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Show THE INQUISITIVE ROSE ONE summer day a Rose Bush heard the trees and shrubs talking talk-ing about Jack Frost. "How different It will be in this garden gar-den in a few months!" said the Big Trea, leaning over the well. "Yes." answered the Shrub growing by the wall. "Not even the beauty of the beautiful Rose can save her whea It Is time for Jack to have bis sway here." "But Jack Frost Is a wonderful artist," art-ist," said the Big Tree. "I sometimes think when the sun Is shining after yoo SSS AN U V, ill ! rysxeAs h .1 & ) he has been here in the night that the garden is more beautiful than In the summer time." "Yes, Jock Frost is a wonderful fellow," fel-low," answered the Shrub, "and not all are lucky enough to see his work. I think you and I are very fortunate." "When does this wonderful fellow-come fellow-come to the garden?" asked the Rose Bush. "After nil you flowers are asleep," answered the Shrub. "You will never see him, Rose, and even your beauty could not save you. He would be sure to nip your petals and leave you withered with-ered and dead." Rose Bush tossed her head. "I am Queen of the garden," she said, "and I will show you that even this Jack i Frost fellow shall fall under the spell of my beauty." The Big Tree and the Shrub In vain warned her to go when the summer days were over, but Inquisitive Rose Bush would not heed them. "I want to see this wonderful artist," she told them, "and show you also that he will become my slave." So one night after all the other flowers in the garden had gone to bed Rose Bush kept one betvutlful big blossom blos-som awake and wnited to see Jack Frost. Over the mountains and tree tops he ame softly and without his Mother Xorth Wind so tlmt no one knew of his presence until he leaped the garden wall. He espied the beautiful blossom on Rose Bush the firsr thing, and quickly he touched her soft petals with his long, icy fingers. "I knew he could not resist me." thought Rose Rush, thmigh she shivered shiv-ered under his touch, but she Sf.w, too, that she tiKjked very beautiful In the moonlight, nil frosty from his caresses. The next morning, as the sun peepel over the wall, Rose Bush looked so beautiful that the Big Tree and the Shrub gazefl on her with admiration. "You see, my friends, he did not leave me to die," said Rose Bush ; "he made me more beautiful than before." But the Big Tree and the Shrub did not reply. They knew what would happen when the sun shone on her In a little while. By and by the warmth melted the frost and poor Rose Bush began to droop, then her petals curled, and before night she had withered. "Poor Rose," sighed the Big Tree, "she was so inquisitive she Itad to see for herself." "I am not sure whether It was her vanity or because she was inquisitive," said the Shrub, "but It Is just as we said not even her beauty could save her from Jack Frost's frosty touch." j , (Copyright.) |