and Alice got up to say goodbye.
Butafter putting the flowers in the vase
her eyes fell on Maggie's breakfast
How poor and unappetizing the corn
meal mush with its drop Of blue skim
milk looked to Alice, who remembered
the tempting trays her mother prepared
for her when she was not we'll She
opened her luneh-basket and took out a
custard il . cup which was packed in
beside the sandwiches and cake
Here she said, q Nora bakes one
for me most every morning early so as
20 have il cool. I've got plenty be-