The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-03-29
CHRYSANTHEA.

She had come TO life Just ms the
chrysanthemums do. with the falling
leaves. aud like them. too. she had
bloomed as best she might without the
glow. the summer splendor or the sum-
naer showers that other lives aud other
flowers share.
She lived In n brown farm house
among the Massachusetts hills with her
old father. Had she bloomed so late
Ia his life TO give some color and poetry
to the autumn OF his days, as chrysan-
themnm blows only TO light the fall OF
the dying leavesP II must have been
50. for he was well into the sixties,
while she was barely sixteen.
Years ago her mother had died, n
frail lovely creature. who would have
given that other young life the Joy and
love 1t needed so; but the child grew
without II, hardy cheerful little
thing. though not without certain
wistfulness al times In her great deep
blue eyes so like u purple flower. Old
Rachel. her fathers housekeeper aud
her own faithful nurse. used to look mt
her with wet eyes aud shake her head.
t''It amt natural. She goes on sing
Ing aud laughing as happy as lark
all day; but what's TO make her happy.
say lP II amt her father. nor yet me.
tho do love her. the dear, and she
Amt got no mother. no sister, no broth
CO. nor yet no lover. SO what's TO make
her happy Il amt natural. she in
sisted, AS blithe voice rose above the
clatter OF the dishpans as Rachel bus
tied about the kitchen.
What makes you SO happy lambP"
cried the old woman out through the
open window.
oh. Rachel, I've got such a lovely
lot OF chrysanthemums; come out and
see; oh, look. lookr'
'It's them flowers that makes her
happy" muttered the old servant, "a
she made her way through the kitchen
garden.
We'll. 10 be sure, Chriss, dear, them
do beat all. Oh, them IL Handsomely
Aren't they just loyelyp See the
great gold ones and the purple; those
are my favorites, and this cherry and
white. aud these pure white. too, those
are for mother she said, lowering her
voice little; they are the only ones
4 shall pick. Rachell aren't they love-
lyf"
but Rachel only shook her head and
went into the house.
s.t'o think she loves them flowers so;
IL amt natural. IL amt; II Il was kit
ten now or a dog 1 wouldn't wonder
so. but lot OF clinging asters. IL amt |
natural"
Natural or not. Chriss was very hap
py. She hung over her newly bloom
ing pets nearly all the morning, then |
q sudden cloud came over her face. |
She looked up with long sigh and |
turned TO the back Of the house, where |
two deep windows marked her fathers
study.
~ wonder now II | dare tell him
shout them. he does hate so 10 be dis
turbed; but OH l want him 10 see those
purple ones SO much"
With one fond look ut her glowing
bed she went in At the door. With |
step she passed along the
broad. old-fashioned hall and raped
timidly al the oaken door. Not ex-
T,ccting any response she went la aud
ora ~ rs she saw the gray, bent head
pofing over an old book. A wood tire
Fottt@'trA Vu tuc ucAItns one hutit
down and blew the embers, looking up
now and then with smile.
There, there. let II alone, child; IL
- burning very we'll"
oh. father, father-n
well. what EowP"
''father, It's just lovely out to-day
sowarm and sunny; and. father, nv
lowers are In bloom"
Your nowers-oh. the chrysanthe-
mum bed. heyP Well, that's good
Father. won't you come aud look at
Ihemp Dor very wistfulIy.
Come outP Not I. I've got some
hing better 10 do than to look at a lot
u posies. There. run along. child;
now do.n
She went very slowly aud softly out
81 the room. closing the door gently be-
hind her. but her heart was full Her
song was silent now, aud as she passed
he Kitchen window she did not look up
md nod as usual.
She went quietly out TO the hot house
Ind. selecting n small trowel, knelt
Town beside the white chrysanthe-
NUNS and began looscning the roots
With tender. patient hands.
'She would have come to look" she
nurmured, IS she glanced on TO where
he white shaft Of her mothers tomb
Irose
She would have understood. mar '