328 
THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET 
“knowing eggs are eggs,” also kept a watchful eye. 
June carried a smaller basket, and if you could have 
peeped in slyly, you would have seen three small tin-cap¬ 
ped tumblers, and three neatly-labeled jars, carefully 
packed in crumpled paper. The first three contained 
samples of jelly—guava, plum and grape; the second 
three, delicious marmalades, made respectively of or¬ 
ange, fig and pineapple. The boat now reached the 
wharf, and all this precious freight was soon on board. 
The morning run to the city was delightful, for the 
keen breeze was ruffling the river into a thousand crink¬ 
ly little waves, and the sky overhead was smiling down 
a glad welcome to the earth. Reaching their destina¬ 
tion, the eggs and chickens were carefully deposited in 
the warehouse, while June and Uncle Isaac betook 
themselves to the hotel, only a few minutes walk from 
the river, Uncle Isaac bearing aloft his fragrant burden, 
with many grunts and chuckles of pride and satisfac¬ 
tion. Arriving at the hotel, June was courteously 
received by Mr. Lee, who brought his housekeeper to 
admire the lovely flowers and sample the sweets. Each 
being pronounced perfect in its way, the eggs and 
chickens were sent for, duly inspected and also approved; 
market prices were discussed, a crisp new five-dollar 
bill and some silver found their way into June’s dainty 
purse. Unlimited orders were also given for the future, 
and the young girl departed, her light feet scarcely 
feeling the ground beneath her, and her heart brimming 
over with pride and pleasure. 
Only the bowl of flowers remained unbargained for, 
but these were to plead their own cause ; mounted in a 
conspicuous place in the office, near the desk, they 
drew forth words of admiration from every one pass¬ 
ing through, and when it was understood they were for 
sale, gentlemen bought sprigs for button-holes, and 
ladies clusters for the corsage, or sent fragrant hand¬ 
fuls to invalid friends in the rooms above—long before 
night they were gone, with many calls for more. And 
little thought happy June on her homeward journey, 
that these fair and dewy blossoms were but the flowery 
chain, binding her quiet busy Present to the mysterious 
Future of her maiden dreams. 
That night followed a merry confession of sins in the 
library;—proud Col. Wallingford, a little aghast at the 
rapid and graphic description of the day’s doings, a 
little horrified that his eldest daughter should be “work¬ 
ing for a living,” yet won over at last by her earnest 
wishes, her evident joy in her success; and it was with 
a much lighter heart, and with stronger hopes for the 
future, that he slumbered through the quiet night. 
Tom and Jessie were convinced that never before 
was there so smart a sister, never such lovejy schemes, 
and anxious on all occasions to “ help,” saved many a 
step for the busy girl. 
Uncle Isaac privately confided to Aunt Sally, “ol’ 
woman, we’s got de beatenes’ young missy in the roun’ 
worl,’ dat am the gospil trufe.” 
Twice a week went down the little cargo to the city, 
Uncle Isaac and Tom generally taking it in charge, as 
June could seldom leave her morning duties—and very 
proud was the young boy of his trust. 
June exerted herself to make the bowl of flowers 
different each time, and a study in itself. Sometimes it 
would be favorites from the garden, sometimes shy 
little blossoms from the woods—once, perhaps, creamy 
magnolia blooms and sprays of passion vine; again 
great golden-hearted Water-lilies, and swamp-pinks, 
with Ferns and feathery Clematis for the green. 
“ Flower day ” at the St. James came to be eagerly 
expected by many an invalid boarder. It was on one of 
these days that a young girl stood before the bowl of 
blossoms; to-day it held only wild and woodsy things 
—sprays of Palmetto bloom, with their sweet and bit¬ 
ter fragrance, wild Violets, yellow Jessamine—she in¬ 
haled all their delicious odors with a long sigh of 
content, then turning to a lady friend who stood near— 
a hotel acquaintance—she exclaimed : “ How I do long 
for the country, for green woods, for salt sea-breezes. 
It seems to me I should get strong once more if only I 
could escape from hotel life. And yet so exacting am 
I, that neither must I be too far from the conveniences 
of the city. I will ask the proprietor this very afternoon 
if he knows of any such happy compromise. Perhaps 
these very blossoms grow in some such spot.” Mr. Lee 
was interviewed, looked dubious, but when the flowers 
were mentioned, his face cleared and he said thought¬ 
fully: “H’m, h’m, perhaps that would be the very 
thing,” then turning to her, he explained: “ I know the 
family personally through whom these flowers come— 
refined people, and live in a delightfully romantic 
place, thirty miles from here by boat. I feel sure 
you would be pleased, but can’o say how the idea would 
strike them. Stay, I’ll send a line down by the evening 
boat, asking Miss Wallingford to come up to the city, 
and see you herself.” 
That evening when the mail came in, June was con¬ 
siderably astonished by receiving a note from Mr. Lee, 
stating that a young lady wished to engage board on 
the island for the winter, and would Miss W. be kind, 
enough to come to the city and interview her person¬ 
ally. A rather stormy debate followed, all the house¬ 
hold except June being adverse to taking a straDger into 
their quiet home; but she, sadly missing the companion¬ 
ship of girls of her own age, such as she had while at 
boarding-school, begged earnestly to try the experiment, 
and as usual won her way. The next day two young 
maidens might have been seen in grave discussion, in 
in the parlor of the “St. James”—one is our heroine, 
the other a Miss Fannie Ellis of New York ; she is 
fair and slight, with a gentle face, and is clad in deep 
black. As she talks, you hear once in a while a slight¬ 
hacking cough, that tells too plainly her need of a south, 
ern winter. The girls on first meeting formed a mutual, 
though silent admiration society. Miss Ellis was 
several years older than June, but so small and delicate 
that the difference in age was not apparent. The com¬ 
pact was now about concluded. Miss Ellis giving ref¬ 
erences of the highest character, and offering for her 
board so generous a sum, that it quite took away the 
breath of our inexperienced little friend. “We live so 
quietly” she said, “ I’m afraid it would not be giving 
you a fair exchange.” “ You will give me what mere 
money connot buy,” responded the other impetuously 
—“the comfort of a home and a sister’s care,” and 
large tears filled the pathetic eyes, as she turned away 
to the window. 
And so it was settled, June returning home at once, 
and Miss Ellis to follow her the next day. 
Her little eastern room with the lovely sea view, June 
gave up to the new arrival, contenting herself with a 
smaller room across the hall. 
By nightfall everything was arranged and Fannie 
