Connecticut western news., 1877-02-02
The Four-Leaved Clover.

My mother and I were spending the summer with my uncle, David Gregory, at his home. The kind old gentleman had written to me to bring one of my schoolmates with me. "Some one Che wrote) who loves the country" I in- vited Elsie Ventnor. She was not scholar like myself, but lived with Mime. Du Pois, teaching the children who were day scholars
 One afternoon uncle came in where we were all sitting over our fancy work, and said, with smile .t
 Madge, put this in the Bible for me. See, it is four-leaved clover. I found it just now. Some good fortune must surely be coming to me-"
 When had done as he asked he sat down and unfolded new plan for our amusement.
 We were to get up tableaux and invite all we chose to help us, and conclude with dance. t. "Oh, uncle, how nice When shall it be ?" ,..... -.,.,
 ''As soon as you wish. I will have everything done for you that is neces- sary, and you may use anything in the house you like for the purpose. want you to enjoy yourselves as much as you can. It will be but a dull house after you are gone, and shall only have the gay memories to enliven it,
 When he had left us I exclaimed
 "Oh, mamma, isn't it pity that un- cle never had any children? He is so fond of seeing young folks enjoy them selves"
 "Husb, Madge p she hastily replied for mercy's sake never say anything like that before your uncle.'
 Why not, mamma ?"
 Because, my child, there are reasons why you should not. :"
 I wondered good deal in my mind over that scrap of conversation, but I did not ask any more questions. It was no hard matter to get merry party to maging in the attics, with Deb's assist stance, for old fashioned things to turn into use. -H
 One afternoon mamma called Elsie and myself into her room to look through an old trunk she had found slowed away in the back of an unused closet.
 Here, girls, examine. I shouldn't wonder, from the peep I have taken, if we had found treasure trove." We were both delighted. When we had taken out its contents-old fashioned dresses, feathers, laces, etc.-in tray, all by itself, was 8 dress which would have driven Queen Nab to envy, and which was evidently more modern in it's fashion than the other articles strewn around us. It was long trained skirt of the palest lilac silk, with an overdress of lilac tulle, covered with embroidered /! clover blossoms, as if some careless hand had flung them in profusion all over the delicate material. The rosettes on the tiny slippers were decorated in the same way, and wreath of white clover, i sprinkled with mimic dewdrops, lay with them.
 ] ''I think, Madge, said mamma, |" it must have belonged to your uncle's sister, Hilda I have heard she was a great belle in her day."
 "Oh, mamma, we'll have a tableau called the Spirit of Good Fortune, and Elsie shall wear the dress. Come, dear, and try it on."
 gEven the famous belle herself could not have looked fairer than did my friend, when we had arrayed her in the beautiful costume. Instead of the name I had chosen, mamma thought it would be just as appropriate, and much prettier, to call the tableau "The Four -Leaved Clover"
 The evening came, and all the tableaux were successfully gone through with, amid great applause, except the last.
 When was helping Elsie to dress, she opened case, and taking out massive chain clasped it around her neck, saying:
 1T will wear this tonight, Madge"
 Why, Elsie what an exquisite thing"
 "Yes, it is all I have left of my moth- er's. never wear it, as it would hardly be suitable for my plain dresses. See.''
 And opening the diamond studded locket which hung from the chain she showed me the picture within. 1 There, smiling at me, was face some thing like Elsie's, only more rosy, more radiant. It was, the only time Elsie had ever spoken to me of her mother, and wished she would say more. But the bell rang for the last tableau, and we hastened to our places-I among the au- dience, and she to appear as ''The Four Leaved Clover"
 The curtain rose, and Elsie stood in a graceful attitude, handing the symbol of good fortune to youth, who, on pended knee, waited to receive it. The diamond studded locket on her white neck caught the light in hundred sparkles, and the dew spangled clover flashed it back again. It was brilliant picture but we hardly had time to admire it sufficiently, for with 0 low groan my uncle fell heavily forward from his chair to the floor. Then all was confusion. The young