The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1888-03-07
SELECTED.
ELSiE'S VioLETS.


Flowers! Who'll buy my flowers: =
This was the timid cry of little girl of
about ten years of aye, who, with baS-
kct of fragrant yioletS, was wandering
up and down the streets of Il large city in
America. She was II pretty sight, with
her large black eyes and shining curlS,
and her poor but neat dress.
~ do wish somebody would buy my
lowers mamma will wonder why | am
away so long. oh, here comes a sailor
man. perhaps he will buy some And
gathering up all her courage, she went up
to him and said, Don't you want to buy
flowers, SIR" Doubtless the sailors
bright, CHEEKY face had attracted the lit
tie one.
Yes, my little girl; Il take some of
your tiolets."
While she was choosing the lunches he
said
"What is your name, little girl: You
seem to be very young to be in the streets
alone.
My name is Elsie Graham. Mamma
is sick, 50 | cOaXed her to let me pick
some of our viOets, and sell them, 50 as
to make some money.
Well said the sailor you are a
very good little girl to try and help your
mother along, and to help you, will take
the rest of your flowers.
ooh, thank you, sir; but must hurry
home, mamma will be worried. Good by,
Saior-man
Good bye, my little deare. God bless
the pretty little thing. She reminds me
of my own little daughter, | left at home
twenty years ago God knows where she
is now.
"Oh mamma, look at all the money
I've got?' With this exclamation Elsie,
our little flower girl bounded into the
room where her mother was lying,
"Oh, Elsie, darling, are you back safe?
| have been so worried for fear some
thing would happen to me or YOU.
"Yes, mamma, safe and sound, with II
pocketful of money, and lots of good
things, said Elsie, putting her basket
down and kissing her mother.
"Just see, mamma, one dollar ana nifty
cents, beside the good things in the bas-
ket, SAID she, holding out the money FOR
her mother to see. "A nice sailor-man
bought all had left, ju rs it was get
ting SO dark. knew must come home,
and wanted to sell them so much. Now,
mamma, lie still and rest, and ! Il soon
have a good supper ready for you.
After they had partakcn Of their sim
pie evening meal, Elsie said, Mamma, if
YOU are not too tired, will you tell me all
about my sailor grandpa!
well, my dear, when was a little
girl, lived in village ON the coast of
England, and my father used to 30 away
ON long voyages. When | was about ten
Years old, he went away on Il trip from
which he would not return in two years.
NV dear mother dreaded To rave him go
she knew the dangers of the sea and feared
he might never come home again. The
evening he babe Us goodbye, ] picked
him some of our yiolc:s, he put them in
his buttonholc, and said he would keep
them always to remember his little Elsie,
NV mother and stood at the door, and
watched him until he was out OF sight Z;
then she took me in her arms, and wcpi
the whole night That was the last time
we ever saw him Ten years passed, and
we had received no tidiugs But one day
Il sailor came, and told US that the vessel
ON when my father had sailed had been
lost at sea, and all on board had persisted.
Al
pine away, and her one desire was to 90
away from the cruel sea. had been
married to your father in the meantime,
and we took her to the pretty little village
of - There she died. Soon after
You were born, dear. Then your father
having heard so much of America induc-
ed me to come here. When we arrived,
we went to one Of the large cities. But |
had never lived in the city, and kept
pining for the country, so finally having
saved enough money, he bought TINS little
home. One of the things which | had
brought from our old home i'll England
was some roots of our yiOletS | planted
some in this little garden, and so we have
had them ever since. We lived happily
enough until the day that your poor faith
er was brought home dead. only think
lust two wears ago Elsie, what should
/ have done without my little sun beam
during that dark time; But for you |
would have been willing to die. only for
your sake, must live and struggle on, as
best | can on, my darling, it almost
breaks my heart TO think that you must
20 in the streets and earn living, while
/ lie here, helpless Overcome with feel
ing, which She could not control, the
sick woman's form shook with sobs.
Little Elsie tried to comfort her moth
cr. saying; con, mamma dear, don
cry, you have your little Elsie, and tins
nice house and garden
Yes my pet, but how long shall we
be able to keep it? If don get well,
we will be obliged 10 move to the city,
where may find employment
The next morning little Elsie was up
bctimes gathering and arranging her
slender stock of flowers. After making
her mother comfortable, she started out
with her basket on her arm. Either peo-
pie were in hurry this morning or they
did not care for flowers, for our little
flower girl walked around until afternoon,
and succeeded in finding but few pur-
cha,ers. just as she was about to give
up in despair, and go home, she sped her
sailor acquaintance on the opposite cor
ner, and she hurried across to speak
to him. "llello, my hearty" said the
sailor, here you are again, bless your
pretty face! But your load seems to be
rather heavy to-day. I'll take some of
your flowers, to tighten 1t bit.
ooh. thank you, sir but d rather you
wouldn't bcCauSe-because, You might
think that only spoke TO you so that you
would buy some of my flowers, | was so
glad to see you again that | couldn't help
but speak,
All my little maiden, truly, am glad
that You like the old sailor so. Would
YOU mind if walked home with you?
| should like to see the garden where
those pretty vioetS grow.
"Oh, | should like ii ever so much, sir.
The two trudgcd along, the old man
beguilng the time by telling her stories
of sailor life,
But now tell me something about
Yourself, little one.
well, sir, papa is dead, he was a car
penter, and one day he fell from big
ladder, and then he was brought home
dead. Mamma has not been well since.
Before papa died we moved into this nice
little cottage where we live now. Mann
ma does not like it as well as | do, be-
cause when she was little girl like me,
she used to live by the sea, and she al
ways likes to be near II, Mammals IA
Their was II sailor, guess that was the
reason why like you so much
Where did your mother live, when
she was smalll" Il think 1t was IN c.
sir, In England "ln C-y' said the olt
man, starting back In surprise. If Il
n H., 20 4, n,I, c,nll Ia, my ,lanuh