Newspaper Page Text
Entered according to Act of Congress, in June 1867 hv T w c n • , ~ ~
Vol. I.
Written for Eurke’s Weekly.
THE BROKEN HOSE
BUSH.
tITTLE Min
nie Mayflow
-1 rose - bush,
oe had pur
’or her from a
It was just the sort
present she most loved,
because she was passionately
fond of flowers. Great care
was taken in removing it
horn the flower pot in which
it had arrived, and in trans
planting it in rich mould, so
as to insure its rapid growth.
Minnie was a little v-irl,
only five years old, when this
rose-bush was given to her,
and she took such good care
of it that on her eighth birth
day it was one of the largest
and most beautiful in the
garden. Her father bought
her a little watering-pot of
her own, and in dry weather
she was careful to sprinkle it
every day, so that while oth
er plants were suffering for
rain, her rose-bush was al
ways green and luxuriant.
lor several weeks before her eighth
birthday, Minnie’s rose-bush received un
usual care, for it contained three fine buds,
which she knew would open so as to be
beautiful full-blown roses on her birthday,
and these she determined to reserve as a
present for her father and mother, and
her sister Ella, from each of whom she
was sure to receive a handsome birthday
present. Day after day she watched their
MAOON, OA., MAY 2, 1868.
IB |l—- *'
progress with great delight, and eagerly
anticipated the pleasure they would give
to her loved ones. On the morning of
the eventful day she rose at an early hour,
and dressed herself with more than usual
care. When she went down into the sit
ting-room, she found her father and mo
ther and sister Ella, waiting to wish her
joy, and to present their birthday gifts.
Minnie’s eyes sparkled with happiness as'
she thanked them for their beautiful pre
sents, and then she said:
“Mow, dear father and
mother and sister, come with
me, for I have a surprise for
you.”
And she led them, with
rapid step, towards her rose
bush. As they turned the
corner of the walk wdiich led
to it, she exclaimed:
“Mow for the sight of my
beautiful—.” But she had
not time to finish the sen
tence, for, lo ! her handsome
and much-loved roses were
gone—not a trace of them
remained. She stood for a
minute in silent astonishment
and disappointment,and then r
she burst into tears. Her
mother put her arms around
her neck affectionately, and
said :
“My dear child, you see
now how wrong it is to set
your heart on anything so
frail as these roses. But re
strain your tears ; your roses,
though plucked from the
bush, are not lost to you.
The gardener, who knew no
thing of your desire to pre
serve them, and seeing that
they were in full bloom,
plucked them this morning
before you were out of bed,
and brought them to me. I supposed,
when we started with you, that you were
going to your rose-bush, and it was pro
bably a little cruel in me to allow* you to
be so sadly disappointed; but if it has
served to show you how uncertain are
the joys and pleasures of this life, I shall
not regret it.”
Minnie was delighted that the flov T ers
were safe, and that she could still present
them to those vdio were so dear to her.
No. 4A