The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-05

doubtful If I could control myself. /
wouldn't try IL IL I were L"
Then Mrs Bowser and the cook be-
came alarmed They watcheS against
cats and dogs and boys and tramps.
They did not dare to approach the pre-
cious flower within ten feet. Tired as
she might be, the cool would get UP at
midnight and look out OF her window
to see that no tomcat was climbing
the stalk or 40 dog digging at the
roots under the idea that a rabbit was
lurking there. There we've times when
Mrs. Bowser wanted to 80 shopping.
but fear kept her at home and made
aer miss bargaining
The day came at last when Eel q
street amin could have made no mis-
take and called that hollyhock a fence
post. 1t grew up and waved in the
breeze, and one pink flower came out
1t wouldn't have amounted to shucks
in a farmers front yard. but in Mr..
Bowers Jack garden 1t was different
He had conquered the soil and the rain
and the snow and ice and caused some
thing to grow. 1t was something that
reminded him of his boyhood days. 1t
was something to soften his heart to-
ward his fellow men. The butcher
was brought e to look st it, and he
pronounced it a winner. The plumber
vas coaxed into the back yard and
shown the flower all Of a sudden. and
he was agreeably startled. Mr.. Bow
ser Dragged OF it at the drug store.
III 1,-sl -a
marks to make. Only one man showed
disregard for the feelings of the owner
of the hollyhOck and thereby won his
eternal enmity. Strangely enough, it
was the minister of Mrs. BOwser's
church. Mr.. BOwser came home and
found him seated in the parlor and at
once invited him out to see the sacred
treasure.
rs it simply a hollyhock? 2" asked the
good man.
Its only a hollyhock, but 1 grew it,
you know"
Begged to Be Excused.
Eyes. If it's only a hollyhock I will
ask to be excused, as l must attend a
meeting for the benefit of the heath
en-"
That was enough. The iron entered
Mr.. Bowser's soil. The idea that a
man thought more Of the heather than
Of his %hollyhock smOte him to the
quick, and not another Of his nickels
should enter the contribution box Of
his church. He told Mrs. BOwser in
plain language what he thought OF
such a man and would have mad a
quarrel had she not been polite enough
to preserH: %illence.
At length - day came-the fut0'
day. Mr.. BOvser sad ONE home at
noon Saturday to take half a dr% OF.
~ wasn't going a-1ishing az StroIllnG-
ATta'' lunch he took ( rhal and an
embrPlla IL scaced himself in the
back yard 70 observe ana witt with
his lollyho1G. He wanted to SEQ it
I grow with his w eyes. lie wanted
it tfrnLC1@t@un lat although II stood
/ aloF and liH@, Eoyyser and the cook
We down ~ IT. it had a friend il
hE He had been sitting there for an
hh' wondering over the mighty hand
iprk Of nature when there was q
~ down tie alley. Out on the street
fbig dog without any grit, but plenty
If bluff, had threatened a little dog
with lots of sand. The little dog had
in. and the big dog had run.
He turned into the alley, and as he
came to the half open gate he turned
BOWser's back yard. He was look
for a hacker.
Mr.. RoWser rose up and yelled. CIT
The big dog understood him to say,
Come on"
Next minute the mar and the big |
dog and the little dog were mixed mp |
In a three cOrne"od fight. Mr.. Rowser |
for 2 prop. but staggered and |
fell. ana as he went down ne crashed |
against the fence and the hoi'yh"",i |
and the deed was done. He got Up AMI |
jumped up and down and usod Ian |
guage. He leaned against the fence |
and saw red. He struck one Of the |
posts a mighty Uhack |
with the prop and yelled u rs the
splinters flew, but his summer dream /
was over, and Bowser & HOIlyhock |
had permanently dissolved partner
ship. NJ. QUAD. |