The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-11-01
Select Story.
A FOUR-LEAFED BLOSSOM.
LEAF ONE.

Mr.. Frederick Woodman aged
twenty two, was the master of tie vii
lage school of Peterborough, and one
f the best little men, as far as temper
and looks were concered, that you
could possibly imagine. All'his schol-
ars-and, in fact, almost everybody
liked him. Indeed it would have been
very difficult not to like such well
spoken, gentle and amiable little gen.
tleman.
On the day my story commences,
however, he was neither gentle nor
amiable. He treated the schoolboys
with an amount of severity which sur
prisej them greatly.
Directly he had dismissed the boys
for the day. he locked up the school,
and walked abstractedly into his own
little domicile, adjoining.
Taking off his hat, he sat down upon
chair, looking greatly worried, and
then burst out with:
What fool was to quarrel with
poor little Nell last night What does
it matter if she does f1irtl / might
know by this time that she likes me
better than that other wretch
Having thus relieved himself, he
rose. sauntered out, and paced up and
down the little flower-garden in front
of the cottage.
Presently he was fired with an idea,
and returned to the parlor muttering:
Il know. I'll write Nell loving
and penitent letter, asking her for
giveress for my hastiness last night.
First of all. though, I'll secure mes
senger.'
Trotting out to the end of bis gar
den, he soon sighted a knot of his pu-
pills playing at cricket, and selecting
one, called out:
'Hii Brigg, my boy. want you.
And In another minute up came
Brigg, anxious to get in his masters
ssgood books" and hot from his exer-
tions at cricket.
sYes, sirp painted be.
Step in and sit down a minute.
Briggs. Iwant you to take q letter
for me-
And the little schoolmaster went IN,
while Briggs sat down in the porch,
tanning himself with his old mishap
pened hat, and wiping the perspira
ton from his face on the sleeve of hi,
smock.
Wr. Woodman had said he would
write q letter, but doing it he found
very different. He commenced five
one after the other, tearing them al
up in disgust. Then. thinking Brigg
would get tired of waiting. he employ
ed little artifice to detain his intend
ed messenger, while he made another
attempt at a long and penitent letter
Briggs, my boy" said he. coming
out with the pen in his ear, ''woul,
you like a piece o cake2'
"Oi think OF could eat joost littl
crumb, and thankee, SIR" said Briggs
Sinking.
So our hero went in and cut him
selittle crumb," weighing about half
pound, brought it out on clean plate
and then retired to think what b
! should say in bis bilIet-d0us.
.sAs he sat considering. happ
thought struck him. He would sen
her message in flowers.
, He reached to his book shelf, an
. took down little book called eth
Language of Flowers" which he e
: once began to study. searching for a
appropriate emblem
, "Union-a perfect straw" he reat
Ah, that will do. Reunion Is jul
!. what l want. Now for a little flatter,
Ah here il is:-''Delicate beauty
white rose" Hurrah! That will d
splendidly. have heard her say 81
understands the language of flower
l 1t was a capital idea of mine"
4 He hurried out into the garder
$, passed the astonished Briggs, an
Z. = plucked a beautiful white rose, aft
e which he came back, and asked Brigs
81 ''if he could get him a wisp of stra
e anywhere"
ne "Oh, yes, SIR" answered Brigg
~ =. much astonished, and away he wen
or his mouth full of cake, and soon r
o turned bearing the trophy, which
x handed TO our hero, and resumed b
y. cake and seat in the porch, with re
8 ious doubts as to his schoolmaster
Of sanity.
ell His reflections were interrupted I
Mr.. Woodman coming out, bearing