The Ward County independent., 1910-11-24
AN ADDED
VALUE
By BEA TRICE TUCKER
BY BEATRICE
copyright. 1870, 10y American Press
Association


along
Morton Jenkins spoke these words
to his little daughter seven years old.
II ever a man wurshiped any thing NOR
tai Jenkins worshiped this child. The
place on which the family lived con-
sisted Of ample grounds. and. Mrs.
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 rosebush of
very choice variety.
1t was a beautiful summer morning
when the two went out to where the
rosebush had been planted. the child
prattlmg with expectation.
"Will it have any roses on it, papa?
"Oh no, my darling 1t was plant
ed only yesterday. Possibly we may
find 1t trihe wilted. but that will not
matter A little water sprnkled on it
tering pot iIello.'
The exclamation was caused by see
Ing Il hole where the rpSebllSh had
stood with loose earth scattered about.
The fathers brow gathered uminously.
If can find out who did that I'll
Don't cry. pet There are more where
that cam" from. Some one has taken
the bush up by the roots. What an
outrage
He took his darling In his urms and
kissed away her tears. At the same
moment he saw or thought he saw
some one dodSin- behind the glass out
house that covered the plants in win
ter. Going there. he confronted little
urchin about the size of his own child
The boy WAS ragged, unkempt and
hungry looking. In his dirty hand he
grasped the missing roSebush.
You young rascal" cried jenkins
1ercely. What do you mean by tear
Ing up my pIantsT'
II wanted it for somethin'."
81 suppose you did want 1t or you
wouldn't have taken 1t. There. Take
that" He cuffed the boy Now get
along and If l catch you stealing my
plants again III turn you over to the
police" The boy was Sinking away
when Oracle 81; id to her father. "Papa.
don't you think that since he's been
struck for taking the bush he ought to
have itT'
''Certainlv not He would gladly
take cutting for each plant we have
on the place
"Give him the bush. papa.
Sweet heart" said the father, Its
your bush Ii you prefer to give it to
him do SO"
The child picked up the rose bush the
boy had thrown down and handed 1t
to him
DO you live down in the rookery?"
she asked
"Yes"
1.-THE part where the funeral was
yesterday"
Yes"
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 Yes" was
spoken, remembering the cuff he had
given the thief. a blush Of shame
spread over bis features Taking up
his idol, he hid his face 50 far as hers
could cover it and rained kisses on her
cheeks Then, still holding her in bis
arms he said
ASK him what else he wishes be-
sides the bush"
Il know, Papa"
"What?
''That is. know what IA like to do
for him Id 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 small do, sweetheart But
James must gp with you"
She ran to the stable to tell James
to get ont the cart, IHl white she was
gone the father said to the boy
"HrroHfter when you wish anything
from my UiIr" "uN'p and ak N" f..
1t 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 il without straIiNg it.
He drew from his pocket some silver
and gave it TO the boy, and before the
day was ended he bad visited the desc
late and sIualld home. provided for
the wants of the mot hrrI"s> 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 ceme-
terry. james dug the hole in which to
put the plant. aud Oracle set it in with
her own hands, while the boy stood by.
wondering what all this interest, this
Kindness, meant
The next morning the father said to
his daughter. "Gracie, we must get an
other rosebllsh for you"