Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-04-06
A STORY WITH A n
What the Carrying Of a Bouquet
10 the Wrong House Effected.


"Johnny B~caquOty In NY Sunday Tribune.
1t was not long ago that a gentle
man said to me-he was in wine
johnny, / will take your best bou-
quet-that big one on a tray, fit to be
the bridal bed Of Eve-if you will
carry it to this address"
"All right, boss" was my response.
as l took his $40 bill, and observed a
rather devilish light in his eye, while
he wrote a name on a card. 1t was q
beam of the light shone in the eye Of
Cain as the discriminating flame
heaven shot past his offering and
blazed on Abel's altar. However, !
wasn't particular about what was 60
ing on in his mind, and he slipped the
card in the bouquet, and | started OF
to deliver it. Stopping close by to
change my note and eat a bit of lunch,
a good many people gathered near the
great prize bouquet and began to talk
to and smell it, and so, whether some
Jealous rival stole the card, or whether
l had dropped it on the street, the
card was missing when | took up the
great salver of flowers again.
| fastened back to the place where
I had met the gentleman. He had
gone away in a carriage. | told my
trouble to the hotel clerk, the genial
ellis, and he said, "Pshaw take it
to his wife. He is no sporting man.
Now, that gentleman | knew, by an
accident Vt passing his house, and |
had often admired the inAexible, the
solitary, the lofty and self-reliant quail
ity in him. He was kind to his in
f%eriors, manly to his equals, naughty
to his ~superiors. About once or twice
a year he showed liquor in his eyes, as
if Cain had bred on Abel's stock, and
a little liquor brought out the consan-
guinity. | said to myself: "These
flowers will wither for which | have
been paid. | believe he meant to
send them to his wife, and | will take
them there"
| rang the door bell of his house and
asked for the lady. Shown into the
parlor l saw nv buyers picture over
the mantel. The house was not ex-
pensively furnished, but looked like
the abode of perseverance in some
moderately compensating profession
and slow but gaining conquest on half
fortune. A lady entered the parlor
and beheld the flowers. She turned
to me and said: Who are these
for ?"
For you, madame"
For me2" Her face flushed.
"Who has dared to send flowers to
me?"
| saw | was in for it somewhere,
and there was no safety but in consist
ent lying.
Your husband sent them, Mrs. ="
| had heard his name, and felt that
this was his wife.
my husband?" Her voice faltered.
"HoW came he to send me flowers
Have you not made a mistake ?"
mo, madam. He never bought
flowers from me before. He is not a
customer of gallantry. There is no
mistake about it."
She seemed all futtered, like a
widow told that her dead husband has
returned to life. Looking now at the
flowers, again at the portrait, her
eyes dilated, her temples flushed. She
walked to me like a woman of author
ity and under some high mental ex-
element. Looking into my eyes she
said:
What d.dmy husband say?"
He said, madam, | have not made
a present to my dear wife for years.
Business and care have arisen between
US. Take her these flowers that their
blossoms may dispel the winter from
our hearts, and make US young again
She turned to the boQuet and rained
her tears upon it. An orange bud
she took, all blinded so, and hid it in
her bosom. She sank upon her knees,
and laid her head among the flowers
to let their GOODNESS refresh her
parched. neglected heart and sobbed
the joy Of love and confidence again.
l stole away like a citizen of the
world. AsI went up the street and
stopped at the same hotel, the husband
was there. johnny said he. did
you deliver the bouquet" YES, |
took it to your WIFE" "To my wife?"
Yes, boss, you are too good a man to
wander as you wished TO. Go home.
The ice is broken. Your wife is full
Of gratitude. Saved by a mistake,
embrace the blessed opening made for
both of you. plant those rich blossoms
on the grave of your enstrangement
and in the words Of the great good
beck, cling to the wife Of thyyouth.' D
He staggered a moment, looked as
if he ought to knock me down, and
rushed from the place.
Next day | met her upon his arm.
Johnny" he said, bring her a.
big a bouquet every week, and save
one scarlet rose for mel"
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