Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-06-10
MICKEY's VIOLET.
A FLOWER, A BOY, A GOAT AND A NO
TIERS LOVE-.
Stury Of the Blossom that Shed LIS Perfume Il
Lindslsy's Wood Ais, Of the Psrfuns Of
The Kerosene o. tbs Billy Coats Rope.
Nesr York Sun.

L
big pine tree in Lindsley's wood there
grew a violet. Twas after much hesita'
ton that the flower hsd pushed its wsy
up through the carpet of brown needles
which covered il, and at last timidly
showed its head. Every morning slant
ing beam of Sunlight shot through the
branches of the big pine and kissed the
purple lips of the flower and drank up
the beads of dew which nestled in it:
green leaves. After many days of strug'
Cling the flower began to manufacture its
new spring bonnet. The bonnet was Two
ven in looms of air" and shaped by the
''shuttles of the sum-" Still, while this
process was going on, the flower often
shrank and trembled az q vicious blast,
lingering over from March, chilled its
tender leaves. Bat one day, when the
sun was brighter than usual, the bonnet
opened itself and a subtle perfume came
from it and mingled with the balsamic
odor OF the pine and the faint breath of
the honeysuekle. Twas the eau de CO.
logne Of the wood. A dainty bloom was
this and coquettishly did it wave upon
its slender stem.
1t seemed as if all the jewellers in the
wood had conspired to protect the flower.
A big humble bee was pilferipg sweets
from the violet one day when blue bird
flew down and gobbled it up. A red
headed woodpecker picked mp q bug
which was gnawing away at the violet's
stem. A brown-bressted robin tripping
by stopped to look at the flower. A squir-
rel fingered on its way up ragged oak
turned to inspect il, then whisked out Of
sight in the foliage. And every day the
stem of the flower grew stronger and its
perfume sweeter.
But across the fields from beyond there
came one day destructive animal; which
consumed every green and living thing
before it. This was Mickey FInn's billy
| goat. 1t happened that the venerable old
aybeard had gnawed the rope which
bound him to the stake in Stumpy Field
and had gone on a little ramble. As he
ambled down the Old Point road dragging
behind him about 20 feet Of clothes line,
he looked every inch copqueror, and
Children hid behind their mothers skirts
and peered out fearfully as he went by.
On arriving at the wood he shifted the air
redolent of fresh and growing things. At
ter cropping tender grasses for awhile he
grew tired of this ordinary fare and fed
only on dandelions shoots and aud other
dainties in the wood.
| Violet, you are in danger
The goat stood on the crest Of a ridge,
which ran like backbone through the
forest. He looked of upon the river be-
low him with a dreamy expression in his
eyes as if he enjoyed the scene. Sud-
denly he turned his head and listened
Dawn the aisles of the wood came faint
"Ha!loo, Billy, Billy, Billy ~
There was a moment of silence, broken
only by the soughing Of the big pine.
Then above the voices OF the wood came
the call again, this time nearer by. The
holry and wicked old truant lifted his
head and uttered m-a-a a Of welcome.
BIrefooted and flushed with exercise
Mickey Finn made his appearance. The
most affsctionate relations prevailed be-
tween the boy and the goat, which was
shown by the ardent manner in which the
goat rubbed his head against the boy g
legs. Mickey picked up the rope, and the
pair started homeward.
Beware, violet
The way led past the mig pine. AS they
went down the slope of the hill the goat
saw through the leaves the twinkle OF the
yi0lers blue cap. He was eager to reach
the flower, but Mickey led him back with
the rope. Thus struggling they went by
the flower on run. Mickey caught a
glimpse Of the violet as he went by, how
ever, and the desire for possession seized
him.
When the goat had been safely tied to a
stake again and kerosene oil bad been
poured upon the rope by Mickey to keep
the graybeard from chewing it again, the
boy returned after the flower. He took
his mothers fire shovel with him ard dug
it up, carrying enough earth with the
plant to protect its roots. He planted il
in the front yard and built little fence OF
sticks around il.
The flower dropped and faded for day
or two, then IL resumed it's pristine bright
ness OF hue, sll its exquisite bloom, all the
subtle odor which it had horne in the
wool. Every morning Mickey watered il
from an old tomato can and powdered the
earth around it until the soil was soft and
loamy. 0nly the morning sun was al
lowed to shine upon the violet, for at mid
day the hot rays would have blasted the
f,wer. Under such fostering care the
violet became ambitious, and put cut an
other stem. From the top OF this stem
there grew another bloom, with a yellow
heart and with purple petals softer than
imperial velvet. Every morning before he
went to school Mickey knelt over the
flower and his nostrils dilated as the per.
fume greeted bis freckled lose Then he
covered the delicate plant with root
of brown paper to shade it from the noon.
day heat.
All day long az he toiled over his spell
ing book and primary geography the pic
ture Of the nodding violet danced on the
page before him. 1t obscured the naked
savages in Terre del Fuego IL came be.
tween little Mikes eyes and the Cape Of
Good Hope, and with tantaliziug insist.
encs interfered with the boys spelling O!
''phthisis." In fact, violets nodded
archily all over the desk.
Hide, violetsl
But thu kerosene evaporated from the
rope which bound the billy goat, and he
began 10 chew upon it as he had in DAYS
gone by. He was in no bury about the
job apparently, for he chewed with pains.
taking persistency, knowigg that patience
always brings recompense for toll. AZ.
ter chewing for three hours without once
relaxing his jaws, the rope fell apart.
Once more he WAS free to roam at his own
sweet will over hill and dale in Stumpy
Field, and cen in the balmy Linasley's
wood, if his fancy led him thither. In.
stead, however, he went straight to the
shsnty.
1t happened that Mrs. Finn saw The
goat coming. She closed the gate and
made preparations for defence, but The
billy vaulted over the fence aud began his
old-.ime foragiDg in the back yard fol
cabbage stumps and the juicy potato par.
ing. Mrs. Finn was afraid of the bil,y.
Frequent encounters had taught her he
was not to be trified With, She stood In
the kitchen door, armed with clothes.
pole. When the goat came within reach
che used this weapon upon the poat,s