Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-05
A FOuR-LEAVED BLOSSOM.
LEAF ONE.

LEAF ONE.
Mr.. frederick Woodman, aged twenty
two, was the master of the village school
o. Peterborough, and one Of the best little
men, as far as temper and looks were con-
Cerned, that YOU could imagine. All his
scholars-aRd, in fact, almost every body,
liked him. Indeed, it would have been
very difficult not to like such 81 we'll
spoken gentle and amiable little gentle
man.
On the day my story commences, how
ever, he was neither gentle nor amiable.
He treated the schoolboys with an
amount Of severity which surprised them
greatly.
Directly he had dismissed the boys tor
the day, he locked up the school and
walked, abstractedly, into bis own little
domicile, sdjoining
Taking off his hat, he sat down upon
chair, looking greatly worried, and then
burst out with:
What fool I was to quarrel with
poor little Nell, last night! What does
it matter if she does tlirt2 l might know,
by this time, that she likes me better
than that ether wretch"
Having thus relieved himself, he rose,
sauntered out and pacea up and down the
little flower garden in front of the cot
tage.
Presently he was fired with an idea,
and returned to the parior muttering:
II know. I'll write Nell a loving and
penitent letter, asking her tor9ivness for
my hsstiness last night. FIRST Of all,
though, I'll secure messenger"
Trotting out to the end of his garden,
he soon sighted knot Of bis pupils play
ing at cricket, and, selecting one, called
out:
"Hll Briggs, my boy, want you"
And in another minute up came Briggs,
anxious to get IN his masters good
books" and hot from his exertions at
cricket.
Eyes, sir" painted he.
'Step in, and sit down minute,
Briggs. want you to take letter for
me-"
And the little school master went in,
while Briggs sat down in the porch, fan
ming himself with an Old mishappened
hat, and wiping the respiration from his
face on the sleeve-of his smocl1.
Mr. Woodman said he would write
letter, but doing it hei found very different
He commenced five, one after the other,
tearing them all up in disgust. Then,
thinking Briggs would get tired of wait
ing, he emf dyed little artlfice to detain
his intended messenger, while he made
another attempt at long and pen1tent
letter.
Briggs, my boy" said he, coming out
with the pen in his ear, would you like
piece OF cake2'
sol think OF could eat ioost little
crumb, and thakee, sir" said Briggs,
Sinking.
So our hero went in and cut him slit
tie crumb, weighing about s. half pound,
brought it out on a clean plate, and then
retired to think what he should say N his
biEEet-d0ur.
AS he sat considering, a "happY
thought struck lin. He would send
her message in flowers.
He reached to his book shelf, and took
down little book called The Language
of Flowers" which he at once began
TO study, searching for az appropriate
emblem.
''Union----a perfect straw" he read
''Ah, that will 90. Reunion is Just what
want. Now for little fattery. All,
here it is: Delicate beauty-a white rose.
Hurrah That will do spIendidly. l have
heard her say she understood the lam
guage of flowers. 1t was clpltal idea
of mine"
He hurried out into the garden, past
the asoonisheA Briggs and plucked a
beautiful white rose, after which he came
back, and asked Briggs eff he could get
him whisp of straw anywhere?7
"Oh, yes, SIR answered Briggs, much
as.onished, and away he went, his
mouth full of cake, and soon returned
bearing the trophy, which he handed to
our hero, and resumed his cake and seat
in the porch, with serious doubts as to
his schoolms Ster's sanity.
His reflections were interrupted by Mr..
Woodman coming out, bearing an en-
vclope, which contained the rose and
straw carefully wrapped in scented wad-
ding and sealed. This he handed to
Briggs, with smile and sixpence, and
said:
snake haste and take this to Miss Nor
ris, and bring me back reply.'
Briggs trotted off merriiy, and Fred
stood in the garden watching his mes.
sengers retreatlng form, and anxiously
awaiting the answer to his forral mes
sage.
LEAF TWO.
Pretty little Nellie Morris sat alone IL
her mothers parlor, crying.
Her parents had gone to neighbnr
ing fair, and would not be home till late
and she was so lonely aud wretched sh,
felt she must CRY.
Why-was / SO uDkind to poor, dea
old Fred last night she asked hersel
between her sobs. ooh, how wish b,
would come and make it all up!' she in
wardly uttered. 81 do feel so miser
able.n
At that moment there was tap on tn
door.
Nellie's heart beat wildly.
:. Come in, y she said feebly. And, oh
how she wished. yet scarcely dared t
hope, that it was Fred, come to make u
the quarrel, and be good friends againl
But she was disappointed.
The door opened slowly, and Brige
entered, holding out crushed and dirt
letter, and mumbled that it was from M
Woodman, and he was to wait for RI
ply.
NY.II.n xanI. A.. ssts,