The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-11-11
THE LOST GERANIUM

Mrs Wigley had no back garden
whatever. only a tiny piece Of ground
in front with a wooden paling. and
there was not much GROWN. there. but
a remarkably tine geranium. bearing
magnificent truSses Of 4 pale pink tint.
/ stood in a POI on the window sill This
geranium Yves the pride OF Mrs. Wig
/ ley's simple soul
Her friend. Mrs. Hubbard. Christian
/ name Eliza. who lived al West Win
thrOp, was more eulogiSlic than all he
/ rest put together. for Mrs Hubbard
/ was great gardener ana knew tine
/ specimen rs well as any one. Her own
garden was a perfect picture. hut she
could not show a gerauium like Sarah
! Nigley's. nor. indeed. anything to com
! pare with it, She called in on a Ger
/ tain Saturday afternoon and paused
/ before entering the cottage to inspect
her friends possession. 1t was in full
/ bloom.
I We'll, never" cried Eliza Hubbard
what a waste"
| Sarah Wigley was staring out Of
the window. but failed to recognize her
/ friend.
What a waSter' reiterated Mrs
/ Hubbard she can't see me. though
| am as big as life and twice as ugly
and yet the Lord lets tnat fine pink
Ceranium grow and blow under her
very nose. 1t isn't any kind Of good
to her, and it would be a real blessing
/ to me-"
rs that you, EizaY' asked Mrs.
Wigley
III it amt Sarah. it's my double"
You've been looking at my gerani-
UNI. Eliza" said her friend isn't it
a pirnre:"
Mrs, Hubbard responded heartily.
Go in, my dear" she said to Sarah
Wigley. You will 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 as though she could see it,"
said she. She won't even know it is
gone and if she does what does it
signify? What the eve don,t 500 tine
heart can't Grieve forn
She seemed rather proud of the quo
tation. OF a certainty it had never
been used in such conraction no
fore. But pride was replaced by a
IulD sense OF shame as she fftad nm
the rpraujum end. nfdino If under her
shawl. sped home with il A. she
walked she PLANNED whore she vopId
place the anranfum II worid look
hest. she rhuught berwean t,vo fna
white ones Of which she was nncon-
monty nro1d and rhara she daposited
If in the darkness
4 few DAYS arpr Eliza Hnbbard
allied on Sarah WirIey She neeund
in through the window and saw her
old friend sitting over the h9udtuI
Of fire. though the evening was sultrv.
shiveriug and holding her thin hands
to the blaze.
NV gracious" said she. stepping
briskly in. You amt cold tonight.
are you?"
Sarah W'ielev rose StiffIy.
I'm a bit poorly. nv dear. | amt
felt myself since NV loss. You've
heard tell how some tramp or the
other made off with my pink gerani-
um, haven't you|
Mrs. Hubbard was apparently bit
poorly also. for she shivered likewise.
Il did hear some such tale. said
she. But | don't suppose you gIieve
much. eh. Sarah? 1t amt as if your
eyesight 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 a fuss about geranium plant"
said she, but l suppose | am kind of
low in health Anyway. / cant help
myself | ought to be ashamed Of my
self" said she, at my time of life not
to have faith greater than a grain of
mustard seed Haven't / prayed the
good Lord TO put it into the heart OF
that tramp 10 bring me back my gera-
mum. and who knows that he won't
see lit to do it? Ia had that geraui-
um three years, Liza. and Id got to
set store on it as though it was a
child"