Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-04-14
MISCELLANEOUS.
What Came OF John Wilbur's
Valentine.

On tee evening OF the 18th OF Feb
ruary, 1850, two young men sat in a
comfortably furnished room in large
New York boarding house. A bright
fire glowing in the CRATE, well-chosen en-
cravings adorned the walls, and a bright
light was dii'uscd about the room from an
Argand burner.
Let me Introduce the occupants of the
apartment as Tom Stacy and John Wilbur,
young n.en of twenty-five or thereabouts
who were known in business circles as
Stacy and Wilbur, retail dry goods deal
ers. No. -, Broadway. They had not
been in business long, but were already
doing unusually well. They had taken
apartments together, one of which is now
presented to the reader
''las it occurred to you, Wilbur y
asked his partner, removing his cigar
and knocked away the ashes, tomorrow
is St. Valentines day? p
''Yes thought Of it this afternoon, as
was walking up from The Store
$50 did l, and to some purpose, too
as will show you"
Tom Stacy went to a drawer and drew
out gorgeous valentine, an elaborate
combination of hearts, doves, etc.
What do you think gave for that p
he asked
Il don't know, I'm sure. 1t appears
to be very elegant"
1T cos, me ten dollars"
"Whew!" whistled Wilbur. "It
strikes me you are either very extrava-
CANT or very devoted. May / know wha,
fair damsel is to be made glad by the re-
ceipt of this elegant missive p
That's my secret" said Tom laugh
ing, Il don't mind telling you, however.
It's to 60 to Edith Castleton."
II presume you feel particularly in.
tcrcstcd in the young lady!'
mot at all. But told her l VT uld
send her valentine, ct Ia rioia. Shan
you conform to the custom of the day y
Il had not thought Of it before" saiu
John, thoughtfully, ':bpt l believe
will"
"And what fair lady will you select as
the recipient p
You remember the poor seamstress,
who occupies the attic in the house."
You, l have met her on the stairs
two or three times"
"She looks as if times were hard with
her. think I'll send her valentines"
"And what good do you think it will
do her?'' asked Stacy, in surprise.
Wait till you see the kind of valentine
| will send"
Wilbur went to his desk, and taking
out sheet of note paper, drew from hi.
portmonnia ten dollar bill, wrapped i,
in the paper, on which he had pre-, 10 usly
written, "From st. Valentine" anu
placed the whole in an envelope. ...
There" said he, ':my valentine has
cost me as much as yours, and venture
to say will be as Welcome"
"Yes you are right. l wish now
had not bought this costly triAe. How
ever, as it 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 dined at luxurious
tables, but for the p9or who shared none
of these advantages, it was indeed a bit
ter day. .-..
An attic room, meanly furnished, sat a
young girl. pail and thin. She was cow
ering over a scanty wood fre--the best
she could afford-which heated the room
very insufficiently. She was sewing
steadily. shivering from time to time as
the cold blasts shook the windows and
found its way through the creyices.
Poor child Life has very black
aspect for her on that winter day. She
was alone in the world. There was abb
solutely no one on whom she could call for
assistance, though she needed it sorely
enough. The thought came to her more
than once in her discomfort: ., 35
'Is il worth while living any longer p
But she recoiled from the sin Of suicide
She might starve to death. but she you'd
not take the life that God had given her.
Plunged in gloomy thought, she con-
tinued to work. All at once step was
heard ascending the stairway which led
to her room. Then there was q knock at
the door. She rose in some surprise and
opened it, thinking it must be the land
lady or one Of the servants. She was
light. 1t was . servant. =,
Here's letter for you that the post.
boy just brought, Miss Morris"
"a letter, for me p repeated Helen
Morris, in surprise. taking it from the
servant's hand. "Who can have written
to me ~