The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1889-08-03

uOWn uuu KISSING Der mOVner.
'Just see, mamma, one dollar and
fifty cents. beside the good things in
the basket, " said she, holding out the
] money for her mother to see. "A nice
sailor-man bought all had left, just
as it was getting so dark. knew l
must come home, and | wanted to sell
them all so much. Now, mamma, lie
still and rest, and I'll soon have good
supper ready for you"
After they had partaken ofther 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 little
girl, | lived in village on the coast Of
England, and my father used atO 90
away on long voyages. When | was
about ten years old, be went away on
u trip from which he would not return
in two years. My dear mother dreaded
to have him go--she knew the dangers
of the sea and feared he might never
come home again. The evening he
bade us goodbye. picked him some
Of our violets, he put them in his
buttonhole, and said he would keep
TAem always to remember his little
Elsie. My mother and | stood at the
door, and watched him until he was
out of sight; then she took me in her
arms and wept the whole night. That
was the last time we ever saw him.
Ter years passed, and we had received
NJ tidings. But one day a sailor
came, and told us that the vessel on
which my father had sailed, had been
lost at sea. and all on board had
perished. After this sad news, mother
seemed to pine away. and her one
desire was to go away from the
cruel sea. had been married to
your father in the meantime, and we
took her to the pretty little village of
G.. There she died. Soon after
you were born, dear. Then your
father having heard so much of America
induced me to come here When we
cities. But had never lived in the
city, and | kept pining for the country,
so finally having saved enough money,
he bought this little home. One of
the things which | had brought from
our old home in England was some
roots of our violets. planted some
in this little garden. and so we have
had them ever since. We lived happily
enough until the day that your poor
father was brought home dead. Only
think, just two years ago. Elsie, what
should | have done without my little
sunbe;yn during that dark timea But
for yor. would have been willing to
die. Only for your sake, | must live
and struggle on, as best | can. Oh,
my darling, it almost breaks my heart
to think that you must 90 in the streets
and earn II living, while | lie here,
helpless Overcome with feelings
which she could not control, the sick
woman's form shook with sobs n
Little Elsie tried to comfort her
mother, saying: "Oh, mamma dear,
don't cry, you have your little Elsie,
and this nice house and garden
Eyes, my pet, but how long shall we
be able to keep it? If don't get well,
we will be obliged to move to the city,
where may find employment"
The next morning little Elsie was up
betimes gathering and arranging her
slender stock Of flowers. After max
ing her mother comfortable, she started
out with her basket on her arm.
Either people were in harry 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-
chasers. just as she was about to
give up in despair, and go home, she
spied her sailor acquaintance on the
opposite corner. and she hurried ocross
to speak to him. "Hello, my hearty"
said the old 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 it bit"
"0h, thank you, sir; but I'd rather
YOU wouldn't because-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 l couldn't help but speak"
"Ah! my little maiden, l am right
glad that you like the old sailor
Would YOU mind if / walked home with
you? / should like to see the garden
where those pretty violets grow"
'Oh, | should like it ever so much,
sir"
The two trudged along, the old man
beguiling 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
carpenter, and one day he fell from
big ladder, and then he was brought
home dead. Mamma has not been
we'll since. Before papa died we
moved into this nice little cnttage