South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1890-09-12
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER -. 1890.
Rosie's Geranium.

AMI that meant so much to Rosie !:
rot only did IL grieve her tender lit
tie heart TO see the tired white face
upon the pillow and hear the esd
moans Of pain, but it meant a scsn'y
breakfast and no dinner, for the work
could not be finished, and no ~ oney
would he paid for it until the last
sill CHI was put in.
IL wss poor enough place in VII ich
Rosie lived, this one room with lis
scanty furniture, bat i, was clean and
1t was homo. al the bone little sev-
en- year old Rosie had ever know n.
The one bright spot in the who'll
place was large geranium standing
IN the window and covered with
lunches of scar'et n>wers. This
plant. a present from her sundav-
school teacher, was the child's pride
and delight; she tended it with a
mothers care and hailed every new
fl Iwer with delight. But this morn
ing she stood sorrow fully at the win.
dow resting her cheek upon tho green
leaves with no thought of its beauty,
her whole heart was full of mother.
How could she hep her? What
could she do for her? She had IT,
! died up the room with her deft little
hands, and had shaken her head sor-
rowfullv as she made her mother the
| last cup Of tea, and now there was
| no'hing more to do. II only she
could help her-if only she could
make some money 10 buy what moth.
er needed. some little delic7cy to
tempt tue feeble appetite. Her own
teacher was away and the Mission
| School was closed for the summer {;
besides they had never begged in
their lives, hal raid while they could
and done without things when the
money was gone. Suddenly the cad
face frightened, for down in tie street
she had seen Tommy Wick, the lame
bor. going off with his little lunches
Of flowers to sell In the streets, ami
the thought came, there was a chance
at last. To be sure il would distress
her TO strip her beautiful geranium Of
its blossoms, hut then it was for moth
or, and one glance at the dear face
she loved made the sacrifice seem
nothing. Mother wss sleeping now.
ard there was silence in the room for
minute; then the scissors went
snip. snip among the branches. and
presently the plant was bare Of h,w-
ers, and with many OF its broad green
leaves gone too. The tears came for
minute, II looked so forlorn. but in
another minute they were wiped a.
way. and soon six little scarlet bunch.
"a were carefully laid In Rosie's own
basket and sprinkled with water 10
keep them fresh.
| Mother still slept on while Rosie
took down her hat, went quietly down
stairs and into the street. At first
all was familiar enough, bus when
she reached the thoroughfares crowd.
ed with wagons and busy shoppers
| getting ready for the summer boil
day. her courage oozed rapidly away.
There seemed no time to uo,ice the
little girl standing there so timidly.
holding ont her flowers; some people
even pushed her carelessly aside, 9th.
ers trowned at her. and a policeman
told her she had better 90 home TO
her mother. Her fl Iwers hecan to
droop, md. IA hour after hour passed.
the tears came again tn her eyes.
hut she held out bravely, she must
no., she could not go home without
something for mother. Presently G.
boy came along and stopped in front
of her. How much for your flow
ers?' he asked, taking bunch from
her hand. Ten cents she answered
eagerly; please take one.' why, of
course | will and pinning il on his
jacket, ran or up the street, thinking
he had done 6 very smart and funny
thing.
Poor little Rosie she could not be.
lieve it-one Of her precious bou-
quc's gone, actually stolen. She
write1 tor sOue time for his return :;
then, realizing it was really true, SHE
fairly broke down and sitting on the
stoTs Of store. buried her face in
her hands and burst into tears
What's the mstter2 What's the mat
ter, little grip she head a voice cav.
What are you crying for7' MY
( flowers, the bad boy stole them
What boy, where is he P
lie has gone away, out Of sight
and now / have only five, and that
will be sucb little bit Of money!
Look mp here and tell me what You
are going to do with the money p
Rose raised her eyes full Of tears 10
the kind face bending over her. ooh,
sir, ] wanted II for mother
For mother, did your And what
Is mo- her about tn send such a little
girl on, in the streets ?
Mother did not send me, she was
asleep when ] came. But mothers 40
sick and there amt q thing TO eat
At home for to-day mother can't
finish her wo X, and 30 she wont he
paid, and ! wanted 10 get her some
thing, 50 I picked the flowers off nv
geraDium and no one will buy them
the tears coming again.
How much do you ask for your
nowersY
q did ask ten cents, but they are
AL faded now. so expect I must one
IL ask FIVE and nobody wants faded
flowers and ] must go home TO mother
with nothing.
Il will buy your flowers, nv child,
and here is City cents, and here il