From a tabletop book sale in Michigan to a stopover in St. Louis to my home has come a treasure.

My youngest sister, who lives in Missouri, during a summer visit in Michigan came across “Letter in a Woodpile” and delivered it to me a couple of weeks back.

It’s a 2006 compilation of newspaper columns and NPR essays by Ed Cullen, among the most-gifted wordsmiths produced by Bolton High in its 100 years.

After NSU, the Navy and LSU,  Ed  (marriage to Martha Colvin, also a Bolton graduate somewhere in the sequence) settled in with The Advocate in Baton Rouge, doing most everything newsroom-wise over the course of close to 50 years.

His Salt and Pepper became must-read Sunday morning musings and his radio readings caused listeners to turn up the volume.

Letter in a Woodpile has more than 40 pieces, many centered around familiar locales of his Alexandria youth.

The zoo, Rugg school, driver’s ed, the Paramount, Guaranty Bank, a snow cone stand are among places and things recalled in 150 pages or so.

I was living out of state when Ed’s collection was published and missed adding it to my library.

It has a prominent place now.

If you’re fortunate you may find a copy online.