Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-11-19

Il
put away oil the weddin' things, and
next day she's forgotten it,all."
At that instant boy with sItray,of
flowers in his hand passed us. on the
other side. Only CLEAN of the yell
low daffodils reached our eyes.
''Saints be praisedl" exclaimed the
girl, as she stood stock still with her
hands clasped rapturously together ;
"Be they merrygools, mum?"
Sim afraid not. Did.you want
sonnet" asked, wondering what this
new burst of emotion, could,nean.
'1've wanted some for years and
| years." she said, and the bellssin her
tone were muffied now, and Ia tear
drop rolled down her cheek.
"They are hard to find, I'm afraid.
| Florists do not raise them Few peo-
pie want them. You might .perbaps
find them in some country garden, "
might as well have suggested her
picking a celestial nosegay Off anna
ranths and asphodels. All were
equally out of her reach.
'Mebby ye think I'm dafttoo," she
said, with return OF the 'old,sunshine
to her face. 'Mother's always talk
ing about merrygools. There's, some
thing she wants to tell us-Danny and
me. She begins, Listen, my chill
dren. 1t was great time. Pdpicked
all the merrygools ols'-and there she
gets crazed, like, and you can't under
stand any more"
'Does she mean the dark velvet
ones, or the daisy-like ones?"
"Just like velvet, mum. 1 saw
some when I was little girl"
We had reached st. Patrick's and
even been standing by the steps Of
the terrace. She had thanked me for
my guidance with warm ebullient
gratitude, but l still detained her.
Come to see me on your mother S
next wedding day." said, giving her
my address. ":Some ono will help
you find the place. I'll go this minute
to Twelfth street to see if can not
buy some marlgold seeds. My'garden-
er shall plant some to-day. We may
get some blossoms in that way before
the season is out.
She caught up my hand. impulsively
and gave resonant smack to the back
of my glove, and vented the surplus
of her overAowing Joy at the anticipa-
tion in another clear ripple of laugh
ter little solemnized by our prox
unity to the sacred walls, along whose
gray surfaces she slowly raised her
eyes heavenward. A moment later
she disappeared within the wide door
way.
l found with delight that fashion in
flowers had not exterminated all the
antique pets of the garden. | accom-
plished my purpose with no other him
drance than a little amiable home
ridicule at the eccentricity of this
mild philanthropy.
During the entire month that fol-
lowed 1 watched tho tiny sprouts. un-
fold into deeply incised or patmate
leaflets, and the morning of the tif-
teenth found the little plants tall
enough to wave at the touch of the
gentle breezes. Early in the after
noon my new friend appeared looking
more blooming than ever. Her hap
piness touched into even deeperldim-
piles all the angles OF her mouth and
eyes, but her laughter was reserved
until l took her into the garden and
showed her the thriving growShs.
"Sure they be merrygools, mum? ?'
"Oh, yes? The gardener knows the
order of the plant, he says"
She was down on her knees imam in
stant, burying her face in the dark
green mass. When the exuberance of
her delight had expended itself we sat
down under magnolia near by, and
it was then l heard another part of
the family history.
eyes, mum, my father died six
months before his father did. Then
mother aud Uncle Mike had to go over
to the old country to see about the
property, for grandfather was rich
man, but close, like, with his call
dren. Something dreadful happened
to mother while they,were gone. They
say how something hit her on the
head. She can't tellland Uncle Mike
wouldn't. Mebby hetwas in drink and
don't know any more than we. But
they came home worse off than ever.
Couldn't get cent. And now Uncle
Mikes gone off and we don't know
whether he's dead or alive"
The hour of our chat was short and
the month that followed was long.
That flower bed was my clock and my
calendar. Every forcing process
known to horticulture was used and
the best results followed. A week be-
fore the 10Th, velvet buds began to
unfold, and when the longed for day
arrived there were scores of rich,
cheerful looking blossoms, sending
out their strong, pungent odor upon
the hot, sultry air. The sun had
scarcely begun to settle into its after
noon decline before the supreme mo-
ment had arrived, and my guest and |
went down the steps with scissors and
basket. The birds hovered and
seemed excited by the metallic click OF
the steel, and almost burst their tiny
throats with song. Perhaps they felt
IN their downy breasts that the young
girls laughing notes as they melted
upward into the sunnv air b1an1o5