The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-09-24
ABBIE FARWELL BROWN

T\HERE never were seen such beautiful gardens
as bloomed in Kissington-by- the-Sea. Not
only every chateau and villa had its parterres
spread with blooming rugs OF all colors, but
each whtewashed cottage, every matched hut,
boosted its gardcn-plot of dainty posies. Each had
some quaint device or some special beauty which dis
tinguished it from the others. For there was great
Horticultural rivalry in Ilissngton-by- Sea.
Now this all because Hugh, the Lord Mayor,
who very fond of lowers, had offered prize for
the prettiest garden in the town. The Lord Mayor
himself lived hill in the center OF the town. in thee
midst of the most beautiful garden of all 1t flowed
down the hillside from the summit in rppes of radiant
color-roSes and lilies, pnks and daffodls larkspur
and snapdragon. All the flowers Of the land were
there, and many foreigners beside. Through the gar
den wound the yellow driveway by which the Lord
Mayor passed in his golden coach. He loved to drive
slowly down this road, shifting the fragrance OF his
flowers and then out through the streets of the town.
observing the beautiful gardens every hand-the
result OF his own love for flowers
When the Lord Mayor saw all the fair maidens
down their knees in the fower-beds, watering the
buds with their little green water-pos, nippng off
dead leaves, pulling up scrawny weeds, coaxing the
delicate vines to climb, he would rub his hands and
say:
shall have the most beautiful town in the world, bios
somlng with howers and the most beautiful maids in
the world, poisoning with health and sweetness like
the flowers they tend. 1t will be hard to tell which is
the farer, the maidens the flowers Hey! Is it not
so my son2 Then he would chuclle and poke in the
ribs the young man who rode beside him.
The Lord Mayors son was very good to look upon,
tall and fair with curly golden locks and eyes brown
the heart OF yellow daisy When he drove through
the town with the Lord Mayor the maidens down on
their knees in their garden-plots would pause mo-
ment from their chase OF wiggling worm slug
gsh slug to look after the golden coach and sigh
gently. Then they would turn back to their flowers
more eagerly than before For there was the Prize!
You see, the Lord Mayors son was himself part Of
the prize to be The Lord Mayor had vowed that
Cedric his son. should marry the girl who could show
bylate summer the most beautiful garden in Kissing
ton-by-the-Sea. Moreover, he promised to build fine
palace to overlook this prize garden and there the
young couple should live happy ever after, like any
prince and princess. And this why the maids
worked hard in the gardens of Kissngton-by- the
Sea- and why the flowers bossomed there flow
ers ever blossoned before
Now one day the Lord Mayor drove through the
village in his golden coach and came out upon the
downs near the seashore. And there, quite by itself,
he found little cottage which he had never before
anywhere about it-only few flowers growing in
cracked pots the window-sills, and on the bench
just outside the door
What cried the Lord Mayor stopping the coach
What does this meant There should be garden
here must look to the reason for this contempt OF
my offer And he jumped down from the coach and
raped sharply upon the door.
Presently the door opened, and there stood girl,
all in rags but SO beautiful thar the Iord MAYORS son.
who sitting langidy in the golden COACH shut his
ones face
Heyl' cried the Lord Mayor frowning why
have you no garden, girl? Have you pride? Do
you not dream to win the prize which offer?'
am q stranger, said the maiden timidly. No
Iord9 s. {. : 8 'ss' "'r' ~ ! s. -
Il is ! prize worth trying for" said the Lord
Mayor The hand Of my son there, and the finest
palace II the land for the mistress Of the prize garden
Does that thought please you. girl? If not you are
different from all the other nlaidens'
The girl lifted her eyes to tile golden coach and met
the gaze Of Cedric fixed upon her
love howerss she said " had once little gar
den in my old home But now | am too poor to buy
plants and bulbs and seedlings How then shall Il
make garden I'd please your Lordships"
viii send You piassts and bulbs and seedlings"
said the Lord Mayors leaning forward eagerly.
You must make haste. for SeDten1her will soon be
here, when the gardens will be Judged
Thank you. fair sir said fine girl shall love
ny garden dearly, If you help me-