676 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The fruit display pleased both, but the old gentleman drew back from 

 the flowers which he said "were not half so fine as those at home in the 

 garden."' 



A pretty girl standing near smiled at the old gentleman's assertion, a 

 smile so bright and full of sympathy that both old people were instantly 

 drawn toward her. 



"It's a fact," repeated grandpa, "she has wagon loads of flowers pret- 

 tier than anything here," and he motioned toward his wife. 



"Why father, how you do talk. Them's nothing but Dahlies." Then 

 turning to the girl, "He always did think Dahlias the finest fiowers that 

 grow, and will help me with them any time, though he does grumble 

 dreadful when I want him to make flower beds for anything else." 



"Dahlias are beautiful," responded the girl, "and Thursday there will 

 be a grand display here. Cut flowers are shown on that day. I hope you 

 can come and see them. I have twenty varieties which I will bring in 

 then." 



"We'll be here, sure," said grandpa. Then while the sweet-faced old 

 lady talked to the pretty, sociable girl, grandpa did some hard thinking. 



"Twenty varieties! Humph!" and grandpa thought of the long rows at 

 home, surely a hundred varieties. 



A little talk with the man inside the railing made things clear, and 

 the old gentleman decided to give grandma a surprise, and that girl, too. 



"Though," grandpa said to himself, "she seems a real likely sort of a 

 girl, with no nonsense about her. Must have been raised on a farm." 



Full of his scheme he was glad when his wife said the young lady 

 would show her around while grandpa could go and see .John and the 

 stock. 



Promising to meet at the same place at noon, they separated, grandpn 

 to find John and unfold his wonderful scheme of sending a telegram to 

 Frank to cut all of grandma's Dahlias and ship them by express so they 

 would 'get there Thursday' morning, and John promised to attend to every- 

 thing and not let "mother" know a word about it. 



Meanwhile the two ladies were looking at the beautiful display of 

 fancy work, chatting like old friends, for between the two there seemed 

 to be a mutual attraction that neither cared to resist. 



The sweet old face plainly told the story of a loving, simple life, 

 devoted to home and its dutie;^, but willing to be interested in all man- 

 kind, and at once won the girl's heart, while the cordial friendliness of 

 the girl, who yet had a certain stately reserve of manner tiiat was very 

 pleasing to the older woman. 



Grandma was much interested in the home-made goods, and when 

 her companion pointed out many specimens of her own handiwork the 

 older lady was delighted. 



"Do tell: So you pieced and quilted that all by yourself," looking 

 closely at the work, as beautiful in its way as lace work, "it's as nice as 1 

 ever done and mebbe nicer, and not many folks can quilt better'n I can. 

 And so that rug is al! made from old woolen rags drawn through the can- 

 vass with a hook; now who would think it?" 



