Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-05-22
A Bouquet Of MayfIowers.

A Bouquet Of MayfIowers.
SEND ONE To YOUR FRIEND, AS A RE-
MINDER OF THE OLD HOME.
The post-man brought to our door,
one day last week, fne large bouquet
of Mayfiowers, fresh from the old home
town of Andover. Thanks to the rapid
transit of the mails, these beauties came
to hand in prime condition. In full
bloom and fragrance, bringing such Q
breath of perfume as can come only
from such source.
When the package was opened, the
first impulse was to put the face deep
down into the lovely bunch, close the
eyes and inhale as long breath as posi-
hle. How suddenly were we waited by
taeir odor, from this smoky, noisy city
to the beautiful hillsides of Maine.
With closed eyes we could see the very
SPOT where we used to gather the first
| flowers to bloom in the spring; could
see the pine trees beneath which the
vines had slept during the long winter;
could hear the song of the birds in them
and the joys of childhood were recalled
with distinctness as we reveled In the
pleasure of having such fresh beauties
from home.
How long will they remain in this
state, is the first query?
We have some neighbOrs who must
enjoy with US their visit. They are
taken across the street to friend who
welcomed them as her favorite harbinger
of spring in her Massachusetts, home.
She too can tell Of the old pasture where
she always found them growing. We
mnst leave some of them here for most
of her family have never seen them and
she wants them to ''just smell of these
lovely visitors from the East"
Another neighbor, up the street, used
to hunt them in Yarmouth, and they
surely must have some before they fade.
On the way to this home some ladies are
at work on their lawns and they are ask
ed if they ever saw the Trailing Arbutus,
and are invited to smell of them. "Oh
amt they lovely" they exclaim.
"We never saw them before" moth
er," the younger one said, their per-
fume reminds me of the magnolias." TO
me she said, I'VE are from the South
where the magnolia trees are 30 grand
and fragrant at this season OF the year,
and there is something in the odor OF
these, that makes me think of my old
Southern home" A few of the North
ern plants are left where their presence
brings remembrances of happy homes in
warmer chimes.
We stop next at the DOCTORS porch TO
show them to him who asks for few to
give to his wife when she comes home.
He had never seen them before but his
wife had often told him of how they
grew about her home in Pennsylvania.
Then to the home of the Maine family.
Here the aged wife is an invalid and the
daughter asks permission to take them
to mother at once. "She will be so de-
lighted to see them once more"
generous portion is left in the sick room,
that cheer and happiness may be had by
inhaling their nectar from the pine
scented homeland. The journey is
prolonged that another family may re-
new their acquaintance with the flowers
they used to pick on Martha's Vineyard.
True to their mission they bring back
the memory of former days and a con-
tention is here made that the very finest
specimens are to be found only on the
Vineyard. Some other neighbors come
in who had never seen them before, and
to them is suggested the cape jasmine
that grew about their home in Alabama.
The size of the bouquet is much d.
minished by the time it gets back to the
house, but a. button hole selection is
given to the young man who is going TO
attend a party of young people who
never saw them growing but who are so
charmed BY their fragrance that they
divide the bouquet among themselves 80
that each one could have "wee tiny"
bit of bloom.
The next morning some are taken
down into the noisy dusty shops where
the workmen toll, shut in by brick
walls, and clear skies and green fields
are only a memory. They are passed
around among them and grateful thanks
are given for such sweet smelling
flowers. ut must be delightful coun-
try where such flowers come FROM"
said one of them whose days labor must
be aided by artificial light so dark is his
office.
What pleasure was given to many OF
us by these gems. We know the dear
friends on the farm enjoyed the effort of
picking and mailing them. Their love
was manifest in every flower. To us no
present could be more welcome. How
by a little effort were memories and
former days brought back. To some,
scenes of stately flower laden trees
heavy with perfume. To Others, shut in
by disease, pictures of pine groves and
sea shore. Others see moss covered
trees and breathe again the sweet scented
Jasmine. Another IL reminded that
where these flowers grow, is found the
checkerberry and later on the twin
flower. To others, before their olfac-
tory nerves are deadened by coal smoke,
ia given a treat of the sweetest smell,
and vision of beautiful country where
such plants grow. :.
We tell the story of the mission of
these flowers for purpose. To those
who read it and realize how much good
can be accomplished by so simple means,
we hope they will each spring send
few to some friend or relative whose
DAYS are spent in the cities and who are
unable to 20 out into the woods and get
them at first hand. No explanation Is
needed, no dissertation required to show
their superior qualities. Their presence
and fragrance win their way into any
and all hearts and can be shared by
many more than the one to whom they
are sent.