Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-03-14
Miss Hetty's Roses.

in her bamboo rocker. ut is all fol-
de-rol, l say, for people to think they
must make up jimcracks that nobody
wants, and scatter them about among
their friends. :"
"But it is for a birthday present,
auntie."
"Well, what of that? Do you
suppose because my birthday hap
pens to be coming, that | want any
body to give me an ungainly pin
cushion with two HIS worked in the
centre ?"
"What if there should be three
H'sp said Lottie, slyly, remember
ing old Peter Hammond's clumsy at
tentions, with, as he admitted, "an
eye to the snug home"
Whats that you said ?" snapped
Miss Hetty.
Lottie did not venture repetition,
but sat demurely considering what
under the stress of circumstances she
should do. Lottie was Miss Hen
rietta's orphan niece, and had been
member of her household for nearly
a year. She had learned dearly to
love the prim lady, though that love
was not unmixed with fear. Her
wants had all been kindly anticipat-
ed and generally supplied but now,
she had come to her aunt with re-
quest for few shillings to expend on
trifes, of which Miss Hetty did not
approve, and had been fatty denied.
Oh, dear, what should she do?
Harry had always bought her some
tasteful gift, and she did so want to
make him "hat-band" for his new
Derby. She had not dreamed that
she could not, and had purposefy put
it off until the last moment.
The great drops welled suddenly
up to her eyes. If Miss Hetty saw
any symptoms of hcartache, she had
had heartaches herself, and they had
never killed her yet" But Lottie
did not mean to droop. Auntie was
usually kind, and was, albeit, her
only living relative-except indeed
Harry. Well, Harry was not a rela-
tive exactly-and, oh dear, if he
could only have hat-band.
She forced back the rebellion
tears, and went singing about the
house like the blithe girl she was.
The birthday morning arrived, and
the problem of Harry's present was
still unsolved.
eff could just give HIM some
thing" she sighed, looking wistfully
down the long street.
"Oh J" she said, suddenly, clapping
her hands. 81 will l will What
happy thought" and she fairly
jumped into her cloak and hat, and
went skipping down the street.
DR.. Beach, an eccentric bachelor,
lived in the rather lonely house at
the extreme end of the street. Lot
tie was never sick herself, and Aunt
Hetty employed DR.. Camb for her
occasional ailments yet the bright
hearted girl had contrived to make
the acquaintance of the uncouth doc
tor, who liked her and called her
Little Miss"
"What if the dear old man was a
little gruff? he was good :" and into
his Office Lottie now went, assured of
warm welcome. Absorbed in her
own interest, and intent on her err
rand, she approached the bay win
dow, where stood the great monthly
rose-bush, which had been the wonder
and envy of the admiring public,
since almost before Lottie was born.
"Oh, Doctor!" she said, 81 came
to ask if you would be so kind as to
give me three or four of these lovely
buds"
"What forl" growled the Doctor,
savagely.
"You see," she, began, II wanted
to make something pretty for a
birthday gift for-for friend, but /
could not" choking little. land l
had almost given up hope of any
thing, when this morning, as glanc.
ed down the road, your beautiful
roses seemed to say Come after us
come after u.s. So here am. Flow
ers are always nice to give, you know,
and l have none"
"Humph Why couldn't you
make what you wanted to-"
Aunt Hetty would not let me-"
"Humph Is not Henrietta Hen
shaw good to you |" he demanded,
bristling up.
"Oh yes, as kind as can be. But
she does not believe in birthday gifts,
she says"
Hadn't you any money your
selfy"
mo-"
"She might give you a cent or two
from time to time; then you would
have fund to draw FROM"
Nnk sko I~o. LII G.. l-ll-