Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1900-08-23

formed strong contrast TO the sim.
plicity Of those which surrounded
il. AT the head Of this grave was
q little wooden badly plant.
ed, for II was in the middle OF the
grave but around IL, a. upon the
tombs Of the wealthy. superb flow-
ers we're scattered.
The guard. astoaished, stopped
short beside the little one Who was
kneeling upon the frost hardened
ground. She murmured aloud an
intslligible zorda. whiie haz hody
was convulsively shaken with sobs.
She uttered plaintive groans, and
great tears rolled down her thin
cheeks. She raised her head, clasp
ed her hands. aud her childish
voice uttered prayer, in the si-
lence. Then she took the rose
bush which had laid upon tho ground
beside her, gave long kiss to one
OF the roses aud began to dig lit
tie hollow in the earth with her
fingers. In .this she planted the
shrub.
Behind her, Father John had in.
stinctively taken of his hat, but he
soon put it on his head again, and
out Of patience with himself for his
momentary forgetfulness, called
himself an "old beast" lie de-
cided to finish the little drpma be-
fore him by placing his hand upon
the shoulder Of the child. His rough
touch made her turn with a quick
motion, and at hls CRY, cat last
have got you, you little thief !" she
gave q convulsive moan. Frighs-
ened, then bewildered, like one
coming out Of a dream, she raised
her little face al blue with the
cold, and saw the wrathful face of
the forester, aud in her ears she
heard his rough voice nier acinply
calling her "a little thief"
Then she uttered cry, and look
ed as though she would flee; but,
paralyzsd by fright, she remained
nailed TO the ground. Her teeth
we're chattering, q shiver ran
through her whole frame, and her
great, astonished eyes fixed them
selves upon those of the gardener.
He softened his voice.
"Now it seems impossible to me
that this pretty head should belong
to a miserable child-thief."
The little one remained mute.
Then anger seized him once more,
and he cried, "Speak then--telI me
where"
He did not finish, for, without
making any effort to escape, the
child drooped her head. Then she
moved her lips as though she were
going to to speak. bat sobs choked
her. Beside herself with emotion,
she fell heavily upon her knees.
She pointed with finger still black
with earth at the newlymade mount.
Father John did not understand.
His anger had completely faded
away before the child's great grief.
He forgot bis indignation against
her, raised her in his arms, pressed
her gently against his bresst. and
warmed her face in his large hands.
whispering into her ear. .sSee little
one, will do you no harm. Don't
cry any more. just tell me why
you took the flowers from the other
lots to bring them here ?"
Then the child, in broken voice
told her story: "My mamma loved
flowers so much, sir I" A sob oil.
most interrupted her, but she SUM-
moned all her force and cried :
''She is dead-my mammal They
brought her here. l came 70 get
her flowers :"
But thy father 7" asked the gar.
dener. The child looked at him
with an Innocent, astonished air.
81 do not know. / know only
my mamma, my pretty mamma.
Ah, sir, let me get her flowers"
Roughly the old man fondled her
and wept in bls turn. Her head
instinctively nestled in the warm
shelter.
"Ah! thy mother loved flowers .
Well, but thou must not steal them.
Come with me. Ny garden 10 full
OF them. We will 20 and pick some,
and We will bring them to yonr
mamma"
"Truly? truly I? Is it true ?v
cried the little one, quickly COM
forted. Her small arms clung more
closely around the old mans neck,
and, giving him q warm caress, she
said with ihfantile tenderness, "Oh
how ! love you - Then resuming
a serious air, she slid to the ground
and knee.ing and looking upward