The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-10-07
with FLOWERS"
BY JANErTE 4. PRATT.


Sven her dear father, with his broken |
eg. and broken spirit as well. was
me of her greatest trials. Each day |
she resolved afresh that circumstan
res should never conquer her ~ they
bad conquered him.
To-day she had read to him until
Ne had fallen asieep-his kindly face
now revealing the worry and discour'
agement that he sought SO yaliantiy
10 hide while awake.
The coy little place, just outside
the village. was a typical New Eng
land home. Faithful care had made
L really attractive. The holder OF the
mortgage on the home. Lucius Cal
lous. was a man who put no value on
Sam Warren's improvements, at least
not In his talk with sam.
Hope sat with her bare arms on
.ae piazza rail. gazing appreciatively
,ver the beautiful patchwork OF
pl0wed gardens and green fields.
spread like counterpane across the
valley.
Lucius Gallons had said there was
no sense In wasting the front door.
yard with flower beds, SO her father
had sadly consented to have II plant
ed with beans.
But Hope had. inherited some Of
her mothers spirit--the brave little
mother who had broken because she
refused to bend before adversely. So,
when the front.yard controversy had
tnded. she had snatched hoe, rake.
and her tiny pansy plants. and mad
marched like a crusader OF old, down
the path and across the road TO the
triangular heater-piece where the val
ley road in,ersected the main high
way. There she had loosened the
earth, taken out all the stones and
yrass roots. raked the surface smooth
and set out her sturdy seedlings In
symmetrical rows. She could see
them now. nodding to each other like
little ladies', no doubt dreaming OF the
tinery they soon would be wearing.
A rattle OF wheels attracted her at
iention. and light buggy drawn BY
a big sorrel horse came up the steep
valley road The driver was Cailous
and Ruth's heart hardened as she
fearfully watched his shrewd. unsmil
Ing face.
Gallons at once backed his great
horse In "A wide arc. shot his hind
pansy bed. swung. with yell OF greet
Ing to the sleeping man. and with a
slash OF the whip went laundering
down the county road.
did you see that. dadf" said Hope.
Did you just see what that dirty, bis
brute did to my pansy bed! Oh. ]
could kill him."
Her father had seen. with the in
iensity which start from sound sleep
always gives. He was angry and
helpless. What more need be said
But Hope was already stepping
carefully among the ruins. straight
ening and re-setting the plants.
She rose from the ground and walk
Ing toward the house. brave smile.
not ut all forced. came 10 her lips.
|
Lush Gallons the rating he deserves
But just watch me; I'll say II With
| flowers y"
| Into the house she dashed, and
brought out wooden box of earth
with hundreds OF little green plants
II was NIL she could carry, and she
| wasted no breath in words.
Once more beside her pansy plot.
she began TO separate the lender
stalks with loving. patient fingers.
"Hope, girl. you've growed like n
weed this year Heavens. how | wish
| | could 80 To work and help We 20 10
the college where ye want 80 10 be !"
"Now, daddy, you know IL won't
hurt me or my plans 10 teach for u
year. first" said Hope. And II can't
manage II by then. just want 10 be
around TO tell Luclus Gallons TO keep
his nose at home and let us plan our
own crops. too"
The rains fell--soft. pattery rains.
and the sun shone, not iercely. TO
shriyel the young PLAINTIFFS. but just
| right 10 make them reach for heaven.
And one day the first pansy bios
somcd. and looked around and liked
It's little fhree-cornered home. and
that night II must have whispered to
/ the others. for the next morning near.
| ~ half the fat. lazy buds opened up.
and they, too. nodded and smiled and
made the world aud Hope very much
| happier. But the best was 10 come
On hazy day. after a smart little
shower. the miracle began. and on III.
second md third days II developed 90
| that even an old dreamer Ike Sam
Warren could not be fooled longer.
The heaier-piece was talking, Tell,
Ing all whom that selectman had neg
iecied TO tell. OF Luelns Gallons de
desiable act In trying 10 break the
good old New England spirit OF ons
OF her finest daughters.
In perfect "W" Of vivid. living
white. Sweet Alyssum told the story
of determination that will not be
downed.
And Hope did 20 to college.