St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-08-31
Mollie's Flower Mission.

Mollie was sitting out on the back door
steps she had just washed tine milk pals
and put the kitchen to rights for the night;
now she was resting and "stsying her
mind, as she said with good long look
at her flower bed.
1t was only a little bed Mollie hadn't
time to care for larger, and the flowers
we're only old-fsshioned common sort ;
but it was the joy of Mollie's busy life all
the same.
"You haven't any idea how it rests me
when Pm hot and tired just to run to the
door and take peep at it" she used to say.
'Dear me-" she thought tonight, as
she sat there looking at it, "what COM
fort flowers are do think the Flower
Mission is one of the incest and sweetest
missions in the world. only wish that l
could belong to one. My, if l had the
flowers and fruit they have up to Judge
Lawton's, wouldn't do lots of good with
them p
Chow do you know you would when
you are not doing anything with what you
have /" asked Conscience, rather sharply.
Mollie started little; really for an instant
it almost seemed as if some one spoke.
Folks that don't improve the oppor-
tunities they do have are not very apt to
do any better with more" continued the
inward monitor. 'Hadn't you better do
your own duty instead of thinking how
others fail. You are not responsible for
the use they make of what is intrusted to
them, tut you are of what is entrusted
to Mollie Potter"
But I've only such little few as Tad
dy says" thought Mollei, land they're
such comfort to mel'
II, Lo
worth half as much as an offering if you
mite that won the Masters approval you
know. Oh, Mollie, Mollie, can't you give
even your dear flowers to some one who
needs them for His sake? Remember that
'Inasmuch as you do it unto one of the
least of these-ye do it unto Him."
Mollie got up then and went into the
house but the troublesome thoughts fol-
lowed her.
"Won't you do it, Mollie, won't you
give them for His dear sake2"
cannot begin to tell you how many
times those words rang in Mollie's ears the
next day, and never once did she go to the
door for a look at the bed, though she was
longing to know if any of her sweet peas
were open.
"Nan Morgan has come home from the
mills, and they say she can't live." said
Mollie's brother, Dick, at the tea table. 81
saw her sitting bolstered up in big chair
by the window this att ernoon, and she did
look bad enough. / don't believe she'll
live till fall"
Mollie's eyes grew misty there was only
two days difference in Mans age and hers;
they had been schoolmates and friends al
ways
But Nan had had great deal of trouble
Her father drank, and they were very
poor she had gone away to work in the
mills to help support the family.
And now she had come home to die. 1t
seemed so hard to Mollie to think CT dying;
4 ne was young and 8 ong herself, and
, noar s seemed so mu'h = live for; poor
81 will, and see her as soon as posi-
ble," she resolved. And then like flash
came the thought, "You must take her
some flowers, they may cheer and comfort
her she always loved flowers, you know"
"O-h," exclaimed Nan the first thing as
Mollie went into her room, "How sweet
your flowers are Please let me take them;
haven't had any flowers in my hands
since l went into the mills | wish some
of the girls could smell of these it would
do them good. You haven't any idea how
hot and dirty it is there, Mollie, nor how
tired we get. I used to cry some nights
for good fresh breath of air. l wish the
girls could see these flowers!
"Why can't they7" asked Mollie's con-
science as she walked home.
Il gave my life for thee sang some
one across the street.
"What hast thou given for me"
"Nothing but will give every flower
can raise said Mollie impetuously, land
I'm ashamed for, hesitating SO about It,
So it came to pass that every week box
If soxUars went over to Gorham to the ad-