The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-03-16
what Came Of A Valentine.
A PRETTY STORY.

On the evening of the 18th of February
1850, two young men sat in comfortably
furnished room in large New York board
ing house. A bright fire glowed in th,
CRATE; well chosen engravings .adnr ned tht
walls and bright light diffused about the
room from an Argand burner.
Let me introduce the occupants of the
apartment as Tom Stacy and John Wilbur
young men of twenty-five or therea bouts
who We're known in business circles as Sta.
cy d Wilbur. retail dry good dealers. No.
Broadway. They had not been in business
long, but were alr"ady doing unusually
well They had taken apartments together
one of which is now presented to the read.
er.
"Has it occurred to you Wilbur" asked
his partner. removing his q gaf, and knock
ing away the ashes, tomorrow is st. Val
entine's dav?'
Yes, thought oft this afternoon as !
was walking up from the store
SO did I, and to some purpose TOO, as !
will show you aa
Tom Stacy went toa drawer and drew
out gorgeous valentine, an elaborate com.
bination of hearts. doves. ETC.
What do you think I gave for that ?? h,
asked
i don't know I'm sure. 1t appears t.
be very elegant
1T cost me ten dollars.
'Whew = whistied Wilbur. 1t strikes
me you are either very extravagant or yer,
devoted. May know what fair damsel i
to be made glad by the receipt OF this els
CANT missive p
That's my secret said Tom laughing
Il don's mind telling you, however. It's t,
go to Edith Castleton.'
4 presume you feel particularly interest
ed in the young lady
Not al all. But I told her would senC
her a valentine ct la ooila SHAFT yot
conform to the custom ofthe day?'
bad not. thon,ht Of it, sa,i Johr
though fully but believe | will
And what fair lady Will you select as th
recipient 7?
You fenemher ths poor scamstress VIII
occupies an attic in the house ?
Yes, lave snet her on the stairs 40 o
three times
She looks as iftimes were hard with her
| think III send her valentine
And what good do you think it will d.
her ? asked Stacy, in surprise.
Wait till you see the kind of valentine
will send
Wilbur went to his desk and taking on
a sheet of note paper drew from his porte
monnaie en- dollar bill, wrapped it in tn
paper, on which he had previously written
From St. Valentine and placed the Who'll
in the envenlope.
There, said he, 'my valentine has cos
as much as yours. and venture to say
| will be as welcome
You are right. Iwish now had no
bough. this costly trihe. However, as it i
purchased will send it,
The next day dawned clear and frosty.-
It was lively enough Cor those who sa: b,
comfortable fires and dined at luxurious ia
bles. but for the poor who shared none Q
these advantages 1t was indeed bite
day.
In an attic room. meanly furnished sat
young girl. pale apd thin. She was cover
ing over scsnty wood fire, the best sh
could afford, which heated the room yer,
insufficiently. She was sewing steadily
shivering from time to time as the col,
blast shook the windows and found its wa,
through the crevices
| Poor child r Life had very black aspec
for her on that winter day. She was alon
in the world. There was absolutely no on
on whom she could call for assistance thougl
she needed it sorely enough. The though
came to her more than once In her discom
fort rs it worth while to live any longer
But she reeoiled from the sin of suicide
She might starve 10 death, but she woul,
not take the life God had given her,
Plunged in gloomy thought she continues
to work. All at once step was heard as
cending the staircase which led to her room
Then there was knock at the door. She
arose in some surprise and opened it. think
ing must be the landlady or one of the ser
wants.
She was right. 1t was servant.
Here's letter for you that the postboy
just brought. Miss Norris
"A letter for me ? repeated Helen Morris
in surprise, taking ii from the seavane
hand. sWho can have written t, mey
Maybe it's q valentine, Miss, said th
girl laughing. You know this is Valen
tines day. More ty token, I've got tw'
myself this morning Ones karaksr (car
feature y W mistress calls it. Just look at
it,