Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-05-30

some pineys an laylocks. You've
. got so many, you havev'
Dear me! Is that any reason / should
give EN- all away? More'n q dozen has
been here already beggin'. I might strip
the bushes."
The two mites dug the gravel with
their shabby toes, and looked abashed.
What do you want with flowers
Just to pull 'em to pieces? It's a sin to
do thatp'
''No, m, we want ter decorate to-
morrow"
1.-THE landl Such tots as you be, got
that notion, too. Whatever do you want
to decorated"
"Pa he died last winter, an he liked
flowers, an there don't none grow in our
yard, AM"
"An' so you thought you'd git 'em out
Of my yard. Your ma sent you, 1 s'pose?"
''No, m, she don't know; she's washin'
to Mis- Lakes, an we was goin' to
s'prise her with the pretty flowers settin'
into a pitcher; an in the mornin' we'd
oil take 'em to pa out where he's a-lyin'
to sleep"
''Um-m. Well, 1 do suppose you'll
have to have some all the same; call
1t foolishness, cause it's a waste, an
don't do the dead no atom of good. l
amt never done it."
''Is your pa dead an fast asleep?"
MY, yes; he's been dead nigh eight
years, an mother goin' on fifteen. I'm
the last of the family; brother, sisters,
all took away younger than me. 1t amt
no wonder as I'm sort of grabbed, left
to myself so, an havin' to look out
every which way to keep my own. There,
now, l expect you'd like some snowballs,
too. The springs been 80 backward
they amt come out as nice as they gen
orally be the last o. May"
Didn't your folks love flowers when
they was alive an lived here, missus?''
Love 'em2 Why, mother was won
derfully fond of 'em-laylocks special.
An, after she was gone, father used to
say that nothin' seemed to bring the very
image of her back like the sight an
smell of the laylock bushes. AM roses,
too; big damask ones was her favorites.
I did set out some bushes up to the
graveyard, but it's so bleak that they
got winter-killed; so 1 just keep the
grass neat an rounded up, an that's
enough. I don't suppose your pas got
q headstone"
''No, m; ma cries about that cause
she can't afford the money; but he'll be
so glad to get these he won't mind not
havin' no stone. You're pickin' such a
lotr'
Eyes, that's me; too contrary to do
anything at first, an when l do get
started, overdo it. Well, there, you've
got all your small hands can carry, I
guess, without droppin'."
Eyes, IN, and you're puffectly lovely,
you be!'
"Sakes, listen to that! It's the bios
SONS that's lovely stead Of me, an I've
given you the incest there was on the
bushes. Nlebbe you don't like seed-cakesl
Some children are fond of 'em, | know
The little visitors looked at each other.
and then at the lady who looked so grim
Was she asking them to have some. or
would she be better pleased to have them
reject the dainty? Finally, the girl said:
"Please, M, we loves cakes, but we guess
we've got all--all we orto have, and
thank yer
"Never mind about the thanks, only it
shows you've got manners; but you might
as well have some cakes, too; come
alongw Into the clean, light kitchen
they ~~ere escorted, and quickly a plate
of crisp brown cakes and two cups of
milk were out on the table-Ieaf beside
them. Now, lay them flowers down, an
have lunch. Children is always hungry
between meals, an you've had quite a
walk up here"
When they began timidly to eat, their
entertained busted herself in the pantry