The Penn's Grove record., 1888-04-07
THE EMMA-JANE VERBENA.

LIE CMMAJhNE "A.
Mrs. Pease was fond of flowers. She
liked them in masses IN a cracked
white pitcher, and she admired what
che called a ''set Souquet"-such as
her son Orrln carried on Sunday even.
lngs to his sweetheart, Miss Abby
Swift, over IN the "Center." Best OF
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 peeped
boldly In at the windows. Morning
glories climbed to the low roof. Petu-
Mas and mignonette flourished in their
humble way; and tiger-lilies, sweet
peas, phlox and hollyhOcks mingled
with cockscombs, canterbury bells.
nasturtiums and peoples in gay confu-
sion.
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 beds.
The flowers repaid her in many ways.
They filled the air with sweetness, they
seemed to smile and nod to her through
storm and sunshine, they seemed quite
human in their silent grace. She called
them all 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
thriftily.
Her son, too, felt an interest in the
garden. He shared her pride in the
lusty roses and geranlums, he liked to
see his mothers sun-bonnet bobbing
among the bushes, or bending intently
to the ground. He was interested in
the welfare of the "Liddy Ann Pink"
and solicltous as to the growth Of the
"Amandy chrysanthemum."
81 do declare" said Mrs. Pease, one
summer evening, ''that Martha lily
does look dreadful peaked, just like the
Ponds. l kinder hated to call it after
one OF 'em, but 1 see she was goin' to
feel badly II l didn't, and SO l did.
Now look at 1t, all yeller and droppin'.
Seems as If there was a sort o. sympa-
thy 'atween EN-"
Orrin was a youth Of few words. He
looked interested, but said nothing.
"There's that Betsey peOny,h con-
tinued his mother, walking slowly down
the path, show 1t does growl Great
strappiD' thing. Everytime l look at
1t, a-standin' up so peart and sassy, |
think Of Betsy Bangs in her red jer-
sey."
"How's the verbena, mother?" said
Orrln.
"The Emma-JaneP" said Mrs.
Pease, STOPPING over a plant whose lit
tie fingers, spread In all directions,
promised to cover a large space with
pure blossoms. Its a CROWN beauti-
full" and she sighed.
Her son looked serious for a moment,
then Strengthened up to his full height
OF six feet, a handsome, stalwart young
burned face freshly shaved.
II guess I'll 90 over to the Center, !"
he said.
$50 soonI" exclaimed his mother
with a wistful look.
He went into the house silently; and
the good woman picking a dead cinna-
mon rose to pieces, said in a low voice:
81 hope to mercy she'll be good
enough for him, and not n of your
fightyIkind. 1 s'pose she'll like a bou-
quet." And then with care, if not
with skill, the kind soul gathered q
large bunch of the different flowers anb
wrapped a bit Of newspaper around
their stems.
When Orrin appeared in his best
clothes, he thanked her warmly, picked
q hfAoonnn Nf fha r1htta xarhora TO- bic
buttonhole, and blithely strede away.
She watched him through the dusk as
long as she could see. He and the
flowers were all she had to love; some
times it was hard to have him leave her
Of an evening-hard to know that a
fair face had such power to win him
from the devotion and companionshIp
Of years.
"He's better than the common rum"
she thought with pride, more quiet
behaved and faithful. He's been a
good son to me. He'll be a dreadful
indulgent husband. Eff she amt good
to him--o
She turned away from the gate and
express her feelings. at each side OF
tuo PAIN Tue plOsSOm5 leaneu UOWdTuS
her, filling the air with their sweet
breath, as If reminding her: 1--WE are
always here. We never leave yon."
"No more you do" said the simple
woman, understanding them. And
then she picked a bit Of the white YER
bena.
"Sweet c~reetur." she whispered,
'.jest as inherent and sweet as Emma
Jane herself"
Meanwhile. through the scented
evening walked Grin with his big
bouquet. His honest heart was full OF
tender anticipations. Would she be
out in the yard, neutrality-suspicious.
for himp Would she smile with the
look In her eyes he loved to see therey
Or would she be unaccountably shy and
cool, seem surprised to see him, and
take his offering indifferently. There
was no telling about girls. Somehow
he fancied that his manner had always
been straightforward and easy to under
stand. Abby was different, all spirit
and change, one minute wild with
merriment; the next, quiet, inscrut-
able, ''mad," perhaps.
twill take more than a garden to
satisfy her, I guess" he thought, half
amused, half tender. "God bless herl"
10 added reverently.