Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1892-10-01

&c had oid them ''gooioy' as usla,.
nc turned f. en'er:the house. A whole
week hal passed. since he had examined
his iavorite rose tree. Crossing the
.rassy lasr he came 10 ..Tae Marion
Dne OF the great blossoms vas droop.
ing, but just from the same green stalk
g fresh bud was shooting forth. The
old man took out his knife and cut oil
the faded flower. He looked at the bud
thoushttully. He seemed to read a story
among the :oses-a story that went to
ais heart. He looked again a. the dead
blossom IN his hand. Then his eye
wandered toward the bud. He burst
nto tears, and quickly turned away.
My daughter. my darling Marion,
| was cruel 10 send you away, very
cruel. A fathers love for you made me
max it impossible for even husband
10 love YOU as did Shall ever see
Gu dead dead as this once beautiful
.!o>s)m, winch can never again help to
veetcn my days and brighten an old
mans life. Oh, come back to life
,1an, and bring vour little one with
~. Come -Come-c )me.'
lie entered the house weeping
On the morning Of the next day the
niljren we're On their way to school.
ley always passed Rose Glen, and old
:oTowav would invariably be at the
ate. But this morning the children
eene,. more excite than usual some
uing had evidently happened. or was
bout to happen, which made their little
'carts beat faster than ever. They had
,alted earlier than was their wont, for
somehow they had got to know that I,
was grandfather birthday, and each
wanted to be there first On, on they
went, laughing, shouting and clapping
their hands in delight. What was there
to stop the happy ripple of their little
K.
They were Children children
aud were as free as the birds which were
singing in the trees and on the hedge
rows about them. But, as they turned
the road at the top of the hill which led
down to the home of the roses. thei,
laughter became silcnt{ and their lips
ceased to move. They gathered to-
gether in bunch, not in alright, but
more In childish sympathy at the sight
before them. A woman sat on grassy
mound. Her face was pale, her chee ks
pinched. her eyes looked as though they
had shed many tears; but yet how pretty
she was! She was dressed all in black
there was Grape on her cloak and bon.
net. She held somethin, mutfied up in
her arms. The children looked and
guessed it was a baby. The woman
+ smiled and seemed to invite the n to
come near. Then one Of the children
gave the woman some flowers, and a
/ flush Of happiness came into her poor,
wan face.
Would you like to see my little boy r.
she asked. And all the children gath
cred round while the mother drew aside
the scarf from round her baby's neck, 50
that they might see it the better. 1t,
too, bad tiny black bows on its little
hat. %
''Oh, how erandfatherswou love to
to see him. cried one of the children.
May we take him to grandfather It's
his birthday to- lay. It would MAKE
him SO happy"
''And who is grandfather she asked. /.
''You don't live here, do you.' ques-
tened one Of the youngsters.
No." the woman answered. Il am
quite stranger here. But why do you
askl'
because you don't know grandfa-
sher, came the logical reply.
"Well tell me who he is"
Then one Of the children took the wo-
man by the hand and led her to the cor
ner from whence the hill started towards
the spot where the hroses grew. The
cottage was pointed out to her.
That's Rose Glen, the child said.