The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-09-06


was beautiful girl. but she'd been sick
for long time, and SO, though she did
all she could, she couldn't do much
moro than keep herself sweet and clean.
Mother had died when I was baby, and
! suppose it was the hard work and
father drinking that had sickened the
poor girl. But was tellin" you about
that day. 1t was a hot June day.
Father had been special hard on us, and
tho last thing he'd done was to get me
a place in drinking-saloon, whero
there was lot of gambling goin' on,
too. My boy, you're an innocent, we'll
brought-up young fellow" (Jack lifted
tho mass of blossoms to his face, and
their delicate pink seemed reflected in
his cheeks), but if you ever knew what
know of the wickedness that cards
and liquor may lead to, you'd not won
der at tho old deacon's narrow
ncss.' Well, as I was a-sayin', my
father d found me the place, and I'd
been at it for just week. That Fri
day evenin' I was to be paid, and had
a great plan in my head. Mary was
just crazy over flowers. A missionary
lady had brought her bunch once and
again, and tho way she doted on 'em
was just surprisin'. Dear, dear. how
often I've thought of Mary when l see
tho youngsters pullin' flowers and
throwin 'em awayl"
The deacon paused moment. Jack
broke off bit of the blossoms, and,
with the gentlcness of woman, fas-
tened it in the old farmers coat.
"Thankee thankee l never could pick
fruit blossoms myself, but l don't know
but flowers is as much needed as fruit.
Well, as l was a-sayin', had plan. !
had seen lovely rose bush in pot at
the corner grocery, and meant to buy
that for Mary. Ipriced it; twas just
twenty-five ccnts; and I'd watched
every day and no one had bought it.
Now, this morning ! meant to buy it
and keep it in tho saloon till Id get
off, late at night. But whens I got to
tho grocery the rose-bush warn't thercl
'I'vo had good many dis int
mcnts one way aud another, but don't
knows ever I felt one wuss. The
groceryman was talkin' to big rough
lookin' fellow, but was that eager l
couldn't wait, and just rushed up and
said You amt sold that rose bush2'
81 guess l looked mighty airncst, for
they both looked at me, and then the
man said: 'Ycs, hubby, I sold it
yesterday afternoon. But there's other
flowers-this mans just bargaining for
me to buy some of his H.
"Arc you so fond of flowers, sonnyf
said the strange man.
II told him wanted the roso for my
sister, who was sick, and then I said I
had told Mary how pretty the rose was,
and, though she didn't know I was to
get it, I'd meant to buy it'd bor-
rowed the money from Tom cause l
wouldn't be paid off till midnight.
Midnight A little fellow like
your" exclaimed the big man. Aud
where do you work till midnight
"'At the big saloon around the cor
ner,' Isaid. I amt so young I'm
fourteenp
"HAnd working iu saloon2 What
does that sister O. your say to thatT
said the big one.
"Shc feels mighty bad about it.
She cries and cries. But l tell her l
wouldn't drink, not if they killed me,
nor 1 won't play cards; and tonight I'll
have three dollars for Mary
"The groceryman had gone to another
customer. The big stranger stood
lookin' me over for minute or so, and
then he laid his hand on my shoulder
and said: How'd Mary like you to live
on farm, sonnyF
II told him that that was just what
made Mary feel so bad. A lady had
told her to pray about everything, and
Mary had prayed and prayed that l
might go to work on farm-as if
there were farms in New York City!
Now, see hero, sonny said the
man, you just look in that covered
wagon and pick out the flowers you'd
like for Mary, and then tell me where
she lives, and I'll go and see her.
"You'll believe l stepped up to that
wagon pretty lively. 1t was just full OF
roses-little pots and big ones. But
hadn't minute to spare, and l pulled
out beautiful pink rose that made me
think of Mary's checks at night, and
told him where we lived; and then
| just flew around the corner. / was late,
and the man was mighty cross. The
police had been in the night before, and
I got hard words and some blows, but
didn't care-Mary would have that rose
1 haven't time to tell you how the men
took fancy to make me drink that
eveting, and how my own father, fall
tipsy as he Was helped 'em on; but at
last it was time for me to leave, and
asked for my pay. Jack, just think
how felt when that saloon keeper told
me my father had taken my pay in
liouorl / was stiff and sore-I had
been up late for seven nights; and now
hadn't n cent for Maryl
"Dear, dearl How it all comes back
to mel Well, got homo somehow, and
crept up softly, hoping she was asleep
but she was sitting up in bed, her cheeks
like the rose by her side and her eyes
i shining. / just threw myself on hei
bed and cried---though ] was boy.