River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-12-12
LUCY'S ROSE.
It Did Finally Bear Beautiful Dark
Red Flowers.

''Come in here. You little rascaI.H
cried Dr. Packard. fierccly. Selling by
the collar a boy who was peering through
the picket fence az tho doctors brilliant
garden. The boy was dropped trembling
upon the Office steps. while the big,
burly doctor went about among his fiOw-
ers. cutting huge bouquet These he
gave the culprit, exclaiminC- with equal
sternness: There. take that home and
put it into water! Quick. Start your
heels.r Then he stood upon the steps.
chuckling to himself 70 see the bare
legs Of the frightened urchin fiy up the
street.
This garden was DIR. Packarl's latest
plaything and pride. No fun in Guilt
waiting good ground: nothing TO doctor"
he had said when he blasted out the
scraggy, worthless limestone ledge,
cropping out in his office dOOr-yard.
filed IN rich soil and made
the ledge gay with vigorous,
blooming flowers. Roses and lilies.
pansies and fuchsias. feverfews and
hOllyhocks. geraniUms and heliotropes,
phlOxes and sweet-williams, verbenas
and carnations. morning-glories- climb
ing over the door Of his office. and sweet
peas and nasturtiums, winding in and
out the low fence-all responded To his
care and bIosSomed with a perfection
and an abundance rarely seen Nature
was in her most grateful mood
Here il was his delight to startlc and
20 reward the children who were drawn
to the spot by their love Of flowers. lie
would rise up unexpectedly from behind
the hedge OF vines and demand in awful
tones: docs your mother like plants2
Well. take her that. you scamp" giving
the boy pink or geranium or fuchsia-
and adding. in still sharper, grufTer
tones: And see 70 it that you bring
back the pot" II the boy was not too
frightened and did not run away. leav-
ing the pot on the doorstep. his courage
was rewarded with vet another plant.
One day in June the doctor was out,
walking up and down his garden paths,
pulling up weed here. picking oil
faded blossom there and looking with
keen pleasure at many lovely flower
CHANGING W suddenly from his led of
perpetual roses, he saw a young girl
looking wistfully over the fence
What flowers 10 YOU like best, my
child?" he asked. with a curious change
from his usual brusque tone.
'.Oh, roses, sir?" she answered. They
are the Ioveliest Of all, think. We have
a yellow rose that climbs up 10 the caves
of our house and another white one that
comes up 10 my window, and many pink
ones out in the garden But they live
out all winter, and are not like those,
she said, nOdding toward the doctors
roses.
Come in and sec them" said the doc
tor; "and 70 around all you like"
The young girl thanked him and went
quietly around. touching some Of the
flowers gently. daintily smelling the
perfume Of many, and noticing each.
But she stood longest by the rOse-bed.
Bhe delicate color came and went in her
cheeks. and her pretty blue eyes shOne
with excitement and delight.
BCctOr Packard watched her silently
while ne went from bed To bed cutting
many b. lsSoms. These he gave TO her.
Her eyes opened wide with surprise.
She than5 cd him gravely but simply
while heg happy face spoke yet more
eloqucntly. As She turned to pass out
the gaze he doctor called To her:
Wait a moment. Here. take this
rose. grew it from seed IL won't
blossom for me. perhaps it will for you.
Give il a good chance. Let me see the
flower when IL comes. And here's a
book. he continued, that will tell you
how TO feed it.
Turning to 20 again. the girl saw a
gray-haired. bent man on the other side
n 81
s'Oh. father she called. '-SCe what
beautiful flowers I have. and new
rose too, The doctor gave them all TO
me-
Mr.. Carriers grave face lighted up as
he stepped across the street.
Indeed they are beauties. my child.
The doctor knew what would please YOU
best. Let me carry the rose for you. Ii
will ret good care. sir" he added turn
ing 10 Or. Packard.
This is your girl. joe" asked the
doctor.
YES. this i my Lucy. the last of the
six he answered. "a tender. sad smile
crossing his worn features
BETTER set her out in the garden.
Quite too pale and thin. man. Throw
away her hooks, Let her dig: let her
make mud-pies again, Keep her out-of-
doors. Let her come in only u eat and
sleep" said Or. Packar, with threaten
ing scowl- quickly followed by a nod
and a laugh toward Lucy.
This will be- a nice place for my
rose. said Lucy 10 her father that even
ing. I've made little hollow right
here in my own bed. 50 that the wind
can't blow the pot over; and then. too.
won't forget 20 water IL when close be-
side my mignoue-te and heliotrope.
Three sweet flowers all in a row, Won't
il be lovely when the roses blossoms. for
am sure it viii; and. mother. see. l
can see il the first hing in the morn
ing right out d my own window.
Mrs. Carter sat on the porch knitting.
but her eyes followed fOndly the slight
figure Of her child as Lucy ran around
from bed - bush. and the mother an
swered with gentle smiles the girls en-
thusiastic Outbursts Of delight in her
newest treasure. Mr. Carter drove a
long stake down beside the new rose
and tied il securely while Lucy eagerly
watched every movement
'-Oh, am sure Of a blossom soon.
dear father. and what color do you sup
pose il will be? Pink or red I hope,
We all like that color best. don't we?''
she asked. turning affectjOnately - each
parent. while the pale face shone with
innocent delight and anticipation
Then she picked a large bunch Of the
hardy roses which the modest garden
grew. and. sitting down beside her moth
er. began 70 arrange them
when I am little larger and strong
err am a good deal stronger than
was. am not. dear mother? she inter
posed. sitting mp very erect for the mo-
ment. Not waiting for an answer she
went on When am older
lam going 10 spend all my time grow
ing flowers. You'll give M more beds.
father. and ! viii SOW the seeds and
tend ami water them, oh, 80 carefully.
I'll have many, many rO>es out here IN
the garden, and then in the winter III
have the tea and the hybrid roses, Dr.
PzekaTd's book tells about, in the house.