On "A Lover of Flowers" by Mary Wilkins Freeman (4505 words) ***

In this old story, an older bachelor takes up with a girl because he likes her. The girl doesn't like him, but the mother is intent of the marriage happening and soon sets things in motion. The girl, unable to break with her mom, gets the suitor to cancel out by saying he can't afford marriage. He becomes, as such, the butt of jokes from thereon. This story deals with themes of true love, of sacrifice, and of appearance. The real love in this story is not as all looks to the town. Read the story here.