The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-03

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A trudged happily home from
ESlESI school through the cool spring
- afternoon.
Martha considered. Her experience had
the limit which seven years imposes. but in
the stories which mother read her from the
fat green and red books, flower girls had
figured now and again, so she could speak
with authority
"Oh, they sell punches of vilets and roses
on the corners and they're awful poor and
then some rich nice old gentleman comes
and says, My lost daughters child! an
then takes her and her mamma home in his
buggy an it's all happy ever after"
'Melia frowned a little frown of bewilder-
ment.
us 1t tina to be a flower girl" she said,
obviously. 'I'm going to be one to my
cousin Carols wedding. an 1 shouldn't think
she'd let me stand on a corner and sell roses
and vilets then"
.sWell you'll have to II you're a real flower
GIRL" said Martha. decidedly. "'Cause
that's what it is In the books. and 1 guess
II 1t wasn't true they wouldn't darst to
print tt"
'Melia carried her bewilderment to the
maternal ear. Did mother think that
cousin Carol would want her to stand on a
corner and sell flowers while she was being
married? 1t said so in the books, and things
I'm books had to be so. Mother forebore to
laugh while she explained that it was en-
tirely a different kind OF a flower girl, that
one was at ones cousins wedding.
"Tisn't TO stand on a corner at ALL" ex-
planned 'Melia to Martha the next after
noon. You wear a lovely blue and white
dress with a polkadot sash and hair ribbons.
an you carry a basket Of flowers an
everything's blue and white an you strew
'em in front Of cousin Carol. an you start
Just as soon as the wedding march plays
an they tell you to, an you walk down the
stairs all by yourself"
Right before all the people that there
is to a wedding?' questioned Martha, in
credulously. why. I was TO a wedding
once and there were oh, heaps of people.
Why. you wouldn't dare to. 'Melia Browne,
without you held to your mammals hand"
'Melia wondered why one should be scared
simply because there. were heaps of people.
One entered the schOolroom unabashed. and
was unashamed in walking down the church
aisle in mothers wake even though the con-
gregation had gathered. One went to the
circus parade, too, when the streets were
crowded and felt no shame in the face of
the multitude. She dismissed the idea Of
fear from her thoughts
well. l declare. my daughter is a society
lady, exclaimed father next morning at
breakfast, surveying 'Melia across his oat-
meal. Then. he read from the morning
paper which was folded before him: Mr..
and Mrs. William Browne and daughter
Amelia will go 10 Daysville to attend a we'd
ding. at which little Miss Amelia will be a
flower girl Why. gracious. mother, did
you know that Miss Amelia was in society?'
Mother frowned across the table. Don't
talk much about it before her she said.
warningly. So long as we keep her uncon-
scfous she won't get stage fright"
There was no vestige of stage fright in
'Melia as she IrOtted of to school. Her
starcby little petticoats had an assertive
swing. Martha had never been I'm the pa
pers. she guessed, and IL was a feather in
ones cap 10 tell of Miss Amelia Browne.
who. the paper had said, was to be flower
girl
1t was very interesting and exciting at
cousin Carols house. Cousin Carol herself
was so pretty and sweet and happy that
'MeIia asked nothing better than 10 hover
around her, drawing JOY from her joy. Then
there was a shoal OF uncles and aunts and
cousins who were. most Of them beyond
the limit OF 'Melia's recollection, and they
all united In petting Melie, who was the
littlest cousin OF them all. The rehearsal
too, was very exciting. It was such fun
10 come down the stairs gravely and sedate-
". balancing a moment on each foot TO get
the right movement 10 the wedding march
that a cousin was drumming out on the
piano; and 10 hear the admiring chorus
from clustered aunts and cousins gathered
IN the hall
-, a. bFf rouuofo.tg - e0oroT H. -.
little heart" said one uncle. enthusiastical
IL, and Melia wondered again why every
body expected her To be scared.
There's ten ladies 10 the house counting
me-" announced 'Melia 10 cousin Carol wher