The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-06-19

his work. He was a carpenter and
joiner, working in Mr.. Mills employ,
and this girl who was gathering roses
was Mr.. Mills daughter, Fleece.
They called her Fleece because her
hair was so fine, and thick, and blond,
and curling when she was a child =
like a little lambs WOOL 1t was put
now in a graceful knot at the back
Of her head, but was still all of
fleece over her brow and about the
shell-llke ears
"Good morning." said Morris, look
ing at her with admiring eyes.
Good morning-here's a rose for
you,' she answered and laughed.
That taught She was always laugh
ing-giggling, the spiteful girls said.
Just little bubble and ripple of a
sound, that she closed every remark
WITH whether grave or gay. It was
a sweet musical sound, and yet it
always made Morris uncomfortable.
He felt as if she were laughing at
him. He was glad enough of the
rose-she threw at him over the yard
fence, and he caught it dexterous1y
in his left hand, and almost involuntari-
ly lifted it to his lips
Then Fleece laughed again, and ran
up the path.
Morris walked on with the rose in
his hand, and love in his heart. Oh,
yes, he did love her, but what was
the use of it? If he told her she
would laugh at him. She was not
deep enough to understand love like
his.-she was nothing but a pretty,
shallow, laughing creature, as full of
fin and frO11C kitten
But he kept the rose all day long
III the pocket of his coat When the
sun grew too warm and he threw the
coat aside on a pile Of lumber, he
remembered to take out the rose and
put it in his blouse. There his mother
found it that night when she took the
blouse to sew up a rent in the sleeve.
"What old flower is this" she asked
"Sha11 I throw it in the wood box"
Morris was lying stretched upon
lounge, reading morning paper
Handsome enough he looked to please
any girls fancy in his bright dressing
gown and slippers, one arm under
his dark, fine head the other holding
the paper in an easy, graceful way.
But the paper dropped and the dark
cheek flushed holly at this sudden
NO." he said, "give it to me. II
want to keep it mother.'
The mother handed him the flower,
and stitched away in silence for a
moment Then she said:
''Is it the love token of some girl,
Morris? I think you might tell your
mother if it is. I am getting old and
weary, my boy, and very willing to
resign my duties into younger hands.
We have coy home here, and
good enough one for any girl. If
you bring a good wife home, Morris,
no one will give her heartier well
come than your mother
''It was no love token, mother"
Morris said gravely. "Only a rose
that Fleece Mills tossed me as passed
by this morning"
"F1eece Mills is vain pretty, gig
Cling girl, Norris" said the mother,
not lifting her eyes to her sons face.
"She has never known a care or sor-
row. and looks upon life as good
iote, and nothing more She is not
like our neighbours daughter, Jane
Smith,"
mot at all like her." answered Nor
ris, quietly, with his hand shading his
eyes from the 1amp1ight ''Jane al
WAYS looks on, the serious side of
things, and [ never saw her more
than smile. and she ALWAYS seems sor-
nv for having done that"
|Jane is a good girl said Mrs
Gurnee, quickly "and very consci-
entious girl. Modest, earnest, proper
in her behavior, and viewing life in