Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-04-11
THE EMMA-JANE VERBENA.

The EMMA-JANE NERBENA.
Mrs. Tease was fond of flowers. Sh.
liked them in masses IN a cracked
white pitcher. and she admired what
she called a set Souquet''-such a:
her son Orrin carried on Sunday even.
Ings to his westheart, Miss ABBY
Swift, over IN the Center" Best o,
all she loved them growing in her gar
den.
The garden was "A tangle OF color and
sweetness. Roses crowded up against
the little brown house, and peepeC
boldly in ar the windows. Morning
glOries climbed to the low roof. Petu
Mas and mignonette fiourished in theiI
humble WAY; and tiger-lilieS, sweet
peas, phlOX and hollyhocks mingled
with cockscOmos, canterbury bells.
nasturtiums and poppieS in gay confu-
sien.
Mrs. Pease spent hours over them.
wedding, training, clipping AID water
ing unwearIedly. Her bent figure
could be seen all summer long moving
lovingly about the narrow paths, hang
ing patiently over the brilliant teds-
The flowers repaid her in many WAYS
They filled the air with sweetness, they
seemed 10 smile and nod TO her through
human In their silent grace. She called
them ali by name, often in grateful
memory Of some friend, generally for
the giyer OF the plant or precious slip
from which the blossoms sprang so
thr,ftily.
Her son. too, felt an interest In the
garden. He shared her pride in the
lusty roses aud geranIums, he liked to
see his mothers sun-bonnet bobbing
among the bushes, or bending intently
10 the ground. He was interested in
the welfare Of the "Liddy Ann Pink, :"
and sOhcitOus as to the growth OF the
"Amandy Chrysduthemum."
- DO declare" " said Mrs. Pease, one
summer evening, that Martha lily
does look dreadful peaked, Just like the
Ponds. | kinder hated To call 1t after
one Of 'em, but I see she was goin' to
feel badly II l dilu't, and so l did.
Now look at Il, all yeiler and droppin'-
seems as If there was sort o sympa-
thy 'atween EN-"
Orrin was a youth Of few words. He
looked Interested, but said nothing.
There's that Betsey peony," con-
tiuued his mother, walking slowly down
the path, "hOw It does growl Great
strapqln' thing. Everytime l look at
- hAT7NtAAA"AtAA ~ ~ kNeAAN oAAt sassy
think Ot Betsy Bangs in her red jer-
sey.n
"How's the yerbena, mother?" said
Oruu.
The Emma-Jane?r said Mrs.
Pease, STOPPING over plant whose lit
tie fingers, spread IN all directions,
promised to cover large space with
pu.e blossoms. Its growin' beauti-
ful, ~ and she sighed.
Her son looked serious for a moment,
then Strengthened up to his full height
OF six feet, handsome, stalwart young
fellow IN his shirt sleeves, with his sun
burned face freshly shaved.
II guess III 90 over to the Center"
he said.
80 soonl' exclaimed his mother
with wistful look.
he went into the house silently; and
the good woman picking a dead cinna-
mon rose 10 pieces, said in low voice:
Il hope TO mercy she'll be good
enough for him, and not one of your
nghUlkInd. l s'pose she'll like a bou-
Quet" And then with care, If not
with skill, the kind soul gathered
ArGe bunch of the different flowers and
wrapped a bit OF newspaper around
their tens.
N' SAAAA dPRtdAtu III Ills Dcol
clothes, he thanked her warmly, picked
ahlossOm of the white yerbena for his
outtonhOle, and blithely strobe away.
ohe watched him through the dusk as
.ons as she could see. He and the
aoSers were all she had to love; some
lines II was hard TO have him leave her
an evenlng-hard TO know that a
.AT lace had such power to win him
AOm The devotion and cOmDaniDns shiD
OF fyears.
hes better than the common run"
e Uought with pride, more quiet
ua'eu and faithful. He's been a
soSu son to me. He'll be dreadful
,,lGulsent husband. Er she amt good
70 him-r
a ,, ue turned away from the gate and
A -ooA Aer head as if words failed to
.tp'ess her feelings. At each side of
&c pain the blossoms leaned towards
80, -, uAIng the air with their sweet
sI, as II reminding her: ave are
~ mere. We never leave you.''
vO more you do,n said the simple
tSAl, understanding them. And
~. sue picked bit Of the white YER
..,et sweet crestur" " she whispered,
-, a. hnercent and sweet as Emma
Jane herelr.n
svsrs-l vsTsAnWhle, through the scented
bono--s, walked Orrin with his big
,enSs" lis honest heart was full OF
or. T.UeF antcipasions. Would She be
fcT IA. "a Tie yard, watching-watchlng
Io', u.mt Would she smile with the
o. o. M IN her eyes he loved 10 see therey
Coo s1.u se. Sic be unaccountabIy shy and
taSs Ly' Seen surprised to see him, and
vas -,S 10 Offering indiffereutly. There
he trc,ts 10 telling about girls. somehow
been s,,',,- .eI that his manner had always
stand %S1tiorwarI % and easy TO under
aud rb,Hooy was different, all spirit
abIa abI''nent; .nsent; the next, quiet inscrntl l
-'.sI mad y perhaps '''' W.
satisfy bs- more than garden To
snused. bals .kusSs, he thought, half
he added rar.-er. .euuer. God bless herI''