THE LITTLE FLOWER-GIRL.
Reading edition
ELEN GRAHAM was spending the winter with her mother in Nice. This is a charming place in the south of France, on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, and their home there was in a pretty villa.
One morning, as Helen was watering and trimming her plants at the open window,—for the air is warm and pleasant in Nice, even in winter,—she heard a soft voice calling just underneath, "Mademoiselle, achetez mes fleurs, s'il vous plait?" In English this means, "Please buy my flowers, miss?"
Helen looked down, and there stood a little barefooted, dark-eyed girl, a good deal smaller than herself, holding up a bunch of roses and violets. Her face was so sweet and smiling, that Helen could not refuse her: so she said in French, "How much are they, little girl?"
"Dix centimes seulement" ("only two cents"), she replied.
"Come round to the door, and I will buy them," said Helen.
The girl ran quickly to the door. When Helen learned from her that her mother was very poor, she gave her more than the price of her flowers; and the little girl's face fairly beamed with delight when she went away.
IDA FAY.
