Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-06-11
THE STORY OF A ROSE.

THE STORY OF A ROSE
Come in here, you little rascaI?" cried
DR.. Packard fercely, selling by the col
lar boy who was peering through the
picket fence at the doctors brilliant gar
den. The boy was dropped trembling
upon the office steps, while the big, burly
doctor went abour among his flowers,
cutting, huge bouquet. These he gave
the culprit, exclaiming, with equal
put it into water! Quick! Start your
heels'' 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 culti-
waiting good ground; nothing to doctor!"
scraggy, worthless limestone ledge, crop
ping 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 climbing over
the door of his office, and sweet peas and
nasturtiums winding in and out the low
fence-all responded to his care and
bIossomed with a perfection and an abund-
ance rarely seen. Nature in her most
grateful mood.
! Here it was his delight to starte and
to reward the children who were drawn
to the spot by the love of f)wers. He
would rise up Unexpectedly from behind
the hedge of vines and demand, in awful
tones: docs your mother like plants p
| Well, take her that, you scamp, giving
the boy "a pink orsgeranium Cor fuchsia,
and adding in still sharper, grutfer tones,
and see to 1t that you bring back the
pot!'' If the boy was not too frightened
and did not run away, leaving the pot on
the doorstep, his courage was rewarded
with yet another plant.
One day in June the doctor was cut
walking up ard down his garden paths,
pulling up a weed here, picking off fad
ed blossom there and looking with keen
| pleasure at many a lovely flower. GIanc-
ing up suddenly from his bed of perpetual
roses, he saw a young girl looking visit
fully over nis.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
are the loveIiest of ALL think. We have
a yellow roses that climbs up 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 nod
ding toward the doctors roses.
Come in and see Them said the doc
tor; land go round all you ike.
The young girl thanked him and went
quietly around, touching some of the
flowers gently, daintily smelling the per-
fume of many and noticing each. But
! she stood longest by the rose bed. The
delicate color came and went in her cheeks,
and her pretty blue eyes shone with ex-
element and delight.
| DR.. 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 doc
tor called her:
"'Wait a moment. Here, take this rose.
| grew it from seed. 1t won't blossom
for me, perhaps it will for you. Give it
a good chance. Let me see the flower
IL
continued, chat will tell you how to feed
it"
Turning to go again, the girl saw gray
haired, bent man on the other side of the
street, walking slowly.
ooh, father!' she called, ''see what
beautiful flowers, | have, and a new rose,
too! The doctor gave them all to me-"
Mr.. Carter grave face lighted up as he
slammed across tho ctron+
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, turning
to DR.. Packard.
This is your girl, Joe?" asked the
doctor
Yes; this is my Lucy, the last of the
six, he answered, a tender, sad smile
crossing his worn features.
Better set her out In the garden.
Quite too pale and thin, man. Throw
away her books, Let her dig; let her make
mud-pies again! keep her out of doors +!
Let her come in only to eat and seep!"
scowl quickly followed by nod and a
laugh toward Lucy.
This will be nice place Tor my rose, !"
said Lucy to her father that evening. 1--WE
made little hollow right here in my own
bed so that the wind can't blow the pot
| over; and then too, | won't forget to
water it when close beside my mignonette
and heliotrope. Three sweet flowers all in
a row! Won't it be lovely when the rose
blossoms, for | am sure it will; and
mother, see! can see it the first thing III
the morning right out of my window"
Mrs. Carter sat on the porch knitting.
but her eyes followed fondIy the slight
figure of her child as Lucy ran around
from bed to bush, and the mother an
swered With gentle smiles the girls en-
thusiastic outbursts of delight in her
newest treasure. MIR. Carter drove long
stake dowr beside the new rose and tied
it securely, while Lucy eagerly watched
every movement.
'Oh! am sure of blossom soon, dear
father; and what color do you suppose it
will be? Pink or red | hope. Red with
dark, velvet heart. We all like that color
best, don't we?" she asked turning aztec
tionately to each parent, while the pale
face shone with innocent delight and an
ticipation.
Then she picked large bunch of the
hardy roses which the modest garden
grew, ar d sitting down beside her moth
er began to arrange them.
when | am a little larger and strong
er-I am a good deal stronger than l was,
am | not. dear mother?" she interposed,
| sitting up very erect for the moment. Not
waiting for an answer, she went on breath
lessly: When am older | am going to
spend all my time growing flowers. You'll
| give me more beds father and [ will SOW