The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1900-06-22
A WHITE CARNATION.



One night, when Miss Alice Rea, as she
was hurryng for her train, dropped bun.
die Of papers from her muff he spraLg at once
to her assistance. With a quick I'm pick
'em up Miss" he gathered them together,
brushed of the dust, and handed them to
her, with a queer little grab at his dilApi.
dated cap.
Thank you. little fellow" she said,
won't you have one Of my howers?" and
selecting one from a large bunch of white
carnations which she carried she put il into
bis hand and then passed quickly on.
Bobby gazed at the flower with look Of
amazement, which soon changed into broad
smile of delight. "I'.l take it home to Mag.
gle" he said. Maggie was his sister, who
shared with him the two tiny rooms in a
wretched tenement which Bobby called
home.)
So he buttoned it up carefully under his
jacket, and that night the fair white bios
som displayed its splendors to the happy
eyes of Maggie.
IF you keep it in fresh water" he said,
as he gave it to her, eth last a week,
maybe"
The next morning, as Bobby was sorting
his papers, he heard bright Good morn.
ing and looked up just in time to catch
nod and smile from the young lady who
had given him the flower the night before.
A young man in brown ulster was with he's,
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 lookout,
and his vigilance was not in vain, for when
Miss Rea passed him she smiled pleasant
ly; the young man in the brown ulster was
with her again, and he, too, gave Bobby a
careless little nod.
Bobbys eyes were bright as he went
hofeward, and Maggie met him at the door
with face as happy as his own. 30, Bob
by she cried, eagerly, 81 showed Mrs.
O'Brien my flower this afternoon and she
said if kept it in water maybe it would
grow roots, because it's got such long stem
and so many leaves to it,"
Sure enough, after few days of careful
watching and tending, tiny white roots an.
peared; then Maggie filled an old can with
earth, and the little slip was gently placed
in it, 1t grew and 1ourished, and with it
the friendship 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 their way to the train. There was
always some pleasant greeting ready, which
frightened Bobby's day and sent him home
at night with cheerful heart.
But one chilly February morning as Bob
by stood in his accustomed place he saw
the young man come across the street alone.
There was troubled look on his face, and
he passed Bobby without even a glance.
A vague fear rose in the boys heart, and
nothing was able to dispel it; his other
customers missed the CHEEKY salutation with
which he usually greeted them, and more
than one looked curiously at the childish
face with its preoccupied expression.
That night when Bobby entered the room
Maggie Immediately noticed that something
was troubling him, but she could obtain nc
information, for he said never a word, feel
ing that to put his dread into words was to
make the realization more possible.
On the third day Bobby could endure it nc
longer; as the young man crossed the street
some one stepped directly into the path, He
looked down impatiently, but his face
changed as he recognized the boy.
"What is it?" he asked quickly. but moi
unkindly.
"The lady, sir" Bobby said, family, "isn't
she coming any more?"
81 hope So, said the young man, gravely
"but not just now. She is sick, you see
and the doctors say il will be a long time a
least before she can come AGAR"
Dohb,- +,,rpoJ o,ra1. bo Jroo -, \ e beo, -.
had been put into words, and the direc
knowledge, although he had longed for it
was almost more than he could bear.
At last, Just week from the morning
when he had first heard the sad news, a
Bobby stood at his post, he saw the yount
man coming across the street, with fac,
so white and set and stamped with terribl,
sorrow that for moment Bobby's hear
stood still. Then as the young man cam
close to him he stepped forward involun
tarily, and laid his hand on the brown sleeve
The young man turned sharply, almos
tiercely at the touch, but as he looked dow
into the little face raised to his, his owl
softened
!; The boy spoke no word, but the other real
the question in the eager, anxious eyes, ant
said in low, choked voice. "She died thi
morning. am going back in an hour"
Bobby's hand dropped from the youn
mans arm; for a moment he stood still
dazed by the words he had just heard. Their
regardless of his unsold papers, he turne
and went slowly back to the old tepemen
he had left but half an hour before.
Maggie started with surprise as he cam
in, but one glance at his grief-stricken fac
told her the whole story.
"The lady, Bobby" she gasped. ~
she-"
''She's dead said Bobby, dropping int
the nearest chair, aud laying his head o
the old table, "the young man told me. l.
! never see her again, and can't do anythin
for her. and the little figure was shaken b
heavy sobs. Maggie stood silently besid
him for some moments; then, suddenly turn
ing, she went into the second of the two lii
, tie rooms.
When she returned she carried the old ca
in which they had planted the carnatior
1t now held a sturdy plant, and bearing itsel
proudly a'oft on its slender stem was beat
tiful blossom.
"See, Bobby" she said, laying her han
on the bowed head. "I've been keeping
for surprise for you, but you shall have
for the lady. Perhaps the young man ca
take it to her"
Bobby looked up; motionless he gazed s
the flower. then sprang quickly to his fee
HE said he'd 60 back in an hour. sha
have just time!" he exclaimed.
Carefully and tenderly the carnation wa