Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-01-11
Rose Time
by.
MARGARET RICHARDS
Co7ynsht. 1905. by Mcclure. Philips & Co.

Then you anchored your fairy boat
(which was really Il hammock under
the big old elm and scampered down
the path, your light braids bobbing be
hind you
Roses for dinner, Aunt Martha|
you asked ioyfully.
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 Martha p
She just stood smiling at YOU. and
YOU took the little white basket proud
". Very straight and proper you were
as you walked down the garden path
shoulders back, 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
Not now. Guy" you said primly, and
he dropped his stick and followed you
.sedately. Down the wide path between
the hJllyhocks 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 a plunge, but
you shook your head reprovingly. NO
sticks at rose time, Guy" Then along
the wide sunny road and in at the
"othcr 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, a little breeze
stirred the bushes, and 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 90 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
ful 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 letter In her hand and eyed you
doubtfully.
Let me take 1t, Aunt Dora" you
chair 1t was fine for a little girl to
walk down to the postoffice all alone,
just as though she were grown up.
Aunt Dora still looked doubtful. 1T
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
hollyhoclls, carrying the letter proudly
In your hand.
Aunt Dora was not married like Aunt
Martha She was a beautiful princess,
and some day a fairy prince would
COM, and she would go away with him
IN 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 a 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 aud then Guy was in the water,
too, tugging at your frock; then you
and Guy were both all wet and safe
and dripping on the shore.
THE important letter-get that, too,
Guyw 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.
Retribut,on had come swiftly, fasten-
ing its grim hand on you and shadow
ing all your little world What would
they say?" you wondered nunbly, 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 me- cried Aunt Martha.
what has happened to the chiidY
And you stood with Shamed bowed
head while tie water from your frock
dripped in little brown rivulets across
the golden bars and Guy leaped and
barked around You and confessed the
story Of your d.sobed!ence.
Suddenly. swiftly, Aunt Dora bent
Grl clasped You tight in her warm,
10 .lg arms ana he'd your little wet
led against her breast, and as she
Kissed you and claspcd you close you
felt hot tears dropping on your cold
ice
How you loved her. Later, when you
lay all warm aid u.y and comfy in
your little bed, she came again.
Did you mai! t.e letter, dearT she
whispered soft!, aad Lecause you
loved her dearly aGd because she might
be unhappy if she knew ~yout the i'm
portant letter you nodded your small
head "Yes."
How that little word haunted you In
the days that followed, 1t peeped at
you from between the hollyhocks; it