OR, HOW I BECAME A FLORIST. 15 



and sat down to dinner with a wonderful appetite. It 

 seemed as if I had never been so hungry, nor in such good 

 health and spirits before. 



The next morning I again made my appearance before 

 the man in the flower store. This time he did not seem so 

 much pleased with my flowers. He looked at them for a 

 moment, and then carefully picked them over, arranging 

 them in two heaps upon the wet counter. 



" I can't take all of these. Those," said he, pointing 

 to one heap, "are not salable. They drop too quick." 



To this I could say nothing, so I took up my box and 

 prepared to leave. 



But he detained me, and said, i ' I will pay you for the 

 good ones, but you need not bring those poor sorts any 

 more." 



He then passed me a bill with one hand, and with the 

 other pushed one of the little heaps of flowers from the 

 counter to the floor behind him. Just as they fell over I 

 stole a glance at them, and observed among them some 

 petunias and marigolds. 



So, then, I have learned one thing to-day. Petunias 

 and marigolds are not salable. As soon as I reached the 

 train, and was alone in the car, for there were but few 

 people travelling at that hour of the morning, I opened 

 the bill and again found two dollars. 



The next day was Sunday. It being a day of rest, I 

 could not gather my flowers at evening, and the next morn- 



