The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-02-25
LRGTHD OF TIE GARDNER



There was once IN the ages gone By.
gardener u rare patience and dis
cernmcnt. lie would 60 out Into Wild
places. aud. STOPPING down. would de-
tcci some tiny plant Of no moment 20
careless eyes. and would bring Il home
10 his garden. and tend IL with such
loving care that Il would gain strength
and beauty surprising him and grati-
flying him with It's generous response
to his tender fostering.
People heard OF his beautiful plants
and. came 60 his garden.
"Ah you indeed have n rare planV
here" they would say. pointing 10 one
" his treasures. THAT must he price
less In lts worth"
mo. indeed" he answered; 1T is
Just q wild flower, nothing more. There
are thousands like H."
"Iiut n We bring the wild flowers
home they viii die" they answered.
"llow Is that
Il cannot tell" he said. unless Il Is
that ! care 80 much. aud that ] have
put my very HEARTS desire into the
tending which | give them day after
day and week after week"
Now. one day the gardener was In
| trouble. great sOrrOws had encOmpas-
sed him. aud the bright light had
faded from his life. II was nothing 10
him that his garden was beautiful,
and that the fame Of Il had Travelled
first 10 one land aud then another and
that many strangers sought 10 learn
the secret Of his subtle skin. All this
was nothing 10 him. lleavy-hearted
he went about his work finding neith
or peace nor comfort. until one early
morning. when b. was wandering list
isssly Ia the desert weaving round his
soul a network OF sad thoughts, his
eye CHANGED upon tiny white flower.
There was something In the whltencss
Of it which held him for a moment
spellh0und was as white as the SURF
Of the fairy Pacific; NJ white NJ an un-
touched field n Alpine snow a. white
as ones Ideal Of a pure mind.
| lie stopped down and dcfily raised
IT, roofs. aud. forgciful N all his sor-
rows. FASTENED home with his fragile
burden.
Hut. alas. Il was NJ fraEilc that AZ
first he did not dare - hope that u
would live. II droortd and dropped,
nnd the gardener knew that be- would
lose his treasure.
"If l could only have saved IT, he
thought. Il have never cared Tor any
flower 30 much az f0r this one.
Wen. be- saved u. And when ~ last
lit raised H. head aud stalled 10 hls
care. De- felt 4 gladness uuSprakable.
Little friend" he whispered. Il
found thee IN an hour Of sadness aud
together with thee ! found courage
1nd CONSOLATION. aud. therefore. J name
lhcr Friendship"
q grew up strong and beautiful.
white ~ be- surf Of the fairy racihc'
white as an untouched field ~ Alpine
snow. white a. ones Ideal of q pure
mind.
~ al the plants whlch the gardener
cherished this one called Friendship
far 0uish0ne them all Strangers could
never mas Il hy without tender word
u praise. aud without asking the name
Of this nlaut. which locked ~ chasie
and calmly beautiful. nud when ihcy
had lea -nrd its name. they oil wanted
Il. The rich were Willing a. pay any
pricr re Il. and those who had not
money would fain have offered the
best So vice 1T their minds, theii
brains. ., cir hands.
Put the gardener smiled always aud
shook his head.
NAY" lac said. Il cannot sell w.
neither FOR money nor fame, nor any
thing which the world may hold. u
h my very own-lart ~ my own self
i'ut ro 80 ont Into the Wild places and
Sc will see many such plants. Their,
| they are Tor every one 10 take or leave