The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-06-10
MOTHERS HEARTs-EAsE.
BY HOPE LEDYARD.

"Here, father. want to pin my pansy
TO your coat.
''Your first flower, Marion, no, no,
keep it yourself. Father has no call for
flowers. A coal shoveler wearing flow
err" said John Mills. Little did
think I'd come to shoveling coal"
''No matter, father; | want you to
wear my flower; | love it so, and | love
you"
Loved him. John Mills thought, with
sharp pain, how little cause she had to
love him. If he had kept away from
drink. Marion might have had careful
nursing and many comforts, while, as it
was, Marion's mother had to leave her
to go out sewing, and the girl lay in bed
alone, with her bird and boxes of plants.
He could not speak at once, but let
Marion pin the beautiful pansy on his
shabby coat, then stopped to kiss her
goodbye.
Marion had determined to say, "Fath-
er, don't take my pretty flower into a
liquor saloon" but her courage failed
She only put her arm around his neck
You look like your flower, Marion,
said her father.
That's what mother says. She calls
me Mothers Heart -ease-that's prettier
than Marion"
The yellow pansy, with It's violet cen
ter, certainly reminded one of the sick
girl, with her golden hair and dark blue
eyes. John Mills looking at the flower
made fresh resolutions to keep steady.
and try and do better. Having lost one
situation after another, he had at last
shouldered a shovel and, walking
through the streets, offered to put any
coal away.
Marion's flower brought him good
luck. At the first place he offered his
services the lady of the house happened
70 be standing at the window, and Won
dering that so respectable a man should
offer himself, she engaged him TO put in
two tons. Two more Jobs made Johns
hands very black and his face dusty
It was dry work. John had nearly
twelve shillings in his pockets, and it
was only few minutes past nine
ssIf / get one stiff glass" he thought,
'sTll be ready for three or four tons
more, and that'n be good days work
for Marion" and he turned to enter a
saloon. Then he saw the pansy hang
ing its head as if in shame. John stop
ped-he could not take Marion's flower
in there; ii seemed like part of herl
He passed the store and walked on.
What could he do9 He nnst have a
drink-yet the flower.
Just then little girl with yellow hair
and big blue eyes came by, holding an
older brothers hand She reminded
John of Marion, and to the ehildren,s
astonishlnent the goldman stopped
them and handed the little one q beau
/ tiful pansy-
Here's pin TO fasten it with. said
the man; .sit'll freshen up when you put
it in water.
Now it happened that Blossom. as
they called the little girl, had just been
wishing for a flower She had been
taught to express her thanks in but one
way. 80 when Brother Dick took the
flower and pinned it in her sack, she
stepped up to John Mills, who had been
looking at the pretty picture the chill
dren made, and said
: You good man; BLOSSOM will
give yon kiss and almost before he
knew it John had stopped down and
taken kiss from the little one.
You'se very good man. the words
rang in his ears as he started away
meaning to queneh the thirst which
possessed him. So she thought him good |.