Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-08-27
RED TULIPS.
By LOUISA NJ. ALcoTT.

of them red tulips?"
The eager voice woke Helen from her
reverie. and looking up she saw little
colored girl holding on to the iron rail-
ing with one hand, while the other point
ed to bed of expanded red and yellow
'ulips waving in the sunshine.
Il can't give you one, child, for they
don't belong to me, answered Helen,
aroused by the wistfuI face, over which
her words brought a shadow of disap-
pointmcnt.
Il thought maybe you lived in this
house, or knew the folks: and do want
one of those flowers dreadful bad" said
the girl, regarding the gay tulips with a
look of intense desire
II wish / could give you one: but it
WOULD be stealing. you know Perhaps,
if you go and ask the owner, he may
let you have one-there are so many"
And having offered all the consolation
in her power, Helen went on, busy with
certain disappointment of her own,
which just then-weighed very heavily on
her girlish, heart.
Half an hour later, as she came down
the street on the opposite side, she saw
the same girl sitting on doorstep, still
gazing at the tulips with hopeless admir-
Ntion.
The child looked up as she approached,
and recognizing the pretty young lady
who had spoken kindly to her, smiled
and nodded so confdingly, that Helen
could not resist stopping to say:
''Did you ask over there?n
eyes, ma'am; but the girl said No, )
and told me to clear out; so | came over
here to sit and look at the pretties since
can't have none" she answered, with a
patient sigh
''You shall have some!' cried Helen,
remembering how easily she could crafty
the innocent longing of the poor child,
and feeling curious sympathy with all
disappointed people. 9 Come with me,
dear; there is iower-shop round the
corner, and you shall have posey of
some sort.
Such wonder, gratitude and delight
shown in Betty's face that Helen felt re-
joiced for her small kindness.
AS they walked, she questioned her
about herself, and quite won her heart by
the friendly interest expressed in Betty's
mother, Betty's kitten and Betty's affairs
generally
When they came to the fiower-shop,
little Bet felt as if she had got into a
fairy tale; and when Helen gave her
pot with blue hyacinth and rosy tulip
blooming prettily together she felt as if
lovely fairy had granted all her wishes
in the good old way
It's just splendid! and don't know
how to thank you, miss. But mother
takes in washing, and she'll love to do
yours and plat the ruffies elegant, cause
you done this for mel cried Betty, en-
bracing the flower pot in ore hand, and
squeezing Miss Helen's with he other.
Helen promised to come and see her
new friend, and, when they parted, kept
turning round to watch the little figure
trotting up the hill, often pausing to turn
and show her beaming black face, all
smiles and delight, as Betty threw her
kisses, and Rugged the tulip like treas
ure of great price.
When she vanished, Helen said to her
self with smile and sigh:
There, feel better for that little job,
and it is comfort to know that some
one has got what she wants, though it's
not ].
Some weeks later, when Helen was
preparing to 60 into the country for the
summer, and wanted certain delicate
muslins done up. she remembered what
Betty had said about her mother, and
had fancy to see how the child and her
flowers rrospered.
She found them in small, poor room.
hot and close, and full of washtubs and
iat-irons The mother was busy at her
work, and Betty sat by the one window,
liStlessly picking out ruffies.
When she saw the face at the door she
jumped up and clapped her hands, cry
ing delightedly:
..Oh, nanny. it's my lady, mysdear,
pretty lady truly come at lastr'
Such welcome made friends of the
three at once. and Mrs. Simms gladly un-
dertO0k the work Helen offered.
s'And how are the posies 2" asked the
young lady, as she rose to 90.
ssOnly leaves now. miss; but / take
real good care of 'em. and nanny says
they viii blow again next spring, !"
answered Betty, showing her poor
little garden, which consisted of
the hyacinth, tulip and one stout danda-
lion, blooming bravely In an old teapot
That viii be a long time to wait. won't
it2s
8 Yes'm; but / 60 and take peeks at
them flowers in the shop, and once the
nan gave me pink that hadn't no stem.
| -Iaybe he will again, and so I'll get
| along, said Betty, softly touching her
/ cheerful dandelion as If It was friend
wish you would come and see my