The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-08-26
AN ADDED
VALUE
By BEATRICE TUCKER
DOWNRIGHT, 80, by American Press
Association.

and see how your roSeDuSh IN Se'''lS
along"
Morton Jenkins spoke these words
to his little daughter, seven years OLD
If ever man worshipcd anything NOR
tal Jenkins worshiped this child. The
place on which the family lived con-
sisted of ample grounds, and MIS-
Jenkins having natural taste for
flowers. there were many beautiful va
rieties about the house. The daughter,
Oracle, had inherited her mothers
taste, and her father the day before
had planted for her II rosebush OF
very choice variety.
II was Il beautiful summer morning
when the two went out to where the
rosebush had been planted, the child
prattling with expectation.
Twill it have any roses on 1t. papaT
"Oh, no, my darling 1t was plant
ed only yesterday. Possibly we may
find it trife wilted. but that will not
matter. A little water sprinkled on 1t
will bring it up. Well go get the wa
terng pot Hello!'
The exclamation was caused by see
ing IL hole where the rosebush had
stood, with loose earth scattered about
The fathers brow gathered ominously
"If | can find out who did that I'll
Don't cry. pet. There are more where
that came from. Some one has taken
the bush up by the roots. What an
outrage"
He took his darling in his arms and
kissed away her tears. At the same
moment he saw or thought he saw
some one lodging behind the glass out
house that covered the plants in win
ter. Going there. he confronted little
urchin abou the size Of his own child
The boy was ragged, unkempt and
hungry looking. In his dirty hand he
graSped the missing rospblSh.
You young rascal" cried jenkins
lierccly. What do you mean by tear
ing up my plants|
~ wanted it for sOmcthin'."
81 suppose you did want 1t or you
wouldn't have taken it, There. Take
that" He culrpI the boy, Now get
along. and If catch you stealing my
plants again III turn you OYER to the
policc." The boy vas Sinking away
when Oracle said to her father, Papa,
don't you think that since he's been
struck for taking the bush he ought to
have it?"
"CertainIy not. He would gladly
take cutting for each plant we have
on the place"
GIVE him the bush, papa"
"Swepthrart," said the father, its
your bush If you prefer to give 1t 10
him do So
The child picked up the rosebuSh the
boy had thrown down and handed it
to him.
DO you live down in the rookery?"
she asked.
YES"
'"The part where the funeral was
yesterday"
YES"
WAS it your mamma they carried
out?"
Yes"
Did you want the rosebush to plant
at her grave?'
"Yes."
jenkins stood listening to this lacon-
ic dialogue, looking from his child to
the boy who had robbed her of her
rosebush When the last Eyes" was
spoken, remembering the cuff he had
given the thief, a blush of shame
spread over his features. Taking up
his idol, he hid his face so far as hers
could cover it and rained kisses on her
cheeks. Then, still holding her In his
arms, he said:
ASK him what else he wishes be-
sides the bush"
II know, papa"
"What?"
'"That is, know what I'd like to do
for him. I'd like TO take him and the
bush to the cemetery in my pony cart
and help him plant it near his mothers
grave"
'"That you shall do. sweetheart. But
James must go with you"
She ran to the stable to tell james
to get out the cart, and while she was
gone the father said to the boy:
Hereafter when you wish anything
from my place come and ask me for
it and you'll get it. Never take any
thing without first asking, and If you
really need it you'll usually find some
way to get it without stealing it,"
He drew from his pocket some silver
and gave it to the boy. and before the
day was ended he had visited the DESC
late and squalid home, provided for
the wants Of the motherless children
and arranged for their more permanent
comfort at his own expense.
Meanwhile Oracle had taken the boy
into her cart and under the care of the
coachman had driven him to the Gene
terry. James dug the hole in which to
put the plant, and Oracle set it in with
her own hands, while the boy stood by,
wondering what all this interest. this
meant.
The next morning the father said to
his daughter, "Gracie, we must get an
other rosebush for you"
81 don't want another, bapl."
why not?"
Il would rather have the one in the
what? Do you want it backY"
NO; it's my bush that grows by the
crave Of the poor boys mamma"
Oracle is right" said her mother
The bush here would have only II,
'wn beauty. There it is an emblem %
hat universal love which sbouIl ovie