Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-10-08
4 LOYER OF FLO WERS

NV hH OF RIO HERS
There was no room for any flower-garder
IN the front OF the house, 1t stood so close tC
the road The little cottage, implanted, say,
for white strips around the windows had an
air OF pushing forward timidly. The small,
white, sharp steepled meeting house stood
just opposite. There was a joke prevalent il
the town about Silas VInton's house havips
once started to go to meeting when the bel
rang. The three uneven stone steps before
the front door led quite down to the narrow
sidewalk, which was scarcely more than a
foot path amongst grasses aud weeds. The
little strip of green under the two window,
on each side Of the front door was closed in
neatly aud trinity by low fence Of two white
washed rails. Sllas Vnton had tried TO start
some plants in their tiny enclosures, but il wa,
OF no use The drip from the caves directly
into the roots kept the earth washed away
from them. So there was nothing but the
little pebby strip, where the rain-drops fell
through the close green grass
Sllas had enough land at the rear OF his
house to make up for the want OF it at the
front There were two good acres stretching
back to the river bank. One acre was the
flower and vegetable garden, and the other
was an apple orchard. There we're cherry.
trees, but they we're scattered about at inter.
walls through the garden. This morning the
trees were all in blossom, and some early
flowers in the garden, aud Sas was out there
working. He had taken his coat of, and his
blue calico shirt sleeves showed.
He was young man under thirty, and be
looked still younger. It was not 20 much be-
cause he was short and slender and fair hair.
ed the effect OF childishness he gave came
from some inward quality which shaped the
outward to itself.
People used to say, "Silas vinton is a dread
full womanish sort Of fellar." But it was not
womanishness nor boyishness, but that child
hood which has no sex, which appeared in
his round, delicate face. When be WAS a ba
by he must have had that same look OF won
der and inquiry and innocent speculation
that he had now.
He was at work near where the garden
left of and the orchard begun. The flower
ing aPple.trees were full of bees, and there
was cherry tree near him which swarmed
with them. One could hear their murmur
ing, aud through that, between the ranks Of
rosy trees, the spring rush of the river. The
air was very sweet. Sllas was setting ont
some potted plants which he had brought
from the house. His windows were rugged
with shelves for them from sill to ceiling
His house in winter Was like hot house.
All the time SIlas kept talking to himself,
or rather murmuriDg. It was the way the
bees did, aud he might have been making
honey, after spiritual fashion, too. "Li.
Lace, snowballs, and almond apple blows,
and cherry blows, aud dafodils
He talked to himself about the plants be
was setting out where this one had better be
put, and that one, and how deep holes to dig
for them. But every now and then he cast
bis eyes about, and repeated, "Lilscs, and
snoWbalis, and almond; apple blows, and
cherry blows, and daffodils." II was like a
refrain to his practical musings. These new
flowers we're in sight around him as he work
ed, and he kept counting them over az he
might have counted jewels.
He was so busy talking and working that
he did not hear n girls footstep on The gar.
den path.
The first he heard was a timid, hiRh. pitch.
ed voice saying. "Silas"
He started, and looked around. "Why.
Althea Rose, said he, ''you thar How still
you came didn't hear you"
Mother wants TO knoW," the girl said
bAshfully. ''lf you've got any parsnips you
could let her have"
Certain l have good parcel and your
mothers quite welcome to EN-. They're
right over here"
Silas led the way, and the girl followed him.
odd looking young girl Her face was sweet
and fair her features we're small and delicate.
andhad hatquality about them which one calls
Waxen in lllies but everything about her
which did not depend directly on nature was
peculiar. Her thick light hair was out square.
ly across her neck, and shelved out around
her ears. She had had little stiff white
sun-bonnet on her head, but she had taken il
on as she came along, and held 1t dangling
by the strings Her dark calico dress WAS so
prim in its cut that it almost acquired an in
diVlduality from it. She was only sixteen,
but the skirt touched the ground and hid her
little, coarsely shod feet. The waist was
long and straight and kept back all her pref
~ curves.
She stood watching S,las as he got the
arsnips. When he had filled her basket
and rose and turned to speak to her, the deli.
cate color flashed up deeper in her cheeks,
aud her eyes changed like blue flowers when
the wind strikes them.
There, said he, i've filed the basket
tull and tell your mother she can have some
more any time she wants EN-"
Thank you, said Althea. She did not
offer TO pay him. Silas never would take anv
pay he took pride in supplying the neigh.
DORIS gratnitously with vegetables, and seem.
ed hurt II any remuneration was offered.
Althea reached out her hand for the basket,
but Sllas kept it, "Pm going up to the
house, said he, land I'll carry 1t a. fairs the
gate it's kinder heavy"
Passing along by the clumps aud little beds
OF early flowers, thought struck him. "See
here, AltheA," said he, don't you want
bunch Of flowers 2"
She gave him such a bashful smile that il
ran into silly giggle. II don't know"
III pick you bunch in minute. l won't
Keep you waiting for suppose your mother
wants to cook them parsnips for dinner. Tm
going to have some for mine got EN- all
aug IN the house."
Then he cut lavishly sprays of dioletra, or
lady's esr-drop, snowballs, daffodils, flower
ing almondsand the other spring flowers. He
stopped a moment he-itatingly at lilac bush.
See here, ssid he, II don't know as you
like liacs."
yes, like EN-"
well, here's bunch, then. didn't
know but what you mightnt like EN- some
folks don't l reckon it's most too strong a
drink Of spring, il can put it that way, to
some. can stan IT,"
When he handed her the enormous nose
gay he had cut for her he looked at her un-
covered head. ''Ain't you afraid of Rettn'
burnt, without your bonnet9" asked he.
She gave her sun bonnet a spiteful little
Hing. II bate il !" cried she, with sudden
nerve. Mother makes me wear it, but l
pull 1t of the minute get out OF sight
want hat like the other girls. Sol"
81 thought the bonnet was real pretty, said
Sllas pathizingly. "Pd wear II, II was
you. You're so light-skinned you'll burn real
easy. You're something the color of them
apple blows over there now 1t would be a
pity II you got brown"
IL don't care II | do Thank you for the
flowers, " she added little more softly as she
went out the gate.
silas stared after her "Shs changes round
80 quick, said he, "As il she was in gust
OF wind. First her head a-drOpping down,
an then she goes to dancing, She's got the
prettiest face ever saw. She's prettisr than
mother was declare might count her