Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-10-28
ABERDEEN HERALD.
THE LOST GERAN|UN


in front with a wooden paling. ani
| there was not much growing there, bu
| a remarkably fine geranium. bearin"
magnificent trusses Of u pale pink tint
stood in 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 a great gardener and knew fine
/ specimen as we'll as any one. Her own
/ garden was perfect picture, but she
could not show a geranium like Sarah
Wigley's. nor indeed. anything to COM
pare with it. She called in on Ger
tain Saturday afternoon and paused
before entering the cottage TO inspect
her friends possession. 1t was in full
bloom.
well. | never" cried Eliza Hubbard
what waste"
Sarah WiGley was staring out of
the window. but failed to recognize her
friend.
What u waste" reiterated Mrs
Hubbard. "She can't see me. though
am rs big as life and twice rs ugly
and yet the Lord lets that fine pink
geranium grow and blow under her
very nose. 1t isn't any kind of good
to her. and it would be real blessing
to me-"
as that you, Eliza?" asked Mrs.
Wigley.
EFF it amt. Sarah. it's my double"
you've been looking at my gerani-
um, Eliza" said her friend isn't it
a picture"
4 Mrs. Hubbard responded heartily.
Go in, my dear" she said to Sarah
Wiglcy. You will catch your death
of cold'
Mrs. Wigley retired. Eliza Hubbard
drew the door close. Her face was
crimson. her heart beat fast
ut isn't as though she could see it,"
said she. "She won't even know it is
gone. and If she does what does ii
signify? What the eye don't see the
heart can't grieve for"
She seemed rather proud of the quo
tation. OF a certainty it had never
been used in such connection be-
fore But pride was replaced by
dull sense of shame rs she lifted up
the geranium and. hiding ii under her
shawl. sped home with it. AS she
walked she planned where she would
place the geranium. 1t would look
best, she thought. between two fine
white ones of which she was uncom-
monty proud. and there she deposited
it in the darkness.
| A few days later Eliza Hubbard
called on Sarah Wigley. She peeped
in through the window and saw her
old friend sitting over the handful
of fire. though the evening was sultry.
shivering and holding her thin hands
to the blaze.
My gracious" said she, stepping
brisky in. You amt cold tonight.
are you?"
Sarah Wigley rose stitily.
! Pm bit poorly, my dear. amt
felt myself since my loss. You've
heard tell how some tramp or the
other made off with my pink gerani-
UNI. haven't you"
/ Mrs. Hubbard was apparently bit
poorly also. for she shvered likewise.
Il did hear some such tale said
she. but ! don't suppose you grieve
much. eh. Sarah? 1t amt as if your
eyesiglt was as good as mine. You
can't keep looking at the blossoms"
| For answer Sarah Wigley burst into
food of tears.
Il know | am worse than a fool to
make Il fuss about a geranium plant"
said she, but suppose l am kind OF
low in health. Anyway. i can't help
myself l ought to be ashamed of my
self" said she. lat my time Of life not
to have faith greater than grain OF
mustard seed. Haven't l prayed the
good Lord to put it into the heart OF
that tramp to bring me back my gera-
mum, and who knows that he won't
see fit to do it? I'd had that gerani-
um three years. Liza. and Id got to
set store on it as though it was
child"
Eliza Hubbard cleared her throat
NO" she said softly. 81 don't. l
wish l was half as good as you. But
amt. l yield to temptation right
away. l amt more strength of mind
than baby. l say. Sarah. wouldn't
take on so if was you. Perhaps
| perhaps"-she hesitated and cleared
her throat neutrality-suspicious. you'll get
your flower back again. after ALL"
| She leaned forward and kissed her
| friends wrinkled cheek
Good night, Sarah" said she. I'D
pray again tonight. if l was you, just
as you did before"
YES" replied Sarah meekly. Il mean
! to-"
She was cheered by her friends
sympathy.
The moment she rose the next morn
| ing she glanced out of the window.
Did her weak eyes deceive her? Was
it really the geranium she saw below!
She dressed herself hastily and hur-
ried downstairs. Yes, there was no
mistake about it: it was her pet flow
err in the same pot. with the spotch of