The San Francisco call., 1909-04-10

there's hull bushels OF EN- in
the winders down town; I
know what some OF EN- are
the red ones. thems roses. and the blue
is viIets and the yellow is daTys; but
I seen some awful pretty ones 1 don't
know, all great white stars with gold
color in the middle, on long stems and
3 whole lot on one stem. ana my, don't
they smell lovely! stuck my head
IN g door one time just 10 get smell.
Gee, but it was fne."
Here the speaker paused for breath.
while her solitary auditor gazed at her
in admiration.
"Wisht I could see en-" finally whis-
pered the faint little voice But it's
no use, no use a-wishin'."
She was q frail little child of some
10 years. propped up in her shabby
bed by two or three pillows and COW
cred by a faded quilt. over whose
Irayed patches her thin hands wan
oered with that peculiar motion seen
In the very sick. Her face was of
oeathly whiteness. with telltale hectic
hush in her cheeks. and her large
brown eyes had the unnatural bril-
lance accompanying the dread disease.
poverty-the only redeeming feature
was the Immaculate cleanliness and
neatness Of everything
The child was much alone. for when
one Is poor one can not indulge in
feeling a sympathy or care for others
which interfere with bread earning
and her mother had 10 go out 10 daily
work to obtain for them both the
barest necessities Of life. And so Freda
lay on her bed hours at time. with no
one 10 speak to, and she was more
than grateful whenever Roxy. a neigh
boring child OF the sluns. came in and
told her something Of the great world
outside which she would never see
again Roxy was very good to her
sometimes she brought her an apple or
piece OF candy which some one had
given her; sometimes a torn picture
paper which she had rescued from the
gutter, and, on rare occa sions. her Of
ferlng had been some withered carna-
lions or roses, which in her prowlings
on the avenues she had secured from
the garbage boxes.
The flowers were the most welcome
OF all Tor some Of their perfume and
enough Of their color remained to glad
den the senses OF the sick child. She
would bury her face in them. close her
eyes and try 10 imagine herself in a
garden full Of the lovely blossoms
lhey helped her bear the pain. she said
II was Easter time, and little Roxy
hsd extended her rambles IN the
thronged streets Of the fashionable
SHOPS Betore the florists windows she
mad stood entranced- Oh how She
Wlsheo herself fairy godmother. that
Sne might carry away an armful Of
those splendid blossoms 10 her sick
friend But all she could do was IA re
hearse their praises to the invalid
AFTER she went TO bed that nfrbf
Roxy had an inspiration. ana witb
Characteristic promptness she proceed
Cd the next morning TO act upon it.
il was Easter sunday, and she. had
nouceo the day before that at several
OF the big churches on the avenue NOT
far from her home wagons filled with
palms and ferns and all kinds of flow
ers were driven to the doors and their
contents carried into the buildings.
She had even ventured into the vesti
bule Of one dimly lighted church and
seen groups Of men and women busiIy
engaged in arranging the plants and
decorating the affairs with vases fun of
the sweet smelling beauties.
Just outside great stone building
whose stained glass windows gloved IN
the bright spring sunshine that Eas-
ter morning, little girl wrapped IN a.
big shawl and with q wooden hood
a.
tiently waiting during the long service.
She had watched the carriages drive
up and deposit their loads of hand
somely gownee women her quick eve
had noticed the new hats and wraps
she had listened with approving mods
to~the glorious music which rose and
fell as organ and voices united in an
thems OF praise to Christ the Risen
One; she had even caught through the
opening doors delicious Whiffs of the
perfumed air, and, 1t must be confessed.
had taken more than 40 winks while
the sermon was in progress.
But now it was all over: the people
were coming out. Men and women
were greeting each other and passing
on their several ways homeward Still
she waited She had heard somewhere
that al the flowers were taken from
the churches to the hospitals; and
didn't she have a hospital that maybe
nobody but she knew Of.
Presently her patience was rewarded.
From the church came several young
ladies' bearing in their arms great clus-
ters Of roses, carnations, jonquils and
other spring flowers. One OF them
tall. fair girl carried a great sheaf OF
Easter lilies. glorious in their creamy
Hhiteness. It was to this one Roxy
made her way and lightly touched her
arm
sRleaSe. ma z m Sle peSdn. Sle is
so sick and she can't never git out to
see a flower, an ] told her about the
white ones and she said so pitiful
] wish I could see one please won't
you give me one for herr" The lady
tzfaed her beautiful face to the
spSaker.
who is it that is SO sick. and where
does she live2" she asked
Its Freda ma'am, and she is all
alone so much. and the flowers would
keep her company. I'll show you where
she lives"
GO on. girls" Miss Vincent called