The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-12-29
Rose Time
.....By.-...
MARGARET RICHARDS
Copyright. 1905. by Mcclure. Philips & Co.

MARTHA Openeu the sue uOOr ana came
down the path between the verbenas
and sweet williams.
Edith" she called. Edith
Coming, Aunt Martha" you said.
Then you anchored your fairy boat
(Which was really hammock) under
the path, your light braids bobbing be-
hind you.
"Roses for dinner, Aunt Martha? 2"
you asked joyfully.
Always the same. Though she called
you every morning and though you
saw the little white basket on her arm,
you had always to ask the same ques-
ton, ''Roses for dinner Aunt Martha2'
She just stood smiling at you, and
you took the little white basket proud
ly. Very straight and proper you were
as you walked down the garden path
shoulders bacl; toes out, light braids
bobbing serenely.
do not loiter," she had said, and you
did not, although Guy, your huge New
foundland playfellow, raced after you
down the path.
mot now, Guy" you said prlmly, and
he dropped his stick and followed you
sedately. Down the wide path between
the hollyhocks you went, across the
bridge below the. lawn, stopping min
ute by the water to cool your flushed
face and watch the ripples sparkling
in the sunshine. Guy looked at you ex-
pectantly, all ready for plunge, but
you shook your head reprovingly. mo
sticks at rose time, Guyw Then along
the wide sunny road and in ut the
"other Aunt Martha's" through the lit
tie white gate that was always open
for you.
The ''other Aunt Martha" was the
most wonderful person you knew.
Even now, sometimes, when your own
little girl brings you roses and you bury
your face in their fragrant depths and
close your eyes, you can see the "other
Aunt Martha" as you used to see her,
her little cap on her gray curls, stand
ing among her roses in the golden sun
light of that long ago. The bees hum
med among the blossoms, little breeze
stirred the bushes, and a shower of pink
petals dropped silently. You walked
softly down the narrow path between
the roses to where, her arms full of
fragrant pink blossoms, she waited,
smiling. for you.
But there came days when you did
not go after the roses, and you hid in
the long grass when Aunt Martha call
ed you. That was the awful time of
your great disobedience and its dread
full result.
When it was afternoon and you were
tired of playing with Guy or sailing in
the fairy boat and the sun shone in
slanting golden beams through the
twisted branches, you sat on the porch
in your little chair. Your frock was
the color of the little white clouds; your
sash was as blue as the sky. You were
very clean and proud and beautiful as
you rocked and rocked and rocked.
Aunt Dora stood in the open doorway
with a letter in her hand and eyed you
doubtfully.
LET nae take it, Aunt Dora," you
cried, springing up from your little
chair. 1t was fine for little girl to
walk down to the postoffice all alone,
just as though she were grown up.
Aunt Dora still looked doubtful. at
is very important letter." she said,
and then all her face went pink like the
roses in her belt.
You looked and pondered.
"Why do peoples faces go like
roses?" you asked
"Do theyT' she asked and laughed,
and then she laughed again and kissed
you, and you went down between the
hollyhocks, carrying the letter proudly
in your hand.
Aunt Dora was not married like Aunt
Martha. She was beautiful princess,
and some day a fairy prince would
come and she would so away with him
IN Q golden coach
Over the hills and far away,
Beyond their utmost purple rims.
That was from the book she read
you on Sundays. You had looked and
looked, but you had never seen the pur-
pie rims. All the hills you knew had
trees on them and were green. Per-
haps they might look different from
the river. You were usually good
little girl, and you knew that good lit
tie girls minded their aunties, and you
had been forbidden to go down by the
river, but you suddenly felt that you
must see those purple rims.
Down you went, along the close crop
ped grass. out ON the large, fat, slip
perry rock, and then it happened-how
you never knew-that you were In the
water, and then Guy was In the water,
too, tuggng at your frock; then you
and Guy were both all wet and safe
and dripping on the shore.
"The important letter-get that, too,
Guy?' you cried, pointing to a white
speck drifting down the stream. But
Guy only leaped and barked and licked
your face with his great rough tongue.
Retribution had come swiftly, fasten-
ing its grim hand on you and shadow
ing all your little world. what would
they sayT you wondered numb1y, drag
ging wet, heavy little feet across the
lawn and up between the hollyhocks
and through the slanting golden bars
of sunlight on the porch.
BLESS mel" cried Aunt Martha.
"Wbat has hanpanad IN tho child ~