The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-06-04
The FOur.Leaf Glover.


clover, rich with blossoms and so fragrant
that all the breezes that blew made cir
cult to pass over it again and again, rip
ping in it long waves OF green and rose,
tossing the nodding blossoms here and
there and shaking out their perfume in
rich watts of fragrance.
The bees knew of the field, too, and
came from their houses, miles away, to
suck honey, and sing their droning songs
about it all day long. Gay butterflies
sailed over it singly or in squadrons, and
meadow.larks aud field-mice hid their
nests, full of cunning little ones, deep I'M
der its rosy pillows. The sun warmed it /;
the dew and rain refreshed it; and the
clover grew and bloomed and was sweet
and happy, fearing no evil.
Close to stump in corner of the
field large tuft grew and flourished lux
uriantly. 1t had many flowers and leaves,
and among the leaves was one which diff
fered from the others by having four leaf
lets instead of the usual number. The
family of leaves and flowers was some
what ashamed of its curious member, and
Haunted themselves above it and kept it
out of sight as much as possible, as rude
people might deformed child. But it
took thankfully such sunshine and show.
ers as fell to its lot, and peeped forth
from among its sturdy brethren and rosy
sisters with humble sense of its own in
feriority, but without envy or shame.
One day soft little voice was heard
asking, quite close to the tuft of clover:
"Papa, did you ever find four-leaf clo-
ver?
eyes, Harry" answered another voice,
not so little and soft. I" when l was a
boy" =.
tie soft voice. They're good luck.
What makes them good luck, papa ?"
Cob " said the larger voice, absently,
ats sign of the cross. Come, Harry"
The little voice said something more,
but the clover could not hear what; the
sound of it died away and there was 81
lence. The leaves and flowers eyed each
other curiously; and one of the best ma
tured ones said:
"We must give him more ROOM"
So they shook themselves and bent and
swayed and edged away from Master
Four-Leaf and let flood of sunshine pour
in upon him, and he grew strong and
dark green and altogether splendid. But
he kept his humble spirit and grateful
heart. "Good luck" he said, and the
sign of the cross If am all that
must prepare to do something more than
sun myself and grow"
He tried to make friends of his brothers
and sisters, but they were shy, and kept
as far away as possible. When they
thought him their inferior they were
ashamed of him now they had reason to
hnl; <ho, al md
were envious; 80 the four-leaf clover was
quite lonely with his honors. Once q
butterfly lowered over him, and he en-
treated her to settle down and make her
home with him; but she only laughed
and shook little silver dust from her
wings on his leaflets, and sailed away.
He was generous fellow, and lent his
juices to insects until he nearly tainted in
The midday heat and his brothers and
sisters derided him and told him if he had
shaken himself vigorously he would have
been rid of his beggarly visitors.
off you try to share your good luck
with everybody, you will soon find there
is not enough to 60 round" said wist
blossom. :" cannot think what good luch
is for, if l cannot give it away" said the
leaf. "And surely if am the sign of thu
cross l must help those who cannot helI
themselves"
at is my opinion that good luck ant
the rest of it is only name and means
nothing" said a Grabbed old leaf. g.
don't see that you are any better off thar
other folks. You're only different"
at is not always pleasant to be differ
ent," sighed he of the four leaflets.
Early one bright, cloudless morni nl
there was a sound of whetted scythes il
the field. Three strong men began to GU
the clover, letting it fall in long swathes
The sweet fresh smell of the new-mowr
hay was on the air; swarm of insec
life was abroad the bees and butterflies
made haste to be away; the young mead
ow-larks fiuttered aloft into the sunshine
and the little fieldmice scampered ant
mid along the fence, under the bushes ant
thick leaves, where the scythes could mo-
reach them. All this stir struck terror to
the heart of the tuft of clover by tb,
stump. The leaves shivered with feal
and dismay, and whispered TO one an
other: "Oar time has come. We shall
be cut down and dried and put into the
stomacbs of great oxen and that will b.
the last of u.s."
"Cheer up," said the four.leaf. "I
will not be so terrible, them for we shall
be together"
ave don't know that" answered ,
flower. 1t is well enough for you to b.
cheerful, who are good luck and the sigl
Of the CROSS"