Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-07-06
VALENTINE EVE:
Or, the way Uncle Sam Popped the Ques-
tion Fifty Years Ago.
BY mrs. FRANCES D. GAGE.

We were merry set that night, at Union
Hill, as ever played 'lost my glove yesterday, :
round the big fireplace of cabin way out
west
We had all come together to spend Valen-
tines Eve, in. a. merry makinrat Squire
Whites, who had just moved out of the old
log into the new brick, and made house
warming, as they used to call the first party
IN a new house. Il was just twenty years
ago, warm, genial February, and the sugar
trees had been tapped, and nice run of SAP
had filled all the buckets, tubs, and troughs.
And Marin White, who had as kind heart
as ever beat under homemade gown, set the
big kettle of rich syrup before the fire, and
said we should sugar off We had all got
circled round the big fire place, each with a
saucer or wooden trencher, and spoon or a
paddle in hand, ready for an onslaught, as soon
as Aunt Polly should say, Fall TO and help
yourselves when in come Uncle Sam, from
the field ; his round, rosy, happy face, radiant
with mirth and glee, and his heart beating as
genial and warm as the great fire in his chin
ney, that sent its glow over every brow in the
room
'Oh, Uncle Sam, Uncle Sam-NOw for
that long promised story-Now for popping
the question, cried dozen voices at once.
Do, Father White, said Lawyer c.,
who had somehow got out into the country to
spend Valentine. Let US have the story by
all means. have been on the point of pop
ing the question these five years, but did not
know how /; and if you will give us your ex-
perlence, may find in it the way and means Of
escaping from single blessedness.'
Do do; come now Uncle Sam,' cried a
pretty black eyed rogue Of sixteen, as she sent
stolen glance over the shoulder of the stately
Miss Helen, the belle Of the village, who stood
patting her spoon in the bottom of her saucer,
as if unconscious of the deep meaning Of the
lawyers last words.
Well, well, bless my stars, boys and girls,
don't all talk at once. Marin, is your sugar
most done! Sit down, or stand up-don t
care which-but keep still for once in your
lives, ten minutes, and I'll tell you all about
it..
Here, Ned Wilson take Jenny Lee under
your care, sit down BY her side, yonder, on
the settee, and see she don't trouble me agin
If she does, seal up her lips, Ned-you know
how and Uncle Sam took his scat in the old
ar chair tho of III l. Il.
quid from his cheek, and threw it into the f1e,
and began:
Thirty years ago tonight
Laws me, MIR. White, what's the use !;
don't be telling the youngsters any Of your
yarns, said Aunt Polly, as she lifted up
ladleful of syrup, and let it run out slowly
into the kettle again, TO see if it was getting
ropy.
Never mind, never mind, wife-you tend the
'lasses. Just thirty years ago, tonight, / made
up my mind I'D 60 up to Squire Porter's and
pop the question to Polly. | had been trying
six months to get at it, but somehow, Just as
| was TO out with it, my heart would take to
humping, and my tongue would cling TO the
roof of my mouth and there was the end of it.
All nonsense, boys, all nonsense-the girls
are willing enough
Oh, Uncle Sam, how dare you.'
Ned Wilson, what did tell you to do q
There a report, like-no matter-the
cherry lips were sealed.
had failed, as | said,' as often as once
week for six months, and now | was deter
mined to get through, somehow, so got sis
ter Ruth to cut me valentine-(sh was well
at it, tell ye,)-all hearts and darts, and
true love knots, with varses all around in
among 'em-such as,
"The ring is round that hath no end
So in my love to you, my friend"
And,
g Roses red and violets blue,
Pink is pretty, and so are you,'
"Sure as the vine grows round the stump,
So sure are you my sugar-lump."
To which / added rhyme out of my own
head, all the one ever made, boys, guess /;
but it went to her heart, [ reckon:
sob, what my melancholy?
Nothing airth, but you, Miss Polly"
/ sent this by Bill, in the morning, as he
went up to school. lie went right by Squire
Porter's, and promised him red hand-sled
if he wouldn't tell nobody. Keep shady,
Bill, said |. Tight as a clam,' said he.-
Thinks to myself, gin she gifts that all read
over, she'll begin to guess what I'm arter
when get up there, tonight.
and father had to 60 up into the dead
ening to chop wood that day, for the district
Bless my stars, how cold it was-the wind
blew through the bare limbs Of the old oaks
and naples, like wrath. But my heart beat
double quick time; you known, boys, how it
goes and | chopped away like blazes.
You are in hurry, Sam, aint you q said
the old man.
No other way to keep warm, father, said
but | wasn't cold, not /. We kept at it all
day, and long day it was, tell ye Just
before sundown, we turned in and shouIdercd
our axes for home.
Sam, said the old man, Pm right tired,
somehow, myself, and you may 60 down to
the lower meadow, and fodder the stock
Off struck, like mad, for knew it would
take ma ill nitch dark to pit done If had ~