Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed. [Illustration: The Red Plant.—Frontispiece. "Please, Mrs. Hausen, I have brought you my fuchsia to make amends."] The Round Spring Stories. THE RED PLANT. BY LUCY ELLEN GUERNSEY Author of "Irish Amy," "Opposite Neighbors," "Comfort Allison," "The Tattler," "Nelly, or the Best Inheritance," "Twin Roses," "Ethel's Trial," "The Fairchilds," "The Sunday-School Exhibition," "Percy's Holidays," &c. [Illustration] PHILADELPHIA: AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, NO. 1122 CHESTNUT STREET. NEW YORK: 7, 8, & 10 BIBLE HOUSE, ASTOR PLACE. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by the AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. THE RED PLANT II. RESTITUTION III. THE LITTLE BIRD THAT CARRIED THE MATTER IV. THE EFFECT OF A BAD NAME V. EATING HUMBLE-PIE THE RED PLANT. CHAPTER I. THE RED PLANT. "OH, what lovely flowers!" exclaimed Florry, stopping to look at a group of house plants which were standing on the lawn. There were camellias, geraniums, heaths, and various plants noted for beautiful blossoms or ornamental foliage. They were all in the best order, for Mrs. Hausen kept an excellent gardener; and little Flora, who loved flowers as well as the heathen goddess for whom she was named, could hardly tear herself away from them. Her mother had sent her to Mrs. Hausen's to borrow a pattern, and Florry knew that she was in a hurry for it, yet she stood looking at the flowers for full five minutes. Then she seemed to recollect herself, sighed deeply, and walked on towards the house with a very sad, not to say discontented, face. "I don't see any sense in it," she was saying to herself. "My father and mother are just as good people as Mr. and Mrs. Hausen; and I am sure I am quite as good a girl as Emma Hausen is: I am better than she is, because I always learn my lessons, and never whisper in church or in school; and Emma does both. I saw her whisper in church last Sunday. And yet they have this fine place, and a greenhouse and carriage, and everything; and we must just live in a poky little place, where we can't have a single flower. It is too bad!"