The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-01-28
A BUNCH OF DAISIES,
BY MARY H. GROsyENOR.

II was busy morning in the mission,
flowers were constantly received, to be
tied up and laid aside for distribution in
the different hospitals, 50 the little
girl stood there long time unnoticed.
Her face saddened and the tears
were filing tho blue eyes as she thought,
''They have so many prettier flowers
they will not care for mine,'' and she
was just deciding to slip quietly away,
when hand was laid on her shoulder,
bright young face looked down at
hers and sweet voice said, "Poor
little soul, she thought herself entirely
forgotten, but l have seen you oil the
time. My hands were so full could
not get to yon before, and, although I
smiled and nodded, you would not look
at me. Are these flowers for us?''
"Yes'm.' The grave face was
lighted with smile now, and the eyes
were raised shyly. ''Mother said you
would not care about them, but they
were all had, and I was sure some
little chi ldrcn would like them. As 1
was coming along the street some real
fine ladies asked me how much they
were, and would have given me ten
cents bunch, but I told them they
were not for sale. So mother was
wrong after ALL
She had been running on so quickly
that now she came to full stop, quite
breathless.
"Who is mother, and where do you
live?"
''Mother's name is Gray and she sells
chickens and eggs in the market, and
We live in the country near Green
Spring, and my names Nellie Gray,
and the reason / can't have any how-
ers is because the chickens scratch
them all up
But how did You hear about the
Flower MissionP"
Mother read me about it out of the
paper, and last summer i girl from the
city boarded with us and she was Just
from the hospital, and she said lady
had given her bunch of flowers while
she was there and she believed it had
cured her, it had cheered her up so.
But, please, mother will be expecting
me now. Can I leave the flowers, or
do you think they are too common
/ "Bless your little heart, don't think
them common at all, and I know a
whole roomful of sick children where
they will be very welcome. Can't you
bring us some more next week."
II will try, ma'am. am so glad
you like them. and won't you give the
little children my love and tell them /
wished they all could live in the coun-
try toop'
Her whole face beamed with delight
as the basket was emptied and the
young lady said: these must all 20
to the Children's Hospital. will take
them myself
''Oh, thank you, ma'am," and
swinging her empty basket she went
back to her mother to talk all day OF
the young lady who liked her flowers,
and to wonder whether the little chill
dren would like them too.
It had been q weary day in the
accident ward of the Children's
Hospital, and even the patient nurses
had found it impossible to satisfy all
the demands made upon them. They
were tired of their dolls, their blocks
and their books; it was not yet Dime,
time, and from nearly every bed there
was little wall of pain or Impotence.
But near window, through which the
sun shone brightly in, lay a very quiet
figure, little girl brought in the night
before with broken leg. Only nine
years old, yet selling shoestrings and
matches in the streets to make living
for herself and drunken old woman
she called granny! Yet when she had
been taken to the miserable home
badly hurt from fall, the old woman
had refused to take her in; denying
all relationship; so poor little home
less Maggie had been taken to tn,
hospital, to be tenderly cared for in {
way that filed her with wonder. 70,
would have thought her asleep but TO,
the wide-open eyes with their sad ex
preston Of hopelessness, expecting
nothing, looking into no future. Bu
q bright spot was coming into thil
weary day, for the door opened and il
walked the young lady of whom Nelli,
Gray was still chatte7ing to her mother
Immediately thrill of expectatio,
passes through the occupants of the
beds, the wailing ceased and littl,
hands were extended, thin little hand
it would have made your heart ache t.
sec, and little voices piped out: '.Hov
do. lady, give me bunch of flowers.
Indeed. I'm glad you've come
Miss Rose" said one Of the nurse
with sigh; ':for 1t seems to me on,
OF the longest days I've ever eesnand;
the children - troublesome, too. al
except Maggie hers.''
And a. Maggie is such . good cir