Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-02-13

ESSSNNN deep In mud.
//w' The l'etle street
sweepey's Arns
ached fearfully. but his pGrket was fJll
Of pennies, interspersed with an occa-
sional half dime.
The clouds were breaking in the west.
and glenm Of sunshine silded the tall
tower OF St. Johns. Arch shoulda'ed
his broom. and whistl, ID a merry tine
as he took his way aomoward. His
bright dark eyes sparhled as he thought
how the sight Of h!S earnings wculd
cheer his feeble mother. She could
have tea now, with teal milk and ayme
sugar In 1t, and nj orange. too. Only
yesterday she was wishing she haA an
orange.
Arch's way lok past horticultuvist's
store. and his eyes wandered long.ngly
over the display Of flowers in tie win
dow. He mist have just one we0 white
rose. because. only the Sabbath b,fore.
while he sat at his mothers feet she
had wept In telling him ahnnt the sweet
roscs that used to grow under tho win
doa Of the little country cottage where
her happy youth had been spent.
The white rose would be like Lrlng-
ing back to her ever SO little hit OF
the happy past. II could not cost iluch.
and Arch felt wealthy as prince. He
stepped into the store and aske-l tho
price OF a white rose. The clerk an
swered him roughly:
"Get out Of the store, You young ras-
cal. You want to steal something"
II am not thief. SIR" said the boy.
proudly, his sallow checks crinsoning
hotly. 81 want rose for my mother
guess can pay for it!'
"It's half a dollar. II You want It,"
said the man sneeringly. "Show your
money, or take yourself OF this min
ute!'
Arch's countenancc fell. He had not
half a dollar in all. He turned sadly
away. his head dropping. his lip quiv-
cring. oh. how very hard 1t was u
be poor, he thought. looking enviously
at the costly carriage with pair Ct
splendid grays. standing before the
door.
stop. little boyr said a sweet voice
from somewhere among the roses and
hcliotropcs. rs your mother sick?'
Arch removed his eap-some inborn
spirit Of courtesy prompting him to pc
revcrcnt toward tho glorious visi,a
which burst upon him. For n moment
he thought he saw an angel. and 81
most expected that she would unfold
her silvery wings. and vanish In a gold
en- cloud from his sight. But after tie
frst glance he saw that she was little
girl about his own age-eight or nine
years old, perhaps-with yellow cdris.
deep hazel eyes. n mouth like n rosebud.
and blue silk frock. She repeated the
question:
"Is your mother sick. little boyi"
mo, she Is not lick. for she always
sits up, and sews. But she Is not
strong, and her cheeks never have aiy
color In them. like yours"
"And does she love flowers?'
"Yes, she loves them dearly. She
kissep them always, when she has aay.
And that's not often"
docs she? That's nice. Just like I
dor said the little girl In pleased
voice. "Mr. Burns'-to the gruff
clerk-"here Is n dollar. Give me some
real nice roses. and two or three sweet
pinks. The lady shall have some flow-
ers. Tell her I sent them"
"who shall say sent them?"
"Margie Harrison. VIII she lnow
me. think?"
IT guess not. But It's all the same.
shall tell her You are one OF the angels.
any way. She knows about them. for
she's told me ever SO much abou; them"
The little girl laughed. and Lavs him
the flowers.
Don't soil them with your grimy
hands" she said n little saucily: "and
when you get homc-let's see, what's
your name?"
"Archer Trevlyn."
"why, what nice name! Jas: like
names In a story book. I know some
elegant people by the name of Trevlyn.
But they live In big house and have
flowers enough OF their owe. So they
can't be your folks. can ttsy?"
"No. they're not my folgs," replied
The boy, with touch Of bitterness in his
voice.
well. Archer. when you get home.
you wash your face. do! It's SO dirty"
The boy flushed hotly. II one of his
had said that TO him. hc
would have knocked him down Instant
ly. But he forgave everything this lit
lie girl said, because she was SO beau
tiful and kind.
II am street sweeper. miss"
"Oh, that accounts for II. then. It's
very muddy today. and you must be
ired. Hark! there's Florine calling me.
Archer"
She vanished. and a moment later
he boy say her disappear within the
carriage. which. loaded down |
With fragrant blossoms, was driven
lowly away. He stood little while
ooking after It. then. pulling his cap
own over his eyes. and grasping the
tens of her flowers tightly I'm his
tile purple hand. he started home.
Home! 1t could hardly lie called so.
nd yet II was home to Archer. His
,othor WAS therA-.the hnAr mother