Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-02-14

letuih home, WrOIe lew lines, anC
transcribing them on handsome note
paper, directed to Miss Kate Vancouver
The Vancouyers were moderately rich
Though their mode Of living was not os-
tentatious, it was marked by an air OF
elegant comfort, and the young ladies
had enjoyed the advantage of the best
schools, and were accomplished, not ac-
cording to the superficial, standard SO
common in society, but whatever they
had learned they hard mastered it: =
The morning of the fourteenth of Feb
ruary arrived. ..r....
"St Valentines day!" said Ellen. I
do wonder if the good saint will remem-
Der us?'' ...t...rs a... ..... -......
"Perhaps some of his followers will, y
returned Kate, with an arch smile.
II hope so,' said Ellen. II should
set myself down as an old maid at once,
if l were entirely forgotten in his distri-
button of favors.'
By way of an answer to the inquiry
Just started, the postman's knock was
heard, and a moment afterwards the ser
want entered bearing three valentines,
one for Ellen and two for Kate .....s.,
Those of most imposing appearance
were first opened.
"What,a beauty exclaimed Ellen.
s'And mine, though not the same is
equally handsome, y returned Kate. -
''Why, it is from Frank, she exclaimed
after moments examination. ..,.
"Your valentine from Frank" en-
quired Ellen, with tongue of jealousy,
81 supposed as a matter of course Marx
sent it. Has he wholly neglected your
"Stay, here is another, in the form Of
a note, - said Kate, who had hastily.
opened the unostentious billet that ac-
companied these two valentines. ,,,-s4
1t proved to be copy of verses
simple and unaffected, just such as "a sen
sible girl ought to value most from her
lover. Kate was a sensible girl, but it
must be confessed that she was not;a
little disappointed at Mark appar
ent meanness, and though not in words,
assented in heartto Ellen s Indignantly
mark: "Well, [ did think Mark Easton
was decently liberal before, but certainly
this looks mean enough a.. Cd
perhaps he has good reason fefit.
suggested Kate family. a 70 i
GA good reason repeated Ellen. II
dare say he has. He was too stingy to
go to any expense.
7 Nay, Ellen, you must not1speak 50 of
Mark v4.r .f-..a ... .I.-.. F.,
Compare his paltry valentine with
Franks. He must have paid a hand
some price for these two
"And yet" said Kate, perplexed,
"Mark has never shown any lack Of
generosity before. You know he; has
carried us to concerts and shows and you
recollect the handsome gold chain he
presented me"
s'Then," said, Ellen unable to gain
say all this, she must have been seized
with sudden fit of prudence. Itwould
look little better if he would retrench
in some other way
So Kate thought in her secret heart,
but the affection which she entertained
for her lover would not permit her to
say SO. +- FL.
1t is still the morning of St. Valen-
tines day. Will the reader ascend with
us the ricketty stairs ofa tenement house
in poor street little known to fashion.
Higher yet, so, we have gained the
fourth story. Now turn to theright if
you please. Open the door. No cere-
mony. We are clad in the invisible gar
ments, and the occupants will not OBJ
serve our entrance. ..E
These occupants are two in number,
woman, middle aged, pale from recent
sickness, and reclining on the bed
propped up with pillows. The other is
a young girl of perhaps nineteen, who,
it is easy to see, needs only air and exer-
else, and freedom from anxiety to develop
her into beauty. But alas she is thin
and pale, and her face wears look of
weary care, the cause Of whichis evident
enough to one who will take the trouble
to look at her scanty and faded attire,
and the general appearance Of penury
which the room presents. a .
Louise" said Mrs. May, feebly, II
am afraid you are working toohard, my
child" .at r.e.... II Il .s.E. !
The latter was working rapid upon a
shirt, while several others unmade were
piled up in chair beside hers III
~ would not complain of ofthatmother,
was the reply, "if l was only ahttle bet
ter paid"
7"such miserably low prices, said the
mother, signing.
miserable, indeed, but they told me
last time that they might paystill less,
as they could get their work done quite
as we'll and more rapidly by a machine"
"If we only had one!' I'D .'
eyes, but am afraid it is an If that
will never be realized. :"
"Give me one Of the shirts, Louise, 1
think l can work little" al
The young girl shook hershead, and
answered in decided manner: "No,
mother, you mustn't think of it. Indeed
you are not able. just get we'll as soon
as you can and then l will not object"
The mother sighed.
1o CioopiOo hC, ILoulSe, W uQIQk SICK
ness makes me such burden upon you"
"a burden, mother; don't think of it.
eff you were alone now, you might
get along more easily"
sIf were alone" said Louise, shud-
dering, II shouldn't have any spirit or
energy to work at all. Why mother,
it's the thought ofyou that keeps me up.
It's such a relief to have somebody to
talk to- | often think how much better
l am off than Nancy Reed in the next
room. She is all alone, has not rela-
ton in the world, or none that she ever
sees, and there she sits in her room from
morning till night, sewing alone. 1t
must be terrible.
"Both are bad enough" sighed Mrs
May. g..
Finding her mother still despondent,