Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-03-02
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From Field Notss.l
ST. VALENTINES EVE;
A story OF Thirty Years A4o.
ny AUNT FANNY

We were merry set that night &C Union Hall
% ever played "lost my glove yesterdav ),
round the big fireplace Of cabin "Way out
4 west" egs ~ '1'
We bad all come together to spend vsleu-
Mne'e Eve, In Q merry-makiDg at Squire
Whte's, who had just moved out of the old loo
INTO new brick, and made:;a "house- warming 3
asthey used TO call the first party in new house.
Mas JUST ,hlry years ago, warm, genial
re9suary' ana tne sugar trees had been tapped i,
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 home.
made gown, set the big kettle of rich syrup
before the hre, and said we should "supsr of. =
we had all got circled around the big fireplace.
each With saucer or wooden trenc6er, and a
spoon or paddle in hand, ready for an onslaught
az soon as Aunt Polly should say, "Fall 20 and
help yourselves" when In came Uncle sam
from the field; his round, rosy, happy face
radiant with mirth and glee, and bis hear. beat
Ing 90 genial and warm as the great fire IN his
chimney that sent Its glow over every brow in
"Oh, Uncle Sam, Uncle Sam! now for that
long promised story. Nov for popping the
question y cried dozen voices at once.
DO, Father White" said Lawyer c.,
who had somehow got into the country to spend
valentine. "Let as have the story by all means
have been on the point Of popping the question
'nese nye years, but did nos know how; and if
you Wiil giveu your experience, may find It
edness."
"Do, do come now, Uncle Sam !" cried
pretty black-syed rogue Of sixteen, as she sen.
stolen glance over the shoulder OF the stately
Miss Helen, the belle of the village, who stood
pattlng her spoon In the bottom Of her saucer,
as II 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 donei Sit down or stand up-don't care
Which-but keep still for once in your lives ten
minutes, and III tell you all about t."
"Here, Ned Wilson, take Jenny Lee under
your care; cit down by her side, yonder on the
settee, and see that she don't trouble me again.
II she does. seal up her lips, Ned-you know
hoW;' and Uncle Sam took his seat In the old
arm-onair, In the center Of the group, took the
and began:
Thirty years ago tonight"
"LaWs anne, Mr.. White, what's the use2 don't
be telling the youngsters any of your warns {"
said Aunt Polly, as che lifted up a ladle full of
syrup, and let it run out slowly into the kettle
again. to see IL 10 was getting ropy.
Never mind, never mind, wife--you tend
the 'iasses, Just thirty years ago tonight, [
made up my mind I'd 70 up TO Squire Porter a
and pop the question to Polly. had been try-
ing for six months to get at II, but somehcW lust
as was to out with 1t, my heart would take TO
humping, and my tongue would cling to the
roof OF my mouth, and there was the end of il.
All nonsense, boys, all nonsense-the girls are
willing enough"
"Oh, Uncle Sam, how dare you7'
doT -" "" ''N -
There was report like--no matter-.he
cherry lips were sealed
/ ~ bad failed, as said, az often as once q
week Tor eix months, and nov was determined
20 get through somehow, go got sister Ruth
to cut me q ntine--(she was cute AZ IA teIl
tye)---eh heafts and darts, and true love knots,
with verses all around in among 'em, such
az
| The ring ia round that hath no end
DO 10 my love to you, my friend
And
Roses red and yiolets blue,
Pinks 10 pretty and 80 be you"
i Sure a. the yinegoes round the stump,
| y DO sure are you my good sugar lump
To which added arhyme ou. of my own head,
ell the one ever made, boys; but IL went to
her heart, reckon:
Oh, what can cure my melancholy?
Nothing on airth but you, Miss Polly
~ sent this by Bill in the morning, az he
vent up TO school. He went right to SQUIRE
Porter's, and PROMISED him q new hand-sled
II, ne wouldn't tell nobody. Keep shady, Bill
said L. Tight as o clRm,' said he
"Thinks to myself, agin she gifts that all
read over she'll begin to guess what I'm after
when get up there tonight.
"Father and had to 60 up into the deadenin'
to chop wood that day. Bless my stars, how
cold il was--the wind blew through the bare
limbs Of the old oaks and naples, like wrath.
But my heart beat double quick-you know,
boys, how it goes-and I chopped away like
blazes."
"You're in hurry, Sam, amt yOui" said
the old man.
"No other way to keep warm, father,n said
but want cold, not /. We kept at it all
day, and long day It was ! tell ye. Just be-
fore shutdown, we turned 10 and shouldered our
axes for home.
"Sam," said the old man, "I en- right tired
somehow myself, and you may 70 down 10 the
lower meadow, and fodder the slock.o
"Of struck, like mad, for knew Il would
take me till pitch dark to get done, and then
I'd have my supper TO eat, INV beard IN tale
of, and fix up, and walk mile and 4 half and
il would be nigh on TO eight O'Clock. Vbsn ia
get up to the 'Squire's. The snow vas Sslline
perfect sheet, and the wind blew hsrdsr ana
harder, and I knew that marin would B. @ mn
about my going ont such a night. for moth s-s ~
used to know something about their bovs n
them days, thought there never was such a
night, and guess there wasn't neither!''