Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-08-30
ro,, m. Four o,Clocks Grew.


made up their minds they must have
Il club. All their mothers belonged to
clubs, so of course they ought to have
one. They We're all over 10 years old
now. quite beyond the age of Lady
go to see" or "Mother;' and they all
rode wheels, running games" We're a
thing of the past.
They met on each others door steps
every Wednesday after school at 4.
Some days they sewed doll clothes, or
cut garments for paper-dolls; but dolls
were getting too young for them, or
they too old for dolls. Besides, the
older people seemed to think the front
steps not the best sewing-room in the
world; and the little girls had begun to
feel that something that wouldn't
make quite so much muss. or quite as
much picking up afterwards, would
be better. But the question was
What to do!"
They had been q long time in select
ing name for the club. The mothers
We're all tired of suggesting names
that never seemed TO suit all these par
ticular young ladies, and finally the
name came by pure accident. One
day 1.-The club" still nameless, sat on
Marguerite Manning's steps. laugh
ing, rosy group A fine-looking old
gentleman paused to look at them, and
as he passed on. lifted his hat and
said. "a sweet little bunch of four
o'clock
1.-The very name!' the girls all ex-
claimed together. But then came the
question of What were four
O'clock's?' SO in they all ran to ask
Marguerite's mother
1t happened that Marguerite's moth
er had the gift of storytelling, and
she entertained the girls by a descrip-
tion of the spicy, rosy blossoms that
open so late in the day, and told them
OF her G ar old village home in far
away New England, where, when she
was Il tiny. timid child of 4, she went
TO her first school, How she would
run up the long dusty road, breathless
with fear. till at certain corner she
was met by Whit of the opening
four-oc clocks, when she felt safe and
would trot on round the corner to meet
IL welcome home from their rosy faces
over the fer.c smiling upon her!
But although she could tell them all
about four-o'clocks. she had not a sug-
gestion to offer in regard to some work
for the club to do: nor We're any Of the
other mothers able to think of any
thing. They all agreed. however, that
whatever the club did must be done
on the back steps.
At last they thought ask Miss
Kau ner, a favorite teache., whom the
girl thought equal to the lady from
Phnadelphia" herself! Miss Kautner
was asked. and what should she ad
wise but study.
"Oh. holrorsy' cried the club. "More
books.'
No. Miss Kautner said she would
give them few little simple talks on
botany for few Saturdays. taking
the flowers that grew lavishly at every
doorstep: and they could review what
they heard at their Wednesday meet
irgs. and tel her on Saturdays all that
had noticed about flowers, plants
ana sects. There was surely en-
ough of each at hand.
That was the way "The Tour
oClocks" began.
During the rains and fogs of early
winter the club met and studied in
the houses where there were conscr-
vatories. growing more interested and
enthusiastic with every meeting, till
10y FebI 'ary they were real little
botany gdb.
Then swept over the land that
glorious food of wild flowers, nowhere
in the world so wonderful as in Call
fornia. Now. added to their Wednes-
day home meetings. came delightful
Saturday outings with Miss kautner.
When near at hand they went afoot
or awheel. but to the distant foothills
or beaches and into the deep, dim
canyons they went. too, by stage, boat
o, car. Great lunch hampers. emptied
mt noon beside some clear cold spring
were brought home ut night filed with
flowers. ferns. mosses, stones ami
shells for future study.
Two years have passed away, and
our little doll-dressing friends now
write really Interesting papers. and
study in a truly thorough way. and
are as happy in their work as the day
Is long. And that Is how The -Four
o'Clocks" grew.-Youth's Companion.