Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-09-10
FLOWERS THERE ON TIME
An Unlocked For Result In An Under
takers Prompt Answer TO Il Call

to coming down to the unClertallery
and embalmery in the evenings after
dirn=r instead OF sitting down with hi.
old crOnies at the nightly game OF
whist. For o-e thing the weather is
not what you might call whis
weather. He is fond of talking about
unusual things, and the Other. night he
told this story:
Last week 1 got a telephone call: il
was wOman'S voice that 1 was sure
L recognized. When she told me heI
LAME l found it was the oldest daught
er of a family that has be5in on ms
books almost ever since 1 went into
| business. Let ME see: there was
grandma. the baby and a boy. SO
you see they were in a line of steady
custom that I would put myself out
| for. Sowhen she telePhOned We must
have some flowers by seven This eve
ming without fail it was up to me to
I'LL the order. 1t was a complete sur
Prise to me, for the doctor hadn't said
word to ME about any of them being
sick and l wasn't expecting such a
! thing. We leave it all to YOUR own
| good taste she went on, and / know
you wont disappoint us-seyen O'Clock
this evening"
Who is the patient?' I asked 1t
sort of surprised me tnaIt she did not
say Anything about the obseJnies and
only wanted flowers, but supposed
the rest would come latter; you know
it's quite fashionable to cover the
death-bed with flowers anyway. Who
is the patient? 1 asked Somehow
patient seems pleasanter to the sur
vivors and We always say tlIat
It's mother, she answered. You
select what flowers you t.1ink would
be appropriate and have them here ex-
actly at seven. for we count CT yOu.'
Here the senior partner went on pro
fessional tiptoe to the back of the es-
Establishment and got a cold drink from
his cold storage, and then returned to
complete his narrative.
''Weal, 1 went off to the florist who
does al my work and got him to give
me what seei1ted about right for a pa
tient in the prime of life, and he made
it a rush order for, of course, he want
ed to keep my custom.
Prompt on the stroke of seven l
drove UP to the house with my wagon.
l had all the flowers and l must say
they did credit to my selection CT what
was appropriate l had supply of
ice, too. for thought they would wart
me. 10 come prepared for business.
The house was all lit up, and that sur
priSed me. for it is very unusual in
such cases. As soor as 1 rang the
bell. and 1T was another surprise that
il WAS not muffied with the usual
stocking tied on the gong, the young
woman opened the door and the first
question was had l brought THE !
flowers.
:. Yes, Miss I answered, and 1 have
brought enough ice. too
How thoughtful of you she said. |
NOW we can keep them fresh a long |
time But it wasn't really the flowers |
l was thinking % New bring the
flowers into the parlor, and l Will help |
you arrange them
$50 the first 1 brought in was the
cut flowers, roses and snlilax and ferns
and that sort OF thing, and she Went to
work draping them ever the mantel
piece and on mothers picture on the
easel. She was so busy when l
brought in the set pieces that She did
not Pay any attention ui8til 1 had them
all in, and asked where she wanted
them put. They were very recherche
and l must say that 1 had exercised eX-
cellent taste. There was a Gates
Ajar' with four steps in front and a
full blOWn blood-red rose on the
thresholds; them there was a broken
column with Our Mother on the
shaft, in purple immortelles and a
-alla lily laid on top; then there Was a
;heaf of wheat tied with broad purple
satin ribbon; to say nothing of the .
of Hope ard wreaths and
smaller pieces.
We'll, just as soon as she saw them
she tUmbled all of heap ON the sofa
md had Il fl of mysteries and silrieked
or me to take those dreadful things
way out of this house at once She
vas so worked UP that l had 20 10 as
he told me without any explanation.
couldn't make out what WAS the
ma tier and when got back here l was
ust about as bewiIdered as l have ever
)eeIG in my life.
Along about an hour" later her
ather came in as mad as Il hornet. '
lie threw in my face the Grape rosette c
rom the doOrbelf and WAS "Sing 30 a
ick me for treating them so. After Il }
while we ina aged TO get so we could s
ak it over and he acknowledged that Y
WAS not to blame for a very unfor- !
innate occurrence. 1t seems that the C
aughter thought that l could take the $
Th0le bother of the flowers off her s
ands and forgot to mention what it n
1as for L wasn't a funeral; her
lOther was very much alive, but that
vas her birthday and they had plan o.
ed a little surprise party in honor of
he day When the friends came there
vas not one of them would come IN
7hen they saw the Grape on the bell
mob But l Should like to know how
could do otherwise than 1 did. New
ork Sun.