Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-29
THE ROSE IN
A KITCHEN.
Boston Post)

There II stood in a beautiful vase. on a
small ebony stand In the front window
of the drawng-roOm
The satin draperics swept down on
either side Of it, and all around glittered
rare and costly bric-a-brac, yet that rose
was the fairest Of them all.
But the sunlight that streamed through
tho window revealed something taifer
than the rose. Reclining on coucn ana
intently engaged with q book lay what
seemed indeed to be the living counter
part OF the rosc-the fair face so full or
thoughtfulness. and the expression OF the
beautiful mouth seemed like the picture
in a dream. "Helenl Helen! called
musical voice In az impatient tone. what
are you going to do with your pet rose
when you 80 TO New YORK I'm sure
can't take care of it for you
make yourself easy about that" said
Helen, 81 have found an asylum Tor my
rose" ooh, who Is 10 have II, you nave
so few intimate friends hereF' well
Ethel. you remember the little pale-Iace
gIrl TO whom we give sewing2' Nv nat!
Mary Scayernsi What an idea! what can
people in her circumstances want or
ilowers?'
For just the same reason l do" said
Helen. Have you never noticed now
wistfully Mary always looks at the OPEN
Eyes. but Helen, just think Of the rose
on a table with ham, cheese, and bread,
and stifed i'm the little close room Whe.e
Mrs. Seaverns washes and irons!
"Well. Ethel. il | was obliged to live
ir such a room | think a beautllul rose
would make me happy
"Oh, Helen, Jou are TOO sensatlohal;
moor people nave no time for sentiment
you will see Ethel, that my pet rose
will be Just as happy in Mrs. SeaVefnS
Kitchen as in our parlor. DO not sup
pose roses ever inquire II their owner
is rich or poor. / wish you could have
seen how happy Mary seemed when l Of
feTed her my rose
well. Helen, that may be true, but |
never thought Of IL before, In fact,
never Thought those poor people had any
idea Of beauty, and L never BEFORE
thought Of giving TO the Door anything
but what they really needed"
In a day or two Helen carried the
beautiful rose to its new home. 1t was
placed in a very small room on stand
the room a pale, sickly-looking woman
was leaning back in her chair.
See, mother. what Miss Helen has
brought US her beautiful rose tree,
there's one rose in full bloom and two
buds"
Her mothers face frightened as she
said: How kind Miss Helen Is" Yes,
know you will feel 50, mother" said
Mary, ''she has given US 80 many things
yet this seems 10 be the best OF all"
But little did Helen realize when she
gave the rose to Mary of the invisible
thread which was twined around 1t.
one day III spring a gentleman cditen
al the humble home Of Mrs. Seaverns on
an errand, and his eyes rested on inc
beautiful rose, and he stepped up 10 IL
admirlngly. THAT was given 10 US" said
Mary. "by a young lady as sweet and as
beautiful as that.
said the stranger.
"Oh. because we are poor" said Mary.
"and do not have many pretty things 50
Miss Helen gave US that Helen sald
the stranger, May | ask her other
manner
"Yes." exclaimed Mary, Helen Pear
SON." "Is she here now?" asked the gem
tleman eagerly. No" said Mary, But
you can md out all about her by inquir-
ing at her aunIs house, MIS-. Montague,
No. Street"
AS a result Of this Helen received let
ter in a well-known handwriting Dur
ing a number OF years spent abroad she
had well learned the writing. and had
loved the writer, but there had been a
sad separation and she had believed her
lover dead. but this letter told her that
he still lived and loved her dearly, and
the rose has accomplished its mission.