The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-04-06
A True story.

cravings adorned the walls, and n
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
cd to the reader.
HAS it occurred TO you, Wilbur,
asked his partner, removing his cigar
and knocking away the ashes, chat
tomorrow is ST. Valentines Day"
eyes, l thought of it this afternoon,
as l was walking an lrom the store
$50 did /, and to some purpose too,
MS l will show you
Tom Stacy went to drawer, and
drew ont a gorgeous valentine, an
elaborate combination of hearts,
doves, etc.
"What do you think 1 gave for
that?' he asked,
II don't know, I'm sure. 1t appears
to be very elegant? p
cit cost me ten dollars
"Whewr whistled Wilbur 1T
strikes me you are either very extrav-
agant or very devoted May l know
what fair damsel is to be made glad
by the receipt Of this elegant missive p
THAT'S my secret, said Tom, laugh
ing. Il don't mind telling you, how
ever. It's to go to Edith Castleton.'
II presume you feel particularly in
terested in the young lady p
"Not at all But l told her / would
send her valentine, Ct Ia roto :
Shan't you conform to the custom Of
the day p
Il had not thought of it, said John,
thoughtfully, "but I believe | will
"And what fair lady shall You Sc
lect as the recipientf'
"You remember the poor seamstress,
who occupies an attic III the house.
YES, l 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
viii do her r asked Stacy in surprise.
"Wait till you see the kind of valen-
tine / win send
Wilbur went to his desk, and tax
ing out sheet of paper, drew from
his portemonnaie ten-dollar bill,
wrapped it in the paper on which he
had previously written From st. Val
entine, and placed tile whole III 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 | had
not bought this costly trihe. However,
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 dined
at luxurious tables, but Tor the poor
who shared none of these advantages
it was indeed bitter day.
In an attic room, meanly furnished
sat young girl, pale and thin She
was covering over scanty wood fire,
the best she could afford, which heat
ed The room very insuiliciently. She
was sewing steadily, shivering from
time to time as the cold blast shook
the window and found its way through
the crevices.
Poor child Life had very black
aspect for her on that winter day.
She was alone in the world There
was absolutely no one ION whom she
could call for assistance, though she
needed it sorely enough. The thought
came to her more than once in her dis
comfort, us it worth while living any
longer p But she recoiled from the
sin of suicide. She might starve to
death, but she would not take the ifo
that God had given her.
Plunged in gloomy thought she con-
tinued to work All at once a step
was heard ascending the staircase
which led to her room. Then there
was knock at her door. She arose
in some surprise aud opened it, think
ing it must be the landlady or one of
her servants.
She was right. 1t was a servant.
Here's a letter for you that the
post boy just brought. Miss Morris"
"a letter for me !" repeated Helen
in surprise, taking it from the SER
wants hand. "Who can have written
to me p
Maybe it's valentine, Miss" said
the girl laughing. You know this is
Valentines Day. More by token, I've
got two myself this morning. Ones a
karakter (caricature p so mistress
calls it. just look at it."
Bridget displayed highly embel-
lished pictorial representation of fe-
male hard at work at the wash tub,
the cast of beauty being decidedly Hi
/ bernian.
Helen Morris laughed absently, but
did not open her letter while Bridget
remained-a little to the disappoint-
ment of that curious damsel.
Helen slowly opened the envelope.
A bank note of ten dollars dropped
from it on the floor.