Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-07-10
a load of lilacs up to the city and try

And while he spoke he cut away large
clusters of them. putting them into !
couple of pals of water he had placed
in the wagon.
why. that's a crazy idea, Arthur
his mother replied. Paying money
for lilacs. What made you think o.
such a thing?"
IN tell you when I get home, moth.
crater you've helped me coun the
money I'm going to bring with me-
And he laughed for the first time
that day. He was too busy and too ex-
cited to explain just then.
Arthur's eagerness, combired with
old Hates intrmites, made .he trip
seem long 10 him; but he at last reached
that pant Of the city where he had men-
tally decided TO go into business.
Kate halted in a detected attitude a,
the n of one of the principal busi.
ness streets. 1t was a street in which
nothing was bought or sold but money.
Great crowds Of men surged in all di-
reetions over the sidewalks, Wagons
and cabs filed up the space between.
IL was all "a and rush and rattle.
In the heart of it stood Arthur
Northridge, in the old wagon with th.l
lilacs.
"Holloa! My wife would like some u
those. How much. youngster?7
And a h%urrying man stopped short
and handed Arthur a two-dollar bill.
That's a Whit from my mother.
front yard" exclaimed another man be
fore Arthur had time to reply to III,
first one. Give US a bunch, boy. Icau't
wait for the change"
And, linging down a quarter, he
seized a cluster OF the flowers and
rushed on again.
I'm in a hurry, too" the first Gus
toner explained. Don't keep ne wall,
ing
And he held out his hand impatientu-,
But l can't change it, sir" Arthur
replied. I've just gone into business
Plenty ofstock, but no ready money
The gentleman laughed at the wa-ds,
and looked at Arthur appreciatiyely.
And have nothing in the world but
This one BILL" he said. in his turn.
Plenty Of money once. Made it all
casy-on this street. Lost il all-eaSy,
tco-in the same place. Keep out Of it.
boy, unless you come on this sort OF
business. But my wife shall hare some
%lilacs, anyway
He fambied in his pockets. found 4
ten-eent piece, gave i. to Arthur, and
PASSED on.
BY this time quite a group surround.
cd the wagon.
'Lilacs, five and ten cents" This was
the formula which Arthur had thought
cut for himself as be drove old Kate
along, wondering if it could possibly be
considered extortion to charge so much |
for what was 10 him so yalueless. But
he did not need to adopt this plan Of
calling attention to his wares. The
sight Of them was enough-so sugges-
tive OF the solitude and sweetness OF
the country-in the crowded, dusty.
wearying city street.
Arthur had his hands full in ~supplv.
ing his customers and in making
change.
An urchin, with very hungry eyes and
a very dirty face, begged d bunch,
which Arthur readily gave him, and
during a temporary lull in trade,
he offered n to an equally hungry
looking and dirty match-girl, who hung
about the wagon in an expectant atti.
tude.
When the last flower had been dis
posed Of and old Kate was heading for
home, Arthur had ample leisure IA
to reckon up his profts-thre.
dollars and ffty-hye cents.
He could hardly believe il, and
counted the money again and again till
he proved the accuracy Of the calcula-
ton.
What am l to pay you for the hors.
and wagon?" was his first salutation to
Farmer Sanford, as he drove into the
yard 81 haven't fed her, for l had No
chance"
"Had any dinner yourself?n
Not a mouthful. I've been too busy.A
Nothing could have SO inspired old
Farmer Sanford with respect and ed.
Iniration for the lad az his willingness
10 60 hungry for the sake Of making
little money. In his ~yernacular, tina,
was "su'thin' like"
well, considerin' az old Kat.
wouldn't have been dom nothin' to-
Jay, / suppose 80 cents would cover the
1anIages."
without volunteering any explana.
ton, Arthur engaged the horse and
wagon for the next day, and went
He had a long story TO tell hi,
mother that night; and the next morn.
ng, taking all the Iilaca that were On
he place, he started off on his second
mp to the city, selecting another
corner this time, but on an equally
street.
Fortune seemed as ready to favor
am as on the preceding day, and sales.
we're brisk for half an hour. At tn.
Of that time, Arthur felt a hand on
shoulder, and looked up to see the
'entleman who had met him by the
'oadside two days before.
Gone into business, have you, nv
10Y? How did this happen?p >
lie asked the question with great in. ,
crest.
"Oh, sirl" Arthur answered, with
niination, "it all came from the bunch
II lilacs. / thought il the lady cared :
% much, other city folks might care,
90, a little. AT any rate, / thought t.
ID try and see what came of it,"
WAS it necessary--that is, did you'll :
lid you" =
we are very poor, my mother and l." +.
Arthur replied, without waiting for the .
completion Of the question. II don't :
now what will become Of us when the ,
lilac money is all gone, for / can't get ,
nything to do. II we lived in the city !,
might be different, but" :
Arthur was obliged to turn his at. :.
ention to u customer. !
Come around to my Office before you !.
o home tonight" +,
And the gentleman, handing him . Z
ard, walked away down the street. ,
Arfhur ~rfbh am L.---