The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-28

and sweetly as any vestal virgins fire
ever glowed in olden times
'"That is the picture" Minerva add
ed, "but the whole impression is not
complete without mingled odor OF
mignonette that is quite as character
istic. But Melissa Is not the only per-
son with a flower sign manual, altho
we are not all so constant in our man
ifestations of devotion. Ursula is al
most as closely associated with her
knot of violets as Melissa with the
rose, while 1 always expect to see Pa
tricia's desk adorned with some deli
cate fern fronds, with lilies of the val
ley for occasions. But / don't call
Mirandas mannish habit Of wearing
a Daybreak carnation as evidence of
affection; on the contrary, detect in,
it evidence of a fad"
"You hit it very cleverly, DR.. Wis.,
DOM" Miranda rejoined. But if
think 1 have no floral true love, your
observation Is at fault. My affection
centers on sprig of green, the rose
gera mum, and I have 1t about me
more constantly even than my pink,
but 1t Is less in evidence. Now, am
a more acute observer, Til wager, than
Minerva. don't believe one of, you
ever suspected her Of INDUCING in
sentiment about anything, even flow
ers, and I am sure she thinks she has
kept her secret, but I shall reveal 1t.
She rejoices in two ardent but con-
slant loves, the arbutus and the for
get-menot. Wearing flowers wouldn't
fit well with her business nor her
clothes, so it answers her purpose just
as we'll to have flowers that one thinks
about chiefly instead Of seeing them.
haven't attempted to fathom the
reasons for her choice, for that comes
| In the domain Of deduction and not
of observation" l-s- :.@-...
"That was really quite clever Of you,
were right in naming my flowers, altho
it must have been on. slight evidence
for you have seldom seen me with
either. My reasons are not at all
subtle, for that could not be in char
acter. To me, the arbutus means
| New England, and around 1t clusters
all the associations of a happy and
free childhood in close communion
with nature. The forget-me-not
shares little Of the suggestion of
| the splendid outdoor freedom that has
| influenced my life so strongly, but it
also speaks to me of deep, cool Cana
| dian woods and glacial mountain
streams associated with the playttmes
Of my maturer years. 1t speaks to
me of the delights and solemnity of
solitude, where one may slip off the
cares of civilization and live for a
time free from complications, inhaling
with every breath vigor and sanity
3"You haven't assigned me- a flow
err said Cornelia, "but I claim one,
a1tho I don't moon over it., It's the
| red geranium. and like 1t because 1T
is so cheerful and grateful in spite
of being hopelessly commonplace. I
! like the poinsetta, too, for it's holiday
suggestion, altho I could hardly call
my feeling for it love. Rebecca's love
| isS even less sentimental than mine;
| 1t Is primroses, with calendula as a
| second, and the reason is because they
| are SO uesful about the house.. being
| bright and lasting ever so long," W.
Here's Helena, one of our most de-
! voted flower lovers, left without a
blossom to her name" said Patricia
| That's easy to explain" Helena
| answered. II couldn't name my ia
| vorite myself: I am fond Of so many
flowers and for different reasons.
have claim on some that the rest
have appropriated, but l suppose I
| am especially lover Of the season
able flowers. What I love in the
spring would not interest me if pro-
! duced in the fall. From the garden
the procession runs thru tulips, bache-
lor buttons, peoples, sweet peas and
asters. In the winter I think I pin
my regard chiefly on the daffodils
after their arrival, for they prophesy
spring, while lighting UP winters
! cheerlessness." ~. ~.