The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-04-19
A STORY warm A saORAa.
WHAT THE CARRYING OF BOUQUET TO THE
WRONG HOUSE KFFRcrxD.


WHAT THE cARRYISG or A BOUQUET TO TH1
WRONG HOUSE KFrHcrxD.
Johnny Bouquet IN Sunday Trbune.l
Il was not long ago that gentleman
said to me-he was in wine-s Johnny. /
VIII take your best bouquet-that big one
on tray, fit to be the bridal bed of Eve
If You win carry it to this address"
"AH right, boss, !" was my response, a.
l took his ten dollar bill, and observed .
rather devilish light in his eye, while he
wrote name on . card. 1t was beam
OF the light that ahQnaAinebI bI neaver shot
past his offering and blazed on Abei's al
tar. However, wasn't particular about
what was going on in his mind, and he
slipped the card in the buoquet, and /
started off to deliver it. Stopping close
by to change my note and eat bit of
lunch, good many people gathered near
the great prize bouquet and began to talk
about it and smell it, and 80, whether
some jealous rival stole that card, or
whether | had dropped it on the street,
the card was missing when l took up the
great salver of flowers again.
/ hastened back to the place where !
mad met the gentleman. He had gone
away in a carriage. told my trouble to
TIE hotel clerk, the genial Gillis, and he
said, "Pshaw take it to his wife. He is
no sporting man."
Now, that gentleman l knew, by an ac-
cident of passing his house, and had Of
ten admired the infexible, the solitary,
the lofty and self-reliant quality in him.
He was kind to his interiors, manly to his
equals, naughty to his superiors. About
once or twice year he showed liquor in
his eyes, as if Cain had bred on Abel's
stock, and little liquor brought out the
consanguinity. 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"
l rang the door bell of his house and
asked for the lady. Shown into the par
lor | saw my buyers picture over the
mantel. The house was not extensively
furnished, but looked like the abode of
perseverance in some moderately compen-
sating 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, Madam"
"For me?" Her face flushed. "Who
has dared to send flowers to me %
| saw | was in for it somewhere, and
there was no safety but in consistent ly-
ing.
Your husband sent them, Mrs.
had heard his name, and felt that this
was his wife.
"My husband p Her voice faltered.
" How came he to send me flowers Have
you not made mistake p
"No, madam. He has never bought
flowers from me before. He is not ems
toner of gallantry. There is no mistake
about it.
She seemed all futtered, like widow
told that her dead husband has returned
to life Looking now at the flowers, again
at his portrait, her eyes dilated, her tenn
pies flushed She walked to me like a
woman of authority and under some high
mental excitement Looking into my
eyes she said:
What did my husband say!'
"He said, madam, s have not made a
present to my dear wife for years Busi-
ness and care have arisen between U.S.
Take her these flowers that their blossoms
may dispel the winter from our hearts and
make US young again"
She turned to the bouquet 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, neg
lected heart, and sobbed the JOY of love
and confidence again. l stole away like
a citizen of the world.
AS went up the street and stopped at
the same hotel, the husband was there
4" Johnny said he did you deliver the
bouquet?' Yes, / took it to your wife
g To my wife p Yes, boss, you are too
good a man to wander rs you wished to.
Go home. The ice is broken. Your wife
is full of gratitude. Saved by mistake,
embrace the blessed opening made for
both of you; plant those rich blossoms
on the grave of your estrangement, and
in the words of the great Good Book,
cling to the wife of thy youth"
He staggered moment, looked as he
ought to knock me down, and rushed from
the place.
Next day l met her upon his arm.