Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-11-01
A White Carnation Flower.

He was only newsboy, and a dirty
and ragged one at that, but under his
torn jacket there glowed a spark OF
chivalry.
One night, when Miss Alice Rea, as
she was hurrying for her train, drop
ped a bundle of papers from her muff
he sprang at once to her assistance
With quick "I'll pick 'em up, miss,
he gathered them together, brushed eff
the dust and handed them to her, with
a quick grab at his dilapidated cap.
Thank you, little fellow" she said
won't you have one of my flowers p
and, selecting one from large bunch
of white carnations which she carried
she put in into his hand and ther
passed quickly on.
Bobby gazed at the flower with &
| look of amazement, which soor
! changed into broad smile of delight
IN take it home to Maggie" he said
maggie was his sister, who shared
with him two tiny rooms in a wretcheC
tenement which Bobby called home.)
So he buttoned it up carefully undel
his jacket, and that night the fail
white blossom displayed its splendors
to the happy eyes of Maggie.
IF you keep it in fresh water" he
said, as he gave it to her. It'll last q
week maybe"
The next morning, as Bobby was
sorting his papers, he heard bright
Good morning." and looked up just in
time to catch a nod and smile from the
young lady who had given him the
flower the night before A young man
in a brown ulster was with her, and
Bobby heard her say, as they passed
along, Its my little newsboy, Jack,
that picked up the papers for me last
night"
That night Bobby was on the look
out. and his vigilance was not in vain,
for when Miss Rea passed him she
smiled pleasantly; the young man in
the brown ulster was with her again,
and he, too, gave Bobby a careless
little nod.
Bobby's eyes were bright as he went
homeward, and Maggie met him at TIE
door with face as happy as his own.
20, Bobby" she cried eagerly, q;
showed Mrs OBrien my flower this
afternoon and she said il | kept it in
water maybe it would grow roots, be-
cause it's got such a long stem and so
many leaves to it,"
Sure enough, after few days of
watching and tending, tiny white roots
appeared then Maggie filed an old
can with earth, and the little slip was
gently placed in it. It grew and
between Bobby, the flower lady, as he
called her, and the young man in the
brown ulster increased. Every morn
ing Bobby was watching for them, and
every evening he stood where they
would pass him on the way to the
train. There was always some pleas
ant greeting ready, which Frightened
Bobby's day and sent him home at
night with a cheerful heart.
But one chilly February morning. rs
Bobby stood in his accustomed place,
he saw the young man come across the
obItcb dlOlt. lHtIt was Il LTOuDleI
look on his face and he passed Bobby
without even a glance.
A vague fear arose in the boys
heart, and nothing was able TO dispeI
1t; his other customers missed the
CHEEKY saiutation with which he usual
ly greeted them, and more than once
looked curiously at the childish face
with its preoccupied expression.
The long day dragged YEARLY by,
and at night Bobby watched eagerly
for the familiar brown ulster. At last
II appeared, but the sight brought no
comfort to Bobby, for, as in the morn
ing. the wearer hurried by without
look or word
That night when Bobby entered the
room Maggie Immediately noticed that
was troubling him, but she
could obtain no information, for he
said never a word, feeling that to put
his dread into words was to make The
more possible.
The next day passed in the same
manner; Bobby was at his post
earlier than usual, and stood there The
whole day, only to see the young man