The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-07-21

Then the exercises began. As the frs
speaker closed his address on The Ctes
cent and tho Cross. flowers poured in ol
him bouquets, basket. crosses, crcscohts
/ Well, nov, amt they pretty ? said John
mother. in undisguissd admiration. Ain
7 they nicer never did see the like.
Tha, is the way IL always is, the chill
explained The speakers always get how
ers. But, don't you bolieyei--last year
there was one Of the seniors that didn't get
any flowers, Oh did feel so sorry for
himl His face was Just as rod
But the second orator was speaking.
When he had ended, Johns mother looked
eagerly about Again flowers were hand.
ed from this quarter and that to the ush.
ers, and passed to the last speaker.
Who gives the howers2 asked John S
mother OF the child, Why didn't that
senior get some last year?
Why. the friends of the students bring
the flowers. guess that senior didn't
have any friends, or maybe they forgot to
bring him some. Mamma has bouquet
there to give to brother Will II cost four
dollars
A sudden fear seized Johns mother
She hadn't brought any flowers to John.
1t wasn't likely that anybody else had
remembered him. He was going to be
slighted as that poor senior lad been, and
his face would burn with notification
! didn't bring any for my boy, she said,
with quick involuntary glance towards
the exquisite bouquet in the hands of
Wills mother / might have brought
some, have roses and pinks and lilies and
most every kind
She became silent The third orator
was speaking. But Johns mother could
not listen, except to the fear and question
ing of her own heart. Would there be any
flowers for John' Had anybody remem-
bersd her boyf 1.-The should not get any,
would he feel very badly about it?
At the end OF each address, she looked
eagerly about, in dread lest the speaker
might not receive any, so that her son
John might not be alone in the misery of
being neglected If he should not be re.
nembered
AT length the last speaker before her
Iohn was standing before the audience.
All the Others had been honored with flor
i tributes; and as this one ended eulogy
IN Thomas jefferson, Johns mother saw
he flowers fairly pouring toward him.
Nineteen bouquets, according to one re-
,ort, he received. Alas, she saw how il
would be. John would be the solitary
in his misery; for only Will
vas to follow, and Wills mother had that
uperb bouquet for him.
But perhaps-perhaps it might bel
ohm might be remembered. One person
here might be in all that large audience
sho had thought TO bring for him little
lunch of flowers. But she said. with
Ugh. it was not likely, when his own
aothsr had not.
But John WAS advancing to the front OF
he stand Soon her question would be
nswered. She listened with interest so
ntense that ali ache possessed her whole
icing. He gave noble Grafton for a
outh--a clear, terse argument. But it
'as not of that kind to please that part of
he audience which does the cheering.
he applause lagged-and the flowers!
The mother with unconscious entreaty
n every feature and motion, looked right
nd left, backward and all about. She
aw people looking constrained, people
ooding sympathetic, people looking anus
d, people whispering. Nowhere-nowhere
id she see the coveted spot Of flower col
r extended.
Alas, alas! there were no flowers for
ohnI She saw his face swelling and
rowing red. Perhaps other people did
OF perceive that he cared; but she who
al been studying the face through the
ineteen years, she saw that John was
urt Tears gathered in the faded eyes.
ne spattered on the loose brown kids
lasped in the lap.
And Wills mother was turning the grand
ouquet between her pale lilac gloves, in $
triumphing way, as it seemed to the
.her.
1t was in triumphing way, A triumph
ld been won; the beautiful bouquet was 9
fled; it was held out; it was beckoning an
sher.
Oh mammal wildly demonstrated the u
lid. Will You brought it for Will!
nppose he shouldn't get any!
He won't mind; he's the valedictorian. u
the sweet faced lady, as she c
I've the bouquet into the ushers hands. q
18th misty eyes, she saw it borne along .
10 aisle--the noblest offering OF the day I
into Johns hands
A sigh Of relief went around tho class,