The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-10-09
THE LOST GERAN|UM


fn front with a wooden paling. and
there was not much growing there. bat
a remarkably 1ne geranium. bearing
magnificent trusses Of pale pink tint.
stood In a pot on the window sill This
geranium was the pride OF Mrs. wig
ley's simple soul.
Her friend. Mrs. Hubbard, Christian
name Eliza. who lived at West Win.
throp. was more eulogistic than all the
rest put together. for Mrs. Hubbard
was great gardener and knew a hne
specimen as well as any one. Her own
garden was perfect picture, but she
could not show a geranium like Sarah
Wigiey's, nor. indeed. anything 10 CON-
pare with II. She called IN on a GER
tain Saturday afternoon and paused
before entering the cottage 10 inspect
her friends possession. II was In full
bloom.
well, I neverg cried Eliza Hubbard.
what a wasteT
Sarah WigIey was staring out OF
the window. but failed TO recognize her
friend.
what waster' reiterated Mr..
Hubbard. "She can't see me. ihougb
/ am as big as life and twice IS ugly.
and yet the Lord let's that fne pink
geranIum grow and blow under her
very nose. II isn't any kind OF good
TO her. and II would be a real blessing
90 me-"
lis that you. Eliza2" asked Mrs.
wigley.
'If II ain't. Sarah. It's my double"
You've been looking az my gerani. |
um. Eliza" said her friend. isn't Il /
n plctureY'
Mrs. Hubbard responded heartily.
Go In, my dear" she said 10 Sarah 4
Wigley. You viii catch your death
OF cold"
Mrs. Wigley retired Eliza Hubbard
drew the door close. Her face was
crimson. her heart beat fast
1T isn't a. though she could see ~"
said she. she won't even know IL Is
gone and n she does what does fl
signifyg What the eye don't see the
heart can't grieye for
She seemed rather proud of the quo
tation. OF a certainty Il bad never
been used IN such connection be-
Tore. But pride WIS replaced by
iull sense ~ sliune rs she lifted up
he geranlum and. hiding Il under her
shawl. sped home with II. As she
walked she planned where she would
)lace the geranlum. IL would look
)est, she thought. between two nne
white ones Of which she was uncom-
monty proud. and there she deposited {
{ IN the darkness.
A few days later Eliza Hubbard
allied on Sarah wigley. She peeped
q through the window and saw her
Id friend sitting over the handful
Z fire, though the evening was sultry.
hiyering and holding her thin hands
o the blaze
MY graclousw said she. stepping =
risky In. You amt cold tonight.
re your
Sarah wlgley rose stiniy. u
I'm a biz poorly. my dear amt Q
eli myself since my loss You've 2
card tell how some tramp or the 9
Their made OF with my pink geranl- y
m, haven't your
Mrs. Hubbard was apparently bit
oorly also. for she shirered likewise. v
81 did hear some such tale" said u
le. But don't suppose you grieye Al
luch. eh. SARAH II amt as II yonr .,
Tesight was as good MS mine You I,
mt keep looking at the blossoms
For answer Sarah wigley burst into y
food Of tears. u
Il know ! am worse than fool TO
AXE fuss about geraulum plant" al
Nd she. but I suppose ] am kind Of N
~ IN health. Anyway. / can't help "a
yself. ought 10 be ashamed or my :,
~" said she. "at my time ~ llfe not -
have faith greater than grain Of -
ustard seed Haven't prayed the 70
'od Lord 10 put II into the heart OF nj
az tramp 10 bring me back my gera- pa
um. aud who knows that hr won't
q nc 10 do IL? Id bad that gernni- az
II three years, Liza aud I'd got 20 an
I store on II ns though Il was n -
I'D" "a
Eliza Hubbard cleared her throat.
NO" she said softly. Il don't
sh ! was half MS good as you. But
amt. yield 10 temptation right
Fny. ] amt more strength Of mind
an baby. ! say. Sarah. / wouldn't
kc on so II ! was you. Perhaps
rhaps"-sbe hesltated and cleared
r throat again-'perhaps you'll GET
ur nower back again, after all"
She leaned forward and kissed her
ends wrlnkled check
Good night. Sarah.' said she. "I'd
~ again tonight, II was you, Just
you did before"
Yes" replied Sarah meekly, Il mean
'he was cheercd by her friends
npnthy.
he moment she rose the next morn.
she glanced out of the window.
her weak eyes deceive herr Was
sDuIlV tho fsaFa nf..v.. -. -.