St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-02-23
Ifor Mr Children.
Ricketts, Valentine.

vas ended. 1t was pretty hard Work:
She stuck her fingers INTO her ears. ana I
rocked two and fro in her seat (Which |
is such IA help i'll study lng geography
you know repeating over and over III
.iur-sonu .'O-ri-nO-cO. ''O-rl-no-ro.
,.Pcr-nam- bu-co." PEI Imam -hl-co:
but III spite of simg-song and stopped
ears. the noises in the >chool-room
rould yet in and distract her And lie
sides. there were Minnie, and Floss.
and Sarah Clarke whispering secrets.
with their heads close together. just he
hind. and whenever she forgot and tool.
ont II finger the buzz. buzz OF their
voices crcpt in. and all the Drin"c"> III
the world couldn't keep her from feel
ing interested.
At last Il word came, spoken louder
than the rest. and Dai>y took G't both
fingers to listen, and. forgetting geo
graphy. began to listen in real earnest.
for the word was "Rickct.
I'm afraid he'll feel bad. Floss was
saving III thoughtful way.
"Oh, he won't cry. said Minnie CON F.
tidently. Hell hc Just Il little mad at
first. and then he'll laugh. And 1t : $"
funny. | cant keep from gi@gllng right
out when think how he'll feel when ir
tears it opem. And 50 saying She eau
tiously produced Il paper, aud Daisy.
whose curiosity was now thoroughly cX-
cited, managed to peep round the cor
ner of her desk without being seen. and
beheld fIighttul pictW" of dwarf
with big hump OH his back. and cap
on his head. He was dressed i'll yellow
trousers and Il red jacket. Il pipe vas III
his mouth. one yellow leg was kicked
strangely out into the air, and Ill the
hand was IL paper on which was writ
ten. in pencil, these words:-
"Rickety. Eickety Erook-
That is the way You look.
AT this sight Daisy's checks flushed.
and her soft blue eyes filled suddenly
with tears She understood II ali nov.
Tomorrow was 81. Valentines Day,
and these unkind girls were gong To
send that hurrid thing t" poor Rlchie
Brook. whom the less considerable chill
dren sometimes called "Ri"ket. be
cause of the disease under which he la
bored. Richie had Il pale, ugly face,
and legs which .jerkcd about 5" FUNNY
that even Daisy herself could hardly
help from smiling sometimes: but II
was good, patient little fellow, and
his mother. Mrs. Brook. was one of the
best. most Woodworking women III
town. Daisy had heard her mamma
say so, and thc very idra of thi> cruel
thing being sent to veX them both made
her heart swell with Indignation.
"How shall we send it I asked Min
ME.
Sarah'S answer WAS whispered ~, low
Il. i
only words Daisy caught. What >b"HId
she DOE She was little Sirl and the
others were big.
Isn't it too mcom.'' She rndcd, Iith
her honest blue EYES shining with indiI
nation.
Then she and Unvle Tom psi their
heads together. and c"nroctcd It plan
which YOU shall hear Il little-tarthcr GA.
That evening. Just after dusk. three
little figures stole cautlUusl! oat al My.
Clarke's back gate. and across to Mrs
Brooks cottage. which was gust "pp"-
site. With great deal Of gig@llhg
they tied Il big cnvel"D" to thr G""r-
handle, and then giving knock they
skurried across the street again. nnt
fastened the gate behind them. Hap
pilv the knock was not loud. So il only
half aroused Mrs. Brook, who had iill-
en- into a dose before the tire, aud a.
Rirkct was washing the tea-thlngS. a.
tall, mysterious somebody who hiG
been lurking round the corner of the
house for at least half an hour, had
time to hurry forward. unite tn" cnN"l-
ope, tie on another, set small basket
on the step. give Il louder rap. and dis
appear, all before Ricket got to the
door
whats that p said Mrs Brook. hall
awake.
"I-don't-kuow." replied Rlckct.
doubtiully, as he peeped out. wv NY
how queer" for the packages tied to
the knob swung round and hit him on
the kuuckles. And here's Somcthln.
else" he exclaimed. spying the basket.
Isn't it strange What do YOU sup
pose it can he. mother !!
BY this time Mrs. Brook was as wide
awake as anybody. And when the
things were set on the table. she and
Ricket stood and looked at them Il min,
ute without daring to open them. What
was it ! Something pleasant, or some
thing unpleasant ?
80 mother, | smell flowers cried
Ricket ut last. with Il smile going ali
over his pale little face.
So he lifted the lid. And then he
gave cry of joyful surprise. for there
on top lay delicious. great crcam-
colored rose, just below was Il sprig
of gcranirIm and another of heliotrope,
and there was. besides, Cape. jeSsamine
mignonette. and | can't tell you how
many other lovely flowers. Their stems
were tied with pink ribbon, and un
derneath all lay great bunch OF white
grapes. tr. r--a . ...
On the handle of the basket was {;
card. 1t only said, est. Valentine:
compliments to Richie Brook. Blu,
don't think the longest letter could hay,
made Ricketts, eyes sparkle more JOY
ously. You see the poor fellow haC
never had il valentine before Ia all hl'
life.
The other package was four little
notes, each written on paper of Il differ
ent color, and tied together with ribbon
One was pink, one blue, one yellow, an,
one green. Richie opened the pink one
first. 1t had picture ut the top of =;
mouse and lion, and below were Ties
verses:
Il am a little mouse
Only that
Chased about the house
By the
But small as | am.
Weak and shy,
have sharp little teeth
And bright eye.
Il can when the great
Are in pain,
can gnaw for a friend
At chain