The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-04-07
MALVINA'S GARDEN.

It was one OF the queerest looking
places to live ina dugout as it is
called in Southwestern Kansas. A
woman in well-worn gown climbed up
and down the few steps at the entrance
to the cave like dwelling, busy at her
work. Her face bore the impress Of
having seen rough, hard life. aud the
whole place bore the unmistakable
stamp of poverty. In fact, it was q
homestead claim, one of the many
taken by poverty stricken souls in q
new country, who think if they only
have land to call their own. all else will
be but secondary thought. And too
often they fnd it, as did Jared Trent,
place to shelter them and that only.
The Trents had four children. NAL
vina, the eldest, was ten years old ;
then came Robbie and Hettie. and baby
Joe, now two years old. The children
led wild, free sort of life, out of doors
during the summer time. "Viney," as
they called her, led the others on ali
sorts of tramps, carrying the baby
brother, or hauling him ON hand-sled
she and Robbie had constructed them
selves.
They had roamed far and wide over
the prairies. searching for wild flowers,
and along the bank of the creek that
flowed through her fathers land they
had picked up many queer things.
These were always carried home and
deposited in the playhouse" a rudo
affair which their father had helped
them dig out and sod over.
Happier children are seldom found
than the Trent children, And il the
table fare seemed scant, they went to
their play the sooner, and forgot all
about it. Viney, as her mother said,
always had hankering after flowers" :"
There was a small bed near the play.
house into which the young girl had
transplanted many of the wild flowers
that abounded there. She had dug up
variety of cacti, and as they are so
easily grown she had quite bed OF
them. but she longed for some "tams
flowers" as she called them, 'such %
we have, mamma, back in Illinois
such sweet pansies and migponette, and
one geranium, o bright red one"
MY dear, you know we can not af-
ford to buy the seed; wait another year
or two; our crops may be better"
Her mother tried to comfort her for
giving up SO easily. Still, theidea of q
hower-bed ran riot in Malvina's little
head, and whom q catalogue of bright
flowers chanoed to come to the Office for
them, her delight knew no bounds.
Surely, mamma. sometime I mar
have some like these; they do not cost
so much"
The catalogue was worn threadbare
with studying it. The children caught
the flower fever, and they dug ana
transplanted more caci than ever.
This fourth year was much better one
than they had seen since taking the
claim. The crops bade fair to be excel.
lent. The wheat was cut and stacked,
and for the first time since coming to
Kansas, Jared Trent felt sure of having
enough bread for his family. His wife
had for the first time raised garden,
and they enjoyed fresh vegetables. The
rains had descended in just the right
time, and the prospect looked reason.
ably bright.
One summer afternoon a traveller ON
horseback drew up to the rude habita.
top. and asked the privilege of o
nights shelter.
MY horse and myself, said he, "are
very tired, and I should be very glad te
stay. T am looking at land in this
vicinity, and am on my way to the
county seat.
He was hidden welcome, IF he could
put up with the poor accommodations,
Mrs. Trent said. His horse was tied il
the rude sod stable, and then the
stranger wandered around over the
place. The children showed him their
playhouse, and offered to conduct him
to the creek. where the curiosities
abounded: but while wandering
around, his eye was attracted by the
bed of cacti, which was now ablaze with
bright-hued flowers, hundreds of them
on one plant, scarlet. yellow, and diff
ferent shades of color.
MY child" he said, appealing to
Malvins, where did you get these 2"
and STOPPING over the bed he exa mined
them more closely.
me and the children find 'em every.
where" she replied.
Have you ever tried to sell any p
"Oh, no, sir r she answered with
iilated eyes, who would buy 'em ?"
Il will tell you, and give you the ad.
dress of one Of my friends in the East
who Is collector of these curious
plants. You may be able to realize
quite sum on them. and you are fond
Of collecting them, I see.
Malvina's eyes danced, and visions of
the most glorious flower bed ever seen
fitted through her head.
"Oh, sirl We can find hundreds of
them, and I would be so glad to sell
some of them." And she hasteued in
doors to tell her mother the good news.
Mr.. Hartz, for that was the strangers
name, remained for the night. and told
Mrs. Trent of his talk with the children
about collecting the cacti; he then said
he would write his friend, and he would
probably make arrangements with them.
he departed in the morning, after
paying and thanking them for their
kindpssa. He wrote to his friend. and
IN due time letter came for "Malvina
Trent, care of Jared Trent, and order
ing q sample of each variety Of cacti
Money to pay for the same was enclosed;
and the letter stated, IF the samples
prove to be what they thought, she
would receive orders for them." Then
the writer told her how to pack them