Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-03-30
what Came OF a Valentine.
Pretty story.

On the evening of the 18th of February
1850, two young men sat in comfortably
furnished room in q large New YorE
clearinghouse. A bright fire glowing II
the crate, well chosen engravings adorned
the walls, and bright light was difusec
about the room from an Argand burner
Let me introduce the occupants of the
apartment as Tom Stacy and John Viii
bur. young men of twenty-five or there
abouts, who were known in business cir
cles as Stacy & Wilbur, retail dry good.
dealers, No.-Broadway. They had not
been in business long, but were already
doing usually well. They had taken apart
ments together one of which is now pre-
sented to the reader.
Has it occurred to you, Wilbur asked
his partner, removing his cigar, and
knocking away the ashes, tomorrow is
St. Valentines dayP
Yes, | thought of it this afternoon,ss
was walking up from the store
so did /, and to some purpose to, as
will show you.'
Tom Stacy went TO drawer and drew
out a gorgeous valentine, sn elaborate
combination of hearts, doves, &c.
What do you think gave for that p
he asked.
4 don't know, Pm sure II appears TO
be very elegant
1t cost me ten dollars
'Whew whistled Wilbur 1T strikes
me you are very extravagant or very de-
voted. May know what fair damsel is
to be made glad by the receipt of this ell
egant missive?
That's my secret said Tom. laughing.
Il don't mind telling you, however. It's
to go to Edith Castleton.'
4 presume you feel particularly inter
ested in the young ladyP
Not at all. But | told her l would
send her valentine, et Ia VOLTA! Shan't
you conform to the custom of the day p
1 had not thought of it, said John,
thoughtfully, but believe l will
And what fair lady will you select as
the recipientY
You remember the poor seamstress
who occupies an attic in the house,
Yes, have met her on the stairs two
or three times
her. 1 think III send her valentine
And what good do you think it will do
herr asked Stacy, in surprise.
Wait till you see the kind of valentine
I will send.
Wilbur went to his desk, and taking
out sheet of note-paper, drew from his
portmonnaie ten dollar bill, wrapped
it in the paper, on which he had previ-
ously written. From st. Valentine. and
placed the whole in an envelope.
There said he, my valentine has
cost Gs much as yours, and ! venture 10
say it will be as welcome
You are right. l wish now had not
bought this costly trife. However, as it
is purchased viii send it,
The next day dawned clear and frosty.
It was lively enough for those who sat BY
comfortable fires and dined at luxurious
tables but for thepoor whoshared none of
these advantages, it was indeed bitter
day
In an attic room, meanly furnished,
sat a young girl, pale and thin. She was
covering over q scanty wood FIRE, the best
she could afford which heated the room
very insuficiently. She was sewing
steadily shivering from time to time as
the cold blast shook the windows and
found its way through the crevices.
Poor child Life had 8 very black
aspect for her on that winter day. She
was alone in the world. There was ab-
solutely no one on whom she could call
for assistance. though she needed it sore-
ly enough. The thought came TO her
more than once in her discomfort. is it
worth while living any longerf' But she
recoiled from the sin of suicide. She
might starve to death, but she would not
take the life that God had given her.
Plunged in gloomy thought she contin-
ued to work. All at once a step was
heard ascending the staircase which led
to her room. Then there was a knock
at the door. She arose in some surprise
and opened it, thinking it must be the
landlady or one of the servants.
She was right. 1t was servant.
Here's a letter for you that the post
boy just brought, Miss Morris
a letter for me y repeated Helen Nor
ris in surprise, taking it from the SER
wants hand. Who can have written to
mei'
Maybe it's a valentine miss said the
girl, laughing. You know this is Valen-
tines day. More by token. Pye got two
myself this morning. Ones karakter
(caricaturei,l SO mistress calls it. Just
look at it,
Bridget displayed highly embelished
pictorial representation of female hard
at work at the wash-tub, the cast of
beauty being decidedly Hibernian.
Helen Morris laughed absently, but did
not open her letter while Bridget remain
ed-a little to the disappointment of the
curious damsel.
Helen slowly opened the envelope. A
bank-note of ten dollars dropped from it
TO the floor.
She eagerly read the few words on the
paper-"From st. Valentine
Heaven be praised ? she said, folding
her hands gratefully. This sum will en-
able me to carry out the plan which |
had in view
Eight years passed away. Eight years
with their lights and shadows, their joys
and sorrows. They brought with them
new-made graves-happiness to some and
grief to others.
Towards the last they brought the great
commercial crisis of '57, when houses that
seemed built upon rock tottered all at
once to their fall. Do not many remem-
ber that time all too well, when mer.
chants, with anxious faces, ran from one
to another to solicit help, and met only
ayerted faces and distrustful looksi
And how was it in that time ofsuniver-
sal famine with our rfriends-Stacy & Will
bur?
Up to 1857 they had been doing an ex-
cellent business. They had gradually
enlarged the sphere of their operations,
and were rapidly growing rich, when the
crash came.
They Immediately took in sail Both
were prudent, and both felt that this was
the time when this quality was urgently
needed.
By great efforts they had succeeded in
keeping up till the l4th of February,
1858. On that morning a note of two
Thousand dollars came due. This was
their last peril That surmounted they
would be able TO go on with assured con.
l6denee.
! But, alas this was the rock of which
they lad the most apprehension. They
had taxed their resources 10 the utzaost
Ths3 lad ss1lct uFcl .tizsr ir:szii. 6