Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1864-05-07

On the evening of the 18th Of February
1850, two young men eat in comfortably
furnished room in large New York
boarding house. A bright fire glowed in
the CRATE, we'll chosen engravings adorn>
ed tho walls, aud bright light was difi'us.
ed about the room from an Argand burner
Let me introduce the occupants of the
apartment as Tom Stacy aud John Wilbur,
young men of twenty. FIVE or thereabouts,
who were known in business circles as
Stacy & Wilbur, retail dry goods dealers,
No, Broadway. They had not been
doing unusually we'll. They had taken
apartments together, one Of which is now
presented to the reader.
HAS i. occurred to you, Wilbur asked
his partner, removing his cigar, and knock.
ing away the ashes, ito morrow is Saint
Valentines day? p
Yes, | thought Of it this afternoon, as
was walking up from the store"
$50 did |, and to some purpose too, as
will show you
Tom Stacy went to drawer and drew
ou, gorgeous valentine, an elaborate
combination Of hearts, doves, etc.
What do you think l gave for ,hat??'
he asked.
II don't know, I'm sure. 1t appears 10
be very elegant
lit cost NE ten dollars.'
'Whew !" whistled Wilbur. ut strikes
me you are either very extravagant or
very devoted, May know what fair dam.
sci is to be made glad by the receipt of
this elegant missive?'
That's my secret, said Tom, laughing.
Il don't mind telling you, however. It's
to go to Edith Cas,le,on.'
II presume you feel particularly inter.
ested in the young lady?'
Not at all. But l told her l would
send her valentine, ct la roUa! Shan't
We conform to the custom Of the day -
IL had not thought Of it, said john,
thoug ghtfuiIy, "but believe l wil.'
Aud what fair lady will you select as
the recipient?'
"You remember the poor seamstress
who occupies an attic in the honse?'
='les, have met her Oh the stairs two
or three times"
''She looks as if times were hard with
her. ! think III send her n valantine'
"And what good do you think it will, do
her p asked Stacy, in surprise
''Wait till you see what kind of valen.
tine I will send
Wilbur went to his desk, and taking out
n sheet of note paper, drew from his port.
monnle ten dollar bill, wrapped it in the
paper, on which be had previously written,
From st. Valentine,'' and placed the
whole in an envelope.
"There,' said he, "mv valentine has
cost as much as yours, and | venture to
say it will be as welcome'
You are right. wish now had not
bought this costly trifc. However, as i,
is purchased, l will send it,"
The next day dawned clear and frosty.
1t was lively enough for those who sat by
comfortable fires and dned a. luxurious
tables, but for the poor who shared none
Of these advantages it was indeed q bitter
day.
ia an attic room, meanly > furnished, sat
young girl, pale and thin. She was COW.
ering overa scanty wood fire, the best she
could afford, which heated the room very
insutlicien,,y. She was sowing Steadily
shvering from time to time as the cold
blast shook the windows and found its
way through the creyices.
Poor child! Life had very bleak pros.
pect for her on that winter day. She was
alone liz the world. There was absolutely
no one on whom she could call for assist.
ance, though she needed it sorely enough.
The thought came to her more than once
in her discomfort. us it worth while liv.
ing any longer?' But she recoled from
the sin Of suicide. She might starve 10
DEATH but she would not take the lille tha,
God had given her.
Plunged in gloomy thought, she cont.
nned to work. All ut once step was
heard ascending the staircase which led TO
her room. Then there was a knock at
the door. She arose in some surprise aud
opened il, thinking it must be the land.
lady or one OF the servants.
She was right. /. was a servant.
"Here's n letter for you that the post.
boy just brought, Miss Morris
"A letter for me = repeated Helen MGR.
ris, in surprise. taking it from the servants
hand "Who can have written to mer'
maybe its valentine. Miss" said the
girl. laughing. "lon know this is Valen.
tines day. More Ly token, I've go: two
myself this morning. Ones karakter
(caricature), so mistress calls it,"
Bridget exhibited highly embelished
pictorial representation Of q female hard
at work at the washtub, the cas-, of beauty
being decidedly Hibernian.
Helen Morris laughed absently, but did
not open her letter while Bridget remain
cd--a little to the disappointment Of the
curious damsel
Helen slowly opened the envelope.
A banknotc dropped from it to the
floor. She eagerly read the few words on
the paper--"From St. Valentine
"Heavcn be praised! + she said, folding
her hands gratefully. This sum will ena-
BILE mo TO curry out tho plan had in