Few of the people had spirit
and cultivation enough to care for the flowers. But Maria
cherished some red and white tulips and a hyacinth in heir
kitchen window, as if they had been her children; and to Darry
a white rose-tree I had given him seemed almost to take the
place of a familiar spirit. Even grave Pete, whom I only saw
now and then this winter at my readings, nursed and tended and
watched a bed of crocuses with endless delight and care. All
the while, my Sunday circle of friends grew constantly fewer;
and the songs that were sung at our hindered meetings had a
spirit in them, which seemed to me to speak of a deep-lying
fire somewhere in the hearts of the singers, hidden, but
always ready to burst into a blaze. Was it because the fire
was burning in my own heart?
I met one of the two Jems in the pine avenue one day. He
greeted me with the pleasantest of broad smiles.
"Jem," said I, "why don't you come to the house Sunday
evenings, any more?"
"It don't 'pear practical, missie." Jem was given to large-
sized words, when he could get hold of them.
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