The Dickinson press., 1894-05-12

| False MuXIm.
1t was Alice Leaman's eighth birth
day. and a very gladstone April morn
ing greeted the merry little lass as she
ro,nped in great glee around a group
Of presents that had been heaped ut
the foot of her downy bed. She had
reason to be happy, for she had re-
ceived many wished-for toys and trink-
cts.
Among tho presents. looking sadly
out Of place among the glitterins lot
Of gaudy gifts was a set af garden
tools, but, strange us it may seem,
Alice's eyes glittcrel with delight when
they rested ON these articles.
Alice was a vc-y energetic little girl,
and, after ceaselessly importunins her
mother for several months. had been
granted permission to start a garden
in one corner of the lot surrounding
their home. Twenty feet one way aud
ten the other was the patch that had
been duly measured Off and set aside
US Il garden for the exclusive use of
the little girl.
A promise had been made that. the
weather being good, Alice should be-
gin her gardening on the day she be-
came eight years old, and now that
eventful day had arrived. With checks
rcd with excitement she could not sup
press, the little girl ate her breakfast
and a hastily to her garden spot.
That night at dinner Alice was plain
ly tired, and on her brow was a little
wrinkle of anxiety.
And what is the matter with my
Alice tonight" asked her father.
1t was the opportunity the little girl
had wanted, and she said: You see,
papa, you gave me my tools and my
garden spot, but I haven't got any
thing to plant, and it's no fun raising
grass"
Her papa laughed and thought a liz.
tie. He was kind and indulgent, but
thought children should be taught the
value of money.
Il tell you what you do, my daugh-
ter" he finally said, "you write to Mr..
Hamilton Simmonds and tell him you
want some seeds and name Just what
you desire. Do you remember Mr.. Sim.
monds:"
|. Was he that a who was here last
summer and took me riding aud gave
ME ice cream?" asked Alice.
THAT is the man; he is our congress-
man now, and has nothing but seeds to
give away"
Do you think he'd member me,
papa?"
He'd better or he will lose his dis
trict the next time he is u candidate"
continued her papa, who was strong in
politics.
That night q letter was penncd after
many unsuccessful efforts, that finally
found its way to Washington, d. c.,
and was eventually delivered to the
Hon. Hamilton Simmonds, NJ. c..
The honorable gentleman was sadly
at a loss to know who his correspond
cnt was, but he was Il shrewd politi-
clan. and in due course of time the
mails carried several large packages
directed to Miss Alice Leaman and
bearing the frank of Hamilton SIM
mOndS.
For several days before the arrival of
her expected seeds Alice had visited
the little village p~ostofticc ut frequent
intervals to make inquiries for the seed.
She was much disappointed at each
negative shake Of the p~ostmaster's
head and began to think that Mr.. Sim
monds' chances Of carrying that dis
trict again Were very poor.
On the morning Of the fourth day Of
her excursion in search of mail her
efforts were rewarded by receiving
from the ~pOstmaster's WI hands three
large bundles. My. wasn't she Il happy
ind proud little girl! Her cheeks never
were quite so red before, nor were her
steps quite as positive.
In triumph she bore her treasures
homeward, and her little legs were
very, very tired when she reached the
end Of her journey with her burden.
She hastily tore open the packages;
everything was there, flowers and veg
etables, that she had asked for and
more, too, as she said when she threw
to n side a big envelope full of onion
seed.
well. I don't want any onions IN my
garden" said Alice.
Hardly had the Honorable Simmcnds
received q sweet little note of thanks
from Alice before she had planted in
the rich earth many of the seeds he had
sent. There lever vas II garden that
received quite as much attention as the
!. one little Alice worked. From early
I dawn until sunset the sturdy maiden
was on the watch for destroying in
, sects, and never for a moment did she
permit her bit Of land to 60 thirsty.
: She thought her pretty flowers and
sweet vegetables never would come up
\ lor1 1Ryr,,,,iox1 ho,. fr%l,np, oxyor,y x1r1,@
with a series Of questions OF gardening
|. that he, as u dry goods man. was as
familiar with as he was with Greek.
One day Alice was carried away by
q her mother on a visit to her Aunt Ida
The girl did not want to go and leave
her garden. but was persuaded tina
t nothing could happen to it in ten days
as Bobby promised to give 1t ever!
needed attention.
n Those ten days were almost as lon,
as ten years to Alice, whose mind wa
constantly IN her garden. Her pap,
n had written that the patch of land wa!
II all green as he had seen it from Il dis
lance. This information made her NOR
than anxious to return. and trunk
@ were packed and the journey hom,
soon accomplished.
1t was night when Alice arrived a
home, too late to inspect the garden
but as soon as the next mornings SUI
l had driven sleep from her eyes she wa
up out of bed hastily dressing.
The next heard of Alice was a serie
of girlish shrieks, half anger and hal
pain. Her mother ran to her to lear
the cause of the trouble.
"Onions!' exclaimed the little gil
between her s0bs, nothing but onion
in my garden!" and such proved to b
j. the case.
!, The fact that Bobby was missing
! proved c%onclusively that he was guilt,
Of upsetting his sisters plans. He wa
finally sought and brought before hi
, papa for judgment.
{ II did 1t, father" said Bobby, with
brave air, "for you said never look