Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-08-24
A True Story.

comfortably furnished room in a New
York clearinghouse. A bright fire
gloWed in the CRATE, Well-chosen en-
cravings adorned the walls, and a
bright light was 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
thereabouts, who were known in the
business circles as Stacy & Wilbur,
retail dry goods dealers, No.-,Broad-
way. They had not been in business
long, but were already doing unusual
ly well. They had taken apartments
together, one of which is now present
ed to the reader.
"Has it occurred to you, Wilbur" "
asked his partner, removing his cigar,
and knocking away the ashes, f,that
tomorrow is Valentines day p
eyes, | 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 a drawer, and
drew out a gorgeous valentine, an
aIa I,r.a+, I,:.Is4 tioIl l.t,s.tt= Io>
etc.
"What do you think l gave for that, "
he asked.
II don't know, I'm sure. Itappears
te be very elegant"
at cost me ten dollars" ,"
"Wheww whistled Wilbur. Il t
strikes me you are either every ex-
travagant or very devoted. May |
know what fair damSel is to be made
glad by the receipt Of this elegant
missive ?"
That's my secret" said Tom laugh
ing, 4 don't mlnd telling you, how
ever. It's to go to Edith Castleton. "
T presume you feel particularly in
terested in the young lady ?"
"Not at all. But told her | would
send her a valentine, ct Ia Ueto! Shan't
you conform to the custom Of the day 2"
Il had not thought of it" said John,
thoughtfully, abut believe | will"
"And what fair lady shall you Sc
lect as the recipient"
"You remember the poor seam
stress who occupies an attic in the
house ?"
"Yes, I have met her on the steps
two or three times"
"She looks as if times were hard
with her. | think ] will send her a
valentine"
"And what good do you think it
will do her p asked Stacy in sur
prise.
AWAIT till you see the kind of val
entine | will send"
Wilbur went to his desk, and tax
ing out sheet Of paper, drew from
his portemonnaie q ten dollar bill,
wrapped 1t in the paper on which he
had previously written "From St. Val
entine," and placed the whole in an
envelope.
There" said he, "my valentine has
cost as much as yours, and | venture
to say it will be as welcome"
"You are right wish now l had
not bought this costly trife. How
ever, as it is purchased, | will send
it,"
The next day dawned clear and
frosty. 1t was lively enough for those
who sat by comfortable fires and dinet
at luxurious tables, but for the poo
who shared none Of these advantage
it was indeed a bitter day.
Imam attic room, meanly furnished
sat a young girl, pale and thin. Sh'
was covering over a scanty woo(
fire, the best she could afford, whicl
heated the room very insufficiently.-
She was sewing steadily, shiverinI
from time to time as the cold bias
shook the window and found its wa
through the crevices.
Poor child! Life had very blac
aspect for her on that winter day
She was alone in the world. Their
was absolutely no one whom she coul'
call for assistance, though she needle
it sorely enough. The thought cam
,, to her more than once in her discon
: fort, lis it worth while living any lol
; ger ?p But she recoiled from the 81
, of suicide. She might starye to dealt
: but she would not take the life thu
God had given her. 80
:, Plunged in gloomy thought she CO..
tinued to work. All at once ste