Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-11-01
a White Carnation Flower.

- '''''NN ~"H 'lNN'N'' lNNNNis
He was only a newsboy, and dirty
and ragged one at that, but under his
torn jacket there glowed a spark OF
Cbivalry
One night, when Miss Alice Rea, as
she was hurrying for her train, drop
ped bundle of papers from her muff,
he sprang at once to her assistance.
With a quick "Ill pick EN- up, miss, -
he gathered them together, brushed of
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?
and selecting one from a large bunch
of white carnations which she carried,
she put in into his hand and then
passed quicll, on
Bobby gazed at the flower with a
look Of amazement, which soon
changed into broad smile of delight.
"Tll take ii home to Maggie" he said.
maggie was his sister. who shared
with him 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 blossom displayed its splendor5
to the happy eyes Of Maggie.
IF you keep IL in fresh water he
said, as he gave II to her. tn last a
week maybe
The next morning, as Bobby was
sorting his papers, he heard a 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 tho look.
out, aud 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 careless
little nod,
Bobby's eyes we're bright as he went
homeward, ana Maggie met him at tie
door with a face as happy as his own.
20, Bobby" she cried eagerly, "i
showed Mrs OBrien my flower this
afternoon and she said If ! kept IT 10
water maybe It would grow roots. be.
cause It's got such o long stem and 50
many leaves to H.
Sure enough after "A 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 ana
nourlshed and with II the friendship
between Bobby, the flower lady, as hc
called her. and the young man in tDc
brown ulster increased Every morn.
ing Bobby was watching for them, and
every evening he stood where tiny
would pass him on the way 10 the
train There was always some pleas
ant greeting ready, which frightened
Bobby's day and sent him home al
night with a cheerful heart
But one chilly February morning, ss
Bobby stood IN bis accustomed place,
he saw the young man come across the
street alone There was a troubled
look on his face and he passed Bobby
without even glance
A vague fear arose In the boys
heart. and nothing was able 10 dlspel
a., his other customers missed the
CHEEKY salutation with which he usual.
~ greeted them, and more than once
looked curiously az the childish face
with It's prcoceupicd expression,
The long day dragged YEARLY by,
and at night Bobby watched eagerly
for the familiar brown ulster At last
1t appeared, but the sight brought no
comfort 70 Bobby, for, az tn the morn
Ing, tho wearer hurried by without
lODk or word
That night when Bobby entered the
room Maggie Immediately noticed that
something vas troubling him. but she
could obtain no information, for he
said never a word. feeling that 70 put
his dread into words was TO make he
realization more possible
The nest day passed In the same
manner; Bobby was at his post
earlier than usual, and stood there he
whole day, only 70 see the young man