Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-12-03

our good apprentice determined 70 come
himself 10 be her personal Valentine,
and to renew if not to complete their
early engagement.
On this determination being ANNOUNCE
ed iv Sally. it accustomed no small per-
turbaipn in the far damsel, equally
alarmed at the mental accomplishing hts
aud the personal defects OF her constant
swain. In lact, her feeling towards Ste
phen had been almost as ideal and IN
substantial! 40 the shadow Of a rainbow.
She liked 10 think Of him when she had
nothing better to do, or TO talk Of him
when She had nothing better to say, or
be puzzled by his verses or laughed at
for his homage I; but as q real substan-
tial Valentine, a present wOOer, a future
husband, and he so ugly, and IA poet 90
% dear |! she was frightened to think
of it. The impression first broke forth
to his sister, who communicated the
news of his intended arrival, in a varie-
iy of questions, as to Stephens height,
and sizo, and shape, and complexion ;
especially as compared with Daniel
Tnbb's! and was afterwards displayed
to that rustic adoror himself not by
words, indeed, but by the encouraging
silence and saucy smile with which she
listened to his account Of the debarka-
ton Of his ~cockney rival, from the top
of the B. stage. "He's timer than
%ever,' quoth Daniel, and the smartcst
dandy that ever was seen. | shall BIO
your Valentine, after all, Sally, for l
could hide him with tho shadow Of my
fst."
This was Valentine's'eve. Valentines
morn saw Sally cycling the two rivals
through a peep-hole in her little check
curtain, as they stood side by side on
tho green, watching for the first glimpse
Of their divinity. Never was seen such
contrast. Stephen, whose original
square dwarfishness had finod down into
a mature dnndy-saIlow, strutting, and
all over smaI!-the very Tom Thumb Of
apprentices /! Daniel, taller, bigger, rud-
dior, and heartier than ever-the actual
Goliath Of country lads ! Mover was
such a contras. seon. At length Sally,
laughing, blushing and bridling, sailed
forth from tho cottage. her hugo roll
basket, not as usual filled with rolls, car
ried, moi on her head, but in her hands.
"I'm your Valentine, Sally, I'm not ~
exclaimed Daniel Tubb, darling towards
her. "You saw me first A.; | know you
saw me first" continued tho ardent low
or, proceeding to claim the salute on
such occasions. "Pshaw nonsense !
let me alone then, Daniel can't you%'
was tho reply Of his mistress, advancing
to Stephen, who, perhaps dazzled by
the beauty, perhaps astoundcd by tho
height Of the fair g%iantess, remained mo-
tionless and speechless on the other sIdo
of tho road. "Would you like to ride
in my basket this fine morning, Mr..
Stephen "snid tho saucy lass, emptying
all his gifts. carriers, ribbons and Valen-
tines from their huge reservoir, and de-
posting it on the ground at his feet
" Don't be afraid /; III be bound to car
ry you as easily as tho little Italian boy
carlos his tray Of images. He's not
half the weight Of the rolls-is he, Dan
lei 10 pursued the unmerciful beauty.
" For my part | think hos grown short
OF. Come, do step in !" And, with tho
word, the triumphant Daniel lifted up
the discounted beau, placed him safely
in the basket, and hoisted tho burthen
on SaIly's head to the u~nspeakable di.
version Of that saucy maiden, and the
complete cure Of Master Stephens love.
No need, after this, to declare which of
the two rivals is Sally Noth's Valen-
tine. l think, with the little clerk, that
they will be married at Whitsuntide, if
not before.