The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-12-11
LUCY'S ROSE.
It Did Finally Bear Beautiful Dark
Red Flowers.

Some in here, you little rascal!'
cried DR.. Packard, iercely, seizing by
the collar boy who was peering through
the picket fence at the doctors brilliant
garden The boy was dropped trembling
upon the Office steps, while the big,
burly doctor went about among his How
crs, cutting huge bouquet. These ne
gave the culprit, exclaiming, with equal
sternness: There, take that home and
put it into water! Quick! Start your
heelsr Then he stood upon the steps,
chuckling to himself to see the bare
legs of the frightened urchin fly up the
street.
This garden was Dr. Packard's latest
plaything and pride. mo fun in Guilt
waiting good ground; nothing to doctor!'
he had said when he blasted out the
scraggy, worthless limestone lodge,
cropping out in his office door-yard,
filled 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 blossomed with a perfection
and an abundance rarely seen. Nature
was in her most grateful mood.
Here it was his delight to startle and
to reward the children who were drawn
to the spot by their love of flowers. He
would rise up unexpectedly from behind
the hedge of vines and demand in awful
tones: ''Does your mother like plants?
Well, take her that, you scamp" giving
the boy pink or geranium or fuchsia,
and adding, in still sharper, grutfer
tones: "And see to it that you bring
back the pot!" If the boy was not too
frightened and did not run away, leav-
ing the pot on the doorstep, his courage
was rewarded with yet another plant.
One day in June the doctor was out,
walking up and down his garden paths,
pulling up a weed here, picking off a
faded blossom there and looking with
keen pleasure at many lovely flower.
CHANGING up suddenly from his bed of
perpetual roses, he saw young girl
looking wistfully over the fence.
"What flowers do you like best, my
child?" he asked, with a curious change
from his usual brusque tone.
"Oh, roses, sir?" she answered. "They
ho of oil VII Wo h., N
yellow rose that climbs up to the caves
of our house, and another white one that
comes up to 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 see Them" said the doc
tor; land go 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.
The delicate color came and went in her
checks, and her pretty blue eyes shone
with excitement and delight.
Doctor Packard watched her silently
while he went from bed to bed, cutting
many blossoms. These he gave to her.
Her eyes opened wide with surprise.
She thanked him gravely but simply
while her happy face spoke yet more
eloquently. AS she turned to pass out
the gate the doctor called to her:
"Wait a moment. Here, take this
roso. grew it from seed. 1t won't
blossom for me, perhaps it will for you.
Give it good chance. Let me see the
flower when it comes. And here's a
book" he continued, 'that will tell you
how to feed it"
Turning to go again, the girl saw a
gray-haired, bent man on the other side
of the street, walking slowly.
''Oh, father!" she called, ''see what
beautiful flowers l have, and a new
rose too! The doctor gave them all to
me-"
Mr.. Carter's 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. 1t
will get good care, sir" he added turn.
ing to DIR. Packard.
''This is your girl, Joe?" asked the
doctor.
''Yes, this is my Lucy, the last of the
5 SIX" he answered, tender, sad smile
crossing his worn features.
v Better set her out in the garden
nuite too pale and thin, man. Throw
Sway her books! Let her dig; let hel
: make mud-pies again! Keep her out-of
doors! Let her come in only to eat and
sleep" said DR.. Packard with threaten
ing scowl, quickly followed by a noe
and laugh toward Lucy.
This will be nice place for my
rose," said Lucy to her father that even
ing. 'I've made a little hollow RICH
here in my own bed, so that the wine
can't blow the pot over; and then, too,
won't forget to water it when close be
side my mignonette and heliotrope
Three sweet flowers all in row! Won
it be lovely when the roses blossoms, TO
j am sure it will; and, mother, see!
can see 1t the first thing in the morn
ing right out of my own window"
Mrs. Carter sat on the porch knitting
but her eyes followed ionaly The sligh1