The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-01-28

flushing, II never had q, bunch Of
flowers in my life.''
''Theso were sent to you by y little
girl about your age, with her love-"
She had them in her hand now and was
nesting her head lovingly against them.
Il wish you could see them growing,
Maggie, said Miss Rose, looking down
at the little girl; Fields full of them,
all making bows and courtesies to each
other"
"1'd like to 60 there; it must be
pretty
maybe your mother will take you
into the country when you get WE'LL"
Il amt got no mother; I amt got no
home neither; for granny's turned me
off now I'm hurted. and l won't 60
back again."
"Why, Maggie, where will you 60
after you leave here?''
''Indeed, I don't know, ma am. some
where's. It'll be harder, too, because
l never knowed nothink about nice
bed before. Me and granny slept on
some rags on the floor, and I never
thought would feel so good to be
clean.'
Il am coming next week to see you,
Maggie, and maybe there will be anoth-
er bunch of flowers from the same lit
tie girl"
''She's good 'un, that little girl
Iain't got nothink to send her, but
when l get well Ill send her something
sure. You tell her that"
iii
For three weeks Nellie Gray brought
in her daisies and many messages
passed between the two little girl.
then Miss Rose missed the bright faces
She decided to 60 to the market and
make inquiries as to the cause of her
absence from Mrs. Gray, to whom Mel
lie had introduced her; but, being very
busy then, it passed out of her
mind, until upon her weekly visit to
the hospital the nurse said: ''The doc
tor says Maggie's leg will soon be all
right, but she don't get her strength,
and if only she could get to the coun-
try this summer it would be the max
ing of her." Then Miss Rose, remem-
bering Nellio's remark about the young
girl who had boarded with them the
past summer, resolved to 60 out to Mrs.
Gray's home and see whether she
would take Maggie for the summer.
A short ride in the cars brought her
to the little village of Green Spring,
and Mrs. Gray's cottage was soon
found. 1t was a little distance from
the village, upon quite high hill, with
thick woods at the back, and in front
peaceful country landscape. Miss
Rose stood some time upon the door
step drinking in the country sights and
picturing Maggie's bliss at finding her.
self here. Mrs. Gray opened the door
at her knock, and on seeing her burst
into tears. "Oh, if you had come be-
fOre.''
What is the matter, Mrs. Gray? Is
Nellie sick2" and Miss Rose followed
her into the neat parlor.
"Oh, Miss Rose, Nellie's dead. She's
been dead these two weeks, and she
wanted to see you so bad, and she left
so many messages for you and for the
little girl" Then seeing how shocked
her visitor was at the sudden, sad news
she controlled herself with a great ef-
fort, and went on more quietly. :'We
were on little visit to my brother in
town and Nellie seemed so droopy I
brought her home, and she just grew
worse and worse until she died. The
doctor said it was typhoid fever. She
was out of her head most of the time,
but she talked about you and the flow
crs and Maggie. The last words she
said were, Tell Miss Rose to give my
love to Maggie.
So Mrs. Gray talked on, easing her
sorrowful heart, and Miss Rose Won
dered how she was to ask this grief
stricken woman to take strange child
irto the home from which loved one
had just been taken; but gradually she
led the conversation from Nellie's love
of Maggie to Maggie herself, and finally
after dwelling upon her homeless, dark
ened childhood, asked if she would not
take her in and nurse her back to health
and strength. Mrs. Gray consented
for Nellie's sake, but refused to hear of
any board being paid. 1t should be a
free will offering in memory of her lit
tie daughter. So a few weeks later
Maggie accompanied Miss Rose to her
new home. She drew long breath as
she stood upon the doorstep and looked
about her, and for the first time a
sparkle of childish pleasure lit up the
sad face and dark eyes.
into a different child. she could milk
the COW, make the butter, and tho love
of her long starved nature was all given
to Mrs. Gray-''Mother Gray she
called her now. When Miss Rose came
to see her in the autumn she did not
know her, and Maggie laughed a joy
full, childish laugh at her mistake.
Then Mrs. Gray, with one arm around
Maggie, made a little speech. Miss
Rose, Maggie don't want to go back to
the city and the old wretched life, so
I'm going to keep her with me. She's
useful little thing, and I could not
| stand this lonely house without her.
Maggie lived with Mrs. Gray and was
loving, tender daughter, comforting
her in her sorrow, and ministering to
to her in old age. And Maggie, in her
happy, busy life, never forgot the little
hand that had opened the door for her
into so much love, and on a certain
day in the year upon a little green
mound in the churchyard was always
laid 8 bunch OF daisies.
Dog That Understands.
There is a Boston Newfoundland
dog, Lion, by name, who gives proof
of his comprehensions of what is said
to him. A lady called on his mistres.
the other day. During her call Lior
came in rather slyly, lay down on the
parlor carpet and went to sleep. Tht
conversation ran on, and the visitor
said finally:
| .What a handsome Newfoundland