The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-03-04
ROSE

The countess was in her garden. Out
side its walls was a big city, with great,
noisy streets, bOuleyards and narrow
winding alleys; and dirt and confusion
and people. Here in the garden there
were also winding alleys, but they were
bordered with sweet smelling hedges.
There were fruit trees and rose trees,
and fountains that FLASHED merrily day
and night.
1t was beautiful garden, and the
countess should have been very happy
mere. And so she would have been but
Tor the dragon. This dragon did not
breathe forth ire and smoke, nor did she
nave terrible claws and teeth but, on the
contrary, was very polite and stiff and
formal. In color she was generally
6lack, though ON occasions she would
become green or yellow or various COL
ors; she watched over the countess from
carry morning until bedtime, and some
times followed her into dreamland This
countess thought hardly fair, for dream
l l was her own exclusive territory.
che discovered, however, that the tlrau.
on ,generally followed her there on the
nights she had eaten two pieces of cake
tor supper.
There was another bar to the countess
|
III the garden. True she did 90 out into
the city occasionally, but always in big
carnage, IN company with the dragon:
ana on very rare instances with the mar
gus, her father, very sedate and SPLEEN
uld gentleman, whom she admired great
awe. 1
Then the sides of the carriage were so
nigh that she could see very little. save
the upper stories of the houses as she
drove by.
SO, after all, she preferred to stay in
the garden with Tou-Tou, her dog, and
ranchette, her doll, where they could all
three 6e together, with no one else to dis
turD them-When the dragon was asleep
i'll the house.
~ standing on big stone, which she
nad rolled under the wall OH the terrace,
the countess could look over into tho
street below: Across the way was the
nigh wall of another garden, and down
at the end the street was large boul.,-
Fard, where one could see horses and
carriages and many passersby.
The countess had just climbed onto The
stone, and was leaning over the wall,
with her neck craned, to get xlimDst,
OF the boulevard, when she noticed a
boy standing on the other side of the
street looking at her intcntly. He had on
neither shoes nor hat, and his clothing
fact, i'll several places it was rent through
and showed his bare brown legs and
arms.
Where did you come from?" inquired
the countess.
The boy did not reply in words, but
merely gave quick motion of the hea
sldewise in the direction of the boulevard.
From the great city?''
The boy nodded.
DO you like it thpre?"
Now the boy knew that this was not
the way to answer the gentry, for he had
Deen taught to be respectful to his su-
perlors, but he was not by natnre, II
very polite boy, SO instead of replying
with Difference he merely said: Il iaye
10 NE 1t, 0ld started to walk away.
"Please do not CO., called out the
countess.
"Why not?''
Because want to talk to you. 1t is
SO lonely here with no one but Tou-Tou
What do you do there?'' asked the
BOY; pee becoming Interested and crossing
"Oh, we walk in the garden and have
tea parties and play hide and Seek Only
Fanchette doesn't play much, for she
cant run, but Tou-Tou can"
Whats Tou-Tou and fanchette?'
III Introduce Sou.' They're asking to
top of the wall and helped a little dog to
scramble up beside it.
"Only dog and doll?' laughed the
boy.
The dog did not like the boys appear
ance and began to bark furuie,,sly. Hun
R,ng to and % fro in biz excitement he
countess gave u cry of terror, which
changed to JOY as she saw the boy catch
the doll before it could touch the pave
ment.
"Oh, thank you! thank you, for saving
tanchettc''s life. Tou-Tou, you wicked
creature, be quiet: Boy, can you reach
tanchette up to meY'
=, lhe boy stood on tiptoe and handed up
the doll feet first. BY leaning forward
the countess was able to get hold of one
foot and restore the unfortunate Fan
ch !sl, to sitting position on the wall.
1hank you again, both for her and for
me: Be quiet, Tou-Tou, l tell you," she
sad, turning to the dog, and placing one
| hand over his little black muzzle.
~, He has such bad manners, has Tou-
lou, she remarked, apologetically.
Il could teach him manners if had him
down here muttered the boy.
The dog stopped barking, but being a
true aristocrat, sat, scowling down at the
COY, emitting an occasional growl.,
the roses that grew in profusion over the
terrace, what are those red things that
smell so sweet?'
Why, do you not know what roses
are:' cried the countess breaking off a
large one. Here, take this one; it is a
beauty She leaned over the wall and
placed the flower In the grimy hand,
which was stretched up to receive it.
Either to express his gratitude, or to
tantalize the dog, which was growing
out his severe condemnation of the whole
proceeding, the boy put tho stem of the
rose between his teeth and stood upon
lis hands with his feet against the wall.
Tou-Tou accepted this action as a chal-
lenge and barked louder than ever.
| On! exclaimed the countess, "aren't
you afraid you will injure yoursclf?''
For reply the boy walked across the
street on his hands and stood against
the opposite wall in a similar position,
from whence he. contemplated the express
sion OF fear on the countess face with ev-
ident relish.
Il like you very much better the other
way up she called out to him. There
upon he turned cartwheels until he stood
beneath her again.
., 81 Ca, can Dc do D., that all day." he said; "what
"I'm afraid can't do anything as
active. as that" answered the countess
dOubtfully. II can only run in the gar
den and romp' with Tou-Tou, and even
then if play too hard my governess
chides me. 1t must be glorious thing
to be boy and 60 about in the won
derful great city with no one to tell you
that you must not Are you never afraid
of getting lost in the big city,"
IF ever do get lost 1 only have to
keep going until find myself again." re-
piled the boy.
Il should like to do it," said the count
ess. "oh, so much.''
Its easy enough" replied the boy.
Gust swing down from the wall. I'll
catch you and you're off"
The countess shook her head
'"Then, there's the river" the boy went
OIL, in a persuasive tone; you dive from
the bridge and the water splashes all up
over you. The mud feels so nice and
cool as it squeezes up through your toes.
And under the bridge on the crossbea ms
you can lie all day in the sun and fish :;
and at night you can lie there, too, aud
watch the. stars and go to sleep, and if
you wake you can listen for the striking