The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-12-27
LITERARY
The Mystery OF the Flowers.

FCI several mornings last summer
reporter for the World found it necessary
10 cross the DesbrOsses street ferry, from
Jersey City to New York, at an early hour.
Upon each of these occasions he observed
\ short, broad shouldered young man
with a round, good-humorcd face, clear
gray eyes and curly yellow hair setteo
eareIessly on the railing of the boat, near
the bow. upon the side sacred to gentle
men who smoke, putting away contented-
Nv al a short briar-wood pipe, blackened
with long service. But it was not the
pipe nor the man who smoked 1t tnat Hrst
attracted the reporters attention. 1t was
3 huge bouquet of bright cheap flowers,
which the young man invariably carried
IN his RIGHT hand. He didn't seem to be
particularly fond of the flowers either.
He was never observed to look at them
with any especial admiration; he never
.melled of them and he carried the flow
er4 IN an awkward way, head dOwnwards.
rs though the bunch was heavy-headed
club. As soon as the boat struck the
landing, and the intricate iron gate had
been shut up like fan, he would leap
lightly down from his perilous perch on
ero-e-town streets.
Whata young man, who was evidently
going to his daily work, wanted OF
bouquet Of flowers as large as cabbage,
and which he carried as one would that
useful but uninteresting vegetable by the
stalk, puzzled the reporter. One morn
inc he leaned carelessly over the rail OF
The ferryboat, next to the unconscious
cause of all his unsatistied curiosity, and
inhaled the mingled perfume OF his pipe
and flowers When the boat had made
aer landing the Flower Bearer, as he had
been dubbed in default Of any other
name, walked rapidly away In his &C
rustomed manner and the reporter FOL
lowed him at IA safe distance TOR obser-
ration. Upon a region given up TO mai
odorous and forbldding ton ement houses
was reached, and before half a block had
been traversed bare-legged little girl,
euiltless of anv head covering save her
tangled hair, who stood at the next cor
ner and seemed to be sentinel on duty,
set up a shrill shout and ran rapidly to-
wards the young man, crying at the top
Of her voice
"Yeare comes year comes the man
with the flowers" and at her call APP
reared inLumerable children. Ragged
and dirty little urchins they were, rising
from damp areas, rushing around corners
scramblng from dark alleys, tumbllng
out of dark Railways, and all scamperlAg
like mad to be first to meet the Flower
Bearer.
"Oh, mister" said the bare-legged,
tangled haired little girl who had acted
Is sentinel gimme the purtlest flower
we've got cause seen We turst. Please,
won't We mister!"
The Young man had stopped by this
time. and surrounded by motley throng
of scramhling children OF, all ages from
twelve wears old down to q little chap
who toddleu around the outskirts OF the
crowd upon his little bow-legs, reaching
No pudgy grim fist, and petltonln
tor "fowa." while his big sister who had
deserted him, stood in the center of the
nress and called for her flowers with al
the importantly of an Arab demanding
backsheesh.
Now. young 'uns," said the young
mar. with broad smile on his good-na
tuTpu IdCC, piu $500
Don't one of you snatch.
..Oh. no, sir; we won't, sir, chorused
the children. -,
Here. Goliah," said he, with laugh
- tha toddler who owned the pudgy list
..von shall have the first one, because /
don't Give YOU one right off you'll Jus
let your strength out and rob some Q
+hess LITTLE Girls" Goliah shut his di
minutive first tightly about the stem 0
the flower and if he did not appreclat
the Joke he did the gift.
snow. Nan Good for Nothing, as 20
saw me nrst I'll give you the secon
DOVER" said he, handing the Tow
headed sentinel flaming sword OF giaa
iolas. :.
..Thank'ee. sir" said Nan. marcnln;
nut of the crowd with her sword at ne
shoulder.
And, Nose, you can tako this, SAID h
handing flower to sturdy. red-shlrte
little fellow.
And Jennie this, and Charlie this, an
NoIlie this continued he, evidently Ii
venting names as he went along, until q
the ragged crowd were supplied. Whe
he had finished, he still had one iarg
br;rht flower in his hand. which he aI
reared to have preserved carefully to tn
last He cast quick glance over tn
little crowd, but did not seem to I'm
what he wanted. "Where's the Little una
asked he at last.
aSha i sick sir: her back is took worse