The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-11-02
MY FIRST BOUQU ET

4
| l came iipon the stage, bouquet fell a
nv feet. / stopped, and picked it UP
with an ofcrjoyed and palpitating heart
| / did notnotide from what part Of tn
house it came I took it home, place,
it III china cup, and kept it in my Owl
room. priced it very much, for it wa
my first bouquet.
"Ida," said my mother, one day, "wh
do you keep these old flowers here p
because they We're the harbingers o
nv present success. This is my frs
bouquet. mother, and l will keep it a
long as live"
tint. tut, what nonsense. You vii
soon forget this sort of worship. Civ
me those camelias. will put them il
the drawing room, for they are magnif
cent"
My six weeks engagement was draw
ing to close, and we.were to leave 70
Paris. On the last night 1 sang in "Er
nani' again. When the curtain fell ,amit
several other bouquets, I noticed on
precisely similar to the one l had IN m,
room. 1t was composed of red ant
white roses, jaslnin, pinks, and carna
tons.
When reached home, judge Of m.
utter astonishment to fiud my much. priz
ed first bouquet gone from my dressing
table, where 1 always kept it. I was very
sorry for the loss. questioned my mait
I Annette about it. but she could give m,
nc satisfactory clue. Ny second one
resolved to keep in lieu Of the first 4; sc
l locked it up for safety.
We reached Paris. Ny debut was al
ovation. On the fifth night received {
third bouquet, similar to the two former
ones had received at Milan.
took it to the hotel, and opening my
box to compare it with the second one,
found that it was gone also! What mys
terry was this? l first questioned my
mother, and then Anette, but all in van
I could not fathom the mystery; so
kept this one doubly locked and secured
determined not to loose it.
! left Paris, and went to London, Wen
ma, Berlin, st. Petersburgh, Munich
Turin, Naples, and Madrid. At each OF
these cities 1 received two of those ell.
rious bouquets; but, as sure as receir-
ed my new one, the old one would be
gont from Its hiding place!
III tain / tfied to discover my assid.
uous admirer, friend, enemy, or what.
ever you may be pleased to designate
him. In vain set spies to watch both
my mother and Annette. In spite of all
my arts, the fresh bouquets camei and
the old ones vanished!
To the last night of my appearance in
Madrid, had, from the first one, receiy.
ed in all twenty. Nineteen had gone,
and the last one remained.
We reached the United States.
On my first appearance in New York,
in "Martha," amidst shower of deli
cious flowers, judge Of my establishment
to find weathered bouquet, bearing a
cafd; with the numeral "l9" on it. This
was, then, the return Of one Of my lost
favorites. Wherever / went, my lost,
withered flowers returned to me, one by
one, at certain intervals; each huiiibered
consecutively, until l got them all back,
up to number "two"
Ny first bouquet, I thought, would be
the next. We travelled through the
Southern States, and I nightly looked:
forward for number "one." But. alas
it came not. We returned to Europe.
Shortly after our arrival, l lost my
dear mother at Paris. l, therefore, re-
solved to retire from the stage, and live
in seclusion. had received several Of
fers of marriage during my professional
career, but somehow, had rejected them
all. l built small villa outside of the
city,and, with Annette aid q good house'
hold, settled down in peace.
One afternoon a carriage drove up
to my house, and gentleman alighted.
He sent in his card, and asked to see me.
l found in the drawing room tall, aris-
tocratic- looking man. This was my WIS.,
itor-Couht Charles Duret, of the I'm
perial Guards. He apologiied for his
intrusi on; and then, without further
preface, introduced the object Of his WIS.,
it. 1t amounted to this:
He had made wager with a friend
that he would make me sing again in
public. And he asked me- to help him
win it!
l decidedly refused; and l strongly
condemned his want of taste as an oftl
Ger and gentleman.
Nothing abashed, he rose, and tnHs
spoke:
"Mademoiselle, if you will help me in
this matter, I promise you faithfully that
your long-lost first bouquet will be re.
stored to you"
"My first bouquet, sir. How"
pardon me; can say nothing fur
ther now. Tomorrow, with your per-
mission. will do myself the honor of
calling upon. yon for your defnit" ans
wer."
Without another word he bowed him
self out.
After some self communion, rcsolv-
ed to test the truth of this little episode.
l would sing once again for the sake of
my dear los: flowers!
Every necessary arrangement was
speedily made; and ! appeared in con-
cert given in aid of an orphan asylum.
Ny first, second and third songs passed
off,and with them came numerous favors
but what l looked and hoped for was
still not forthcoming.
reached my dressing room. and at
the door encountered Count Duret, and
stranger whom lie introduced 70 me
as his friend the Marquis of Attrey.
The count left US.
"May l solicit the honor of few mo-
meuts' private conversation with YOU,
mademoiselle ?" said the marquis.
Ibowed, and we retired to an adjoin.
ing room. He placed chair for me,
ard then, to my astonishment and joy,
handed me the very bouquet / had lost
more than seven years before!
My first flowers were in my trembling
hands at last. And now for the sequel
Son your debut" began the marquis
standing near me, sat La Scala, in Milan
| was,present You remember it wa
but poor house. Your voice at frs