Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-02-13


the scene. lie aud his companion had lost
their way, when an unexpected turn OF the
footpath brought them suddenly within
sight Of a comfortable looking lonely cot
tage, with a very neat plat in front, abound
ing with kali and winter lecks for the bar
ley broth. After entering the house he
says: awe found ourselves in the house
of rendezvous for the lads and lasses of
ueighboring village, to celebrate St. Valen-
tines Eve.
"Our entrance had dampcd the pleasan-
try, and inquistivc eyes were directed to-
wards us. 1t was our business to become
familiar with our new acquaintances, and
the pastiines were renewed Our sudden
appearance had disturbed the village school
master, who had Just finished writing on
small slips Of paper, the names of each of
the blooming lasses in the village. Each
lad had dictated the name of her he loved.
These precious slips of paper were now put
into bag and well mixed together, and
each youth drew out ticket, with hope
that he might, and fear least it should not
be the name Of his sweetheart.
"This was repeated three times; the
third time was the conclusion of this part Of
the sport. Some drew beloved names the
third time with rapturous joy, others drew
names Of certain respectable widows and old
ladies in the village, introduced by the art
of the schoolmaster, and the victims mourn
ed their unpiticd, dcrdcd suferings.
"After the lasses the names of the young
men were written and drawn by the girls
in the Same manner, and three-fod sue.
cess was secretly hailed as a suretyship Of
. bearing the name of the fortunate youth.
The drawing of this lottery was sue
ceeded by the essence of the amusement
for tho "Valentincs" were to be "relieved.
" The "relievng of the Valentines" was al
cr essence of high amusement. Each young
S. man had right TO kiss the girl whose nam,
n he drew, and at the same time deliver t,
IN her the slip of paper. The mirth of thu
:" company was excessive. Those who wer,
n, drawn and not present, were to be "relieved
er with gift of inconsiderable value, as to
e, ken ofregard. The evening passed in cheer
~ ful rcvelry TO a late hour"
ld We find the following curious species Q
re divinition in the Connoisseur as practice,
at on Valentines Day or Eve: "Last Frida
. was Valentines Day, and the night befor
* got five bay leaves and pinned four ther
Up to the four corners of my pillow and th
,m fifth to the middle, and if dreampt of m
sweetheart, Betty said we should be ma
of ried before the year was out. But to max
ed it more sure, boiled an egg hard, and too
.cd out the yolk and filed it with salt, an
Nv when | went to bed, eat it shell and all will
nv out speaking or drinking after it. We a
e's so wrote our lovers names upon bits of p
per and rolled them up in clay, and pr
nat them into water, and the first that rose W;
1er to be our Valentine, Would you think
- it! Mr.. Blossom was my man. lay be
an and shut my eyes all the morning till
los came to our house, for | would not ha'
rbs seen another man before him for all Il
till world"
to In an old English ballad, the lasscs a
a directed to pray cross-legged to st. Vale
ow entine for good luck. In some parts
England the poorer classes of children s
ray themselves Enthusiastically, and visit &
houses of the wealthy singing
ny Good morning to you, Valentine;
hat Curl your locks as do mine,
me, Two before and three bebind
"S Good morrow to you, Valentine"
nell In some places at this time, and me
lay particularly in London, the lads Valenti
ma is the first lass he sees in the morning W
'r is not an inmate of the house; the lass V
Tue entine is tho first youth she sees.
liar Gay mentions this usage on st. Val
lie entine's day. He makes a rustic housew
inc remind her good man
logs "I early rose just at the break of day,
tho Before the sun had chased the stars away;
A-hed went, amid the morning dew
,nI To milk my kline, for so should housewives do.
nm Thee first l spied, and the first swain see,
In spite of Fortune shall our true lO0e be-"
Is on Shakespeare bears witness to the Gust
'ui- of looking for your Valentine, or desiring
ives be one, through poor Ophelia's singing
she "Good morning it's ST. Valentines day,
With An the morning betme
-, And Ia mai at your window
the To be your Valentine"
ade In Oxfordshre the children go alb
OF collecting pence, singing
that "Good woman, Va entine,
- First tits yours and then 'tis mine
i"J so please give Valentine"
last In poor Robins almanac for the year II
and we find the following verses, which will
per- all that we can make room for to-day.
n of Now both the and maids incline
To choose them each a Valentine;
And fa man gets one he loves
IS in He gives her first a pair OF gloves;