The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-10-16
NED'S MARKETING.
What BOy's Love for Flowers Cost III
and Ills Mother.

4NGu AAOuulAu N0O lOHuCE VI HONCIS
than Of any thing else in the world
excepting his mother. Whenever he
could get chance to do SO he'd spend
hours before the fower-s.ands in the
market, near which he lived. or in the
lighthouses of the good-natured florist,
with whom he had managed to strike
up friendly acquaintance, which were
few blocks further away. He was
never tired Of admiring tho beautiful
roses. praising the graceful lilies, and
wondering at the wonderful orchids.
And he went into raptures over the
sweet-scented violets, the pink-tipped
daisies and tho elfish pansies. Indeed,
there was no flower too tiny or too hum
Bile to be loved by Ned.
But this love, admirable as it was, got
him into trouble one day. 1t was the
day in early winter when his Aunt
Marion, his fathers sister. had come
from some street away up among the
hundreds, down town to visit his moth
CT, and, her visit being entirely unex-
pected, there was nothing in the house
for company dinner.
So, while she was taking of her bon
net and cloak. Mrs. Rodman, who by
thc-way, was as fond OF flowers as her
son was, took Ned aside and said to
him: Ned. you must 60 to market.
Here's fifty cents. all the money have
in the house. Take it and do the best
you can with it. You might get some
nice mutton chops, some sweet potatoes.
some bananas and pumpkin pie. And
don't be any longer than you can help.
1t is half past eleven now and l want to
have dinner by one, sure"
Yes, ma'am.' said Ned, and he put
the fifty cents in his pocket, swung the
market basket on his arm and started
of. When he had gone Mrs Rodman
and they talked until twelve o'clock.
Then Mrs Rodman got up aAd busted
herself setting the table, but there was
big wrinkle on her brow which grew
deeper as she went to the window to
look for Ned. But no Ned was in sight.
Another half hour passed and still no
signs of the boy, and the mother. as
mothers will, began to fear that some
terrible accident had happened to him,
WIN Juco 40 Viz AauNO Va GhC WYNN
pointed . quarter Of one, merry
whistle was heard, the door was
pushed open and in rushed the truant
with flower pot in which grew =
flourishing rosebush bearing three love-
ly crimson roses. clasped tightly in his
arms. Look, mother" he cried, Joy
fully; ''isn't it beautiful? And it only
cost fifty cents. Smell the roses
But here his mother interrupted him
to ask: but where is the market has
ket? Where is the marketing? Where is
our dinner?
Ned stood dumfounded for moment
Then he said, while his face became as
rcd as the roses he held: ''Oh, mother,
| forgot all aboutit The butcher wasn't
quite ready to cut the chops, SO left my
basket and ran round to the florist to see
If the bud on that queer new plant he's
got had opened yet. and it had, and
bush and the florist said it was only
fifty cents to me but seventy-fve to any
one else. and / knew how you loved
crimson roses. SO l bought it and forgot
all"
Ills mother interrupted him again.
''Take that rosebush, she said in stern
voice, back to tho florists. Then bring
me as quickly as you can nv fifty cents
and the marxet basket After that you
may go to your own room and remain
there till tomorrow morning" Ned
turned away without word and Mrs.
Rodman set out the boiled ham and
pickles, and bread and cheese and apple
jelly and homemade ginger bread upon
the dining table. I'm sorry to give
you cold lunch instead OF warm din
ner," she said to her sister-in-law, but
you must blame your thoughtless
nephew for it.
But to her surprise Aunt Marion burst
out laughing. 1T is one Of the funniest
things I ever heard of in all my life, "
she said, land as for the cold lunch its
just delightful If you'll only forgive Ned.
Why. bless your heart his love for you
was at the bottom of the whole thing
after all. And then, too" she added
with merry twinkle in her eyes,
you've saved your fifty cents"
And Ned coming back at that moment
with the longest of long faces. his
mother burst out laughing too, and that
| lunch was one OF the merriest lunches
that three people ever sat down to-
Detroit Free Press.