New-York tribune., 1902-08-07
PRIZES FOR THEIR PLANTS
DISTRIBUTION DAY AT WEST-SI
BRANCH OF LITTLE MOTHERS"

Please Mrs. Bons, couldn't bring mack me
plant because planted IT on me father ;
grave
n was q rnournfuI little voice that said this,
and a solemn little face that looked up al MIS-
Clarence F2urns as the absent plant was thus
accounted for II book distribution Gay dI
the Little Mothers 4" branch. at No z "est-sC
inst after Easter each little mother receives q
geranium- with the promise that II she couIu ~
return it. live and well, yesterday she should have
a book And this little mother was explaining
why she came empty-handed-
Mrs Burns may perhaps have thought that she
would be able 20 be sternly just, and deny a book
10 every child who failed to return her plant out
s, u-ss NOT The baby who left hers on her
fathers grave got a book, and so did the others
who came ernpty-handed and told their htue
tales of woe None OF them claimed BOOK put
when Mrs Burns had called them up and asked
them all about IT, her heart failed her every time
and she would give out a book Only. she let
those who brought nice plants choose their books
and the others had to take what was left; so that
all the little wise virgins got red and orange and
slly-blue books, and all the little foolish virgins
got gray and black ones. that being the basis on
which the choice made
Where the geraniuns had failed to grow, the
explanation was chiefly that 1t all withered
away" why the little mother didn't know; it
Just wouldn't live, matter what she did
Others, in excess of loving devotion, had drowned
the poor geranums with copious and hourly
drauehts- The tenement house cat seems to
possess a vicious antipathy to imported geTa-
niurEs. In several cases she had killed the
plant either by knocking il of the roof or
otherwise maltreating it. One small child brought
a depressed looking geranium, a mere stalk
festooned with few discouraged looking leaves.
Almost in tears. she compared il with the
thriftier plants around her, she explained mourn
fully that just fast the leaves came out the
would chew them of.
But in spite Of ali these sad happenings il was a
thrifty lot Of plants the piano The best Of
them had been transplanted into boxes or larger
pots. because they had outgrown their little Jars
One old came in-one Of those queer old
figures that float around the lower wards. gro
tesque enough for gargoyle- Her breath was
strong Of tobacco Of peculiarly villanous brand
The little girl not strong enough to bring the
plant so she had to bring il. One look at
the geraniun spoke volumes for that old woman
The Easter slip now filled a big box, and spread
ing, bushy form and abundant punches Of buds
proclaimed II happy geranium- She explained
with voluble pride her method of care; how she
had never disturbed the roots when she trans
planted it. but just smashed the pot and trans
ferred the mould Of earth bodily to the box un-
WY. think you ought TO have book your
self 80. 49,
one of the children when she slowed swiss FaIn
boxers eOi9" feit morally certain that she could not
re@s TGFd P1t she eeq NED 'qS rsad as though The
long row of low chairs filled with Httle glrls
as she dipped into sr new book Tne world 1or.
got they spelled through the opening page o,
s'Flack Beauty found their aStonlshineIt ina
venerated classic. Mary Had Little Lamp: II
print or revelIed in some fairy tale MIS-, ann.
Calder johnson, president of the Little MotheTs T
Aid Society had contributed fifty copies OF Biach
Beauty" and The Tribune Sunshine Society nae
sent many books - a,o c-..
The books will be awarded al No Z36 second
ave the headquarters Of the society, on SATURDAY
afternoon. - s,,r.t -,
in plant culture and Proposes 10 nave afad
the hack ward at No. % Miss Olmstead cameo 2
H. Of the nSlghbOrhOOd on d
recent evening TO ask if they would cooperate
They promised help and protection and contrlp
for tte cauee some as much quarter ne
paving stones will removed. soil defoslieo dii'
vines and bulbs for next spring planted