Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-06-13
SCISSORS.

SCISSORS.
We realized that the SHOWS OF
January had melted and vanished
under the influence of the February
thaw. Far and near tidings came
of streams over-fuil and bridges
swept away. The serc, yellow mea-
dows assumed a tint of just percept-
ible freshness, and the sun lifted the
shining wells of moisture from their
surface; all things seemed prepar-
ing for the spring. St. Valentines
day dawned with n pink, cloudless
sky, an air filed with summer
warmth and balm; fiocks Of birds
fiuttered and chirped; the trees were
alive with song.
"Wc shall pay for this" several
people said as they shook their ex-
perienced heads. But no shadow
dimmed the radiant morning to lit
tie Mollie Gale, as she woke from
her slumbers smiling like n child.
And why should she not smile?
Long pink rays streamed through
the blinds and tinged the wall oppo-
site. A new day had begun-a.day
which was sure to be beautiful; and
Mollie, fortunately for herself, was
neither old enough nor wise enough
to comprehend that dreary alchemy
which distills the atom of bitter
from the ounce of sweet, and, groan-
ing over the unpalatable drop,
leaves the rest untasted and forgot
ten.
"Valentine's Day." she said, half
aloud, as she smoothed the last long
curl, and laid down her brush. "No
chance for valentines here in the
country, but I'll try my fate out OF
the window, anyhow"
So, wrapping her dressing-gown
closer, she went across the room
and opened the window. The cur
tains hung in long, heavy folds.
She parted them, and, shutting her
eyes tight, said the old rhyme:
'Good st. Valentine. list to me,
Dear St. Valentine, let me see. .
Who shall my future husband be:'
Three times she repeated the
spell; then, popping her pretty head
out of the window, she opened her
eyes wide.
At first, half-blinded by the daz-
zling day, she saw nothing. Then
a figure became visible long way
off up the road.
"Therc really is somebody" Mol
lie thought, with certain surprise.
A passer-by was not by any means
a thing of course in that region.
"How funny he looks!" she medi-
tated. "What's that he's got with
him?-a bicycle?" "No, l don't
think he's a bicycle. What is it?
He's coming directly here, too"
She watched the advancing form
with little heartbeat, as it drew
nearer. "Good gracious'' cried
Mollie, with a scream of laughter,
ats scissors-grlnder!" And she
drew in her head with pout and a
flush of comical vexation. st. Val
cntine was evidently out of his reck-
oning for once.
"Scissors!" cried a voicc-a lond,
gay voice, with a decided Hibcrian
accent. The wheel had stopped
beneath the window. "Any scissors
to grind, ma'am, or knives, or raz-
ors?" went on the man, craning
his neck to catch glimpse of the
face above him. "Put an excellent
edge on 'em, ma'am, and charge
most reasonable. Pray give en-
ployment to poor man, my lady"
Mollie could just see the top of his
head; the voice amused her.
CATER ALL" she said to herself,
with pettish shrug, "it isn't the
the poor mans fault"
await moment, and / will see
if there is anything" she called out,
and down stairs she went.
"Aunty," tapping at the door,
"didn't you say you wanted your
shears sharpencd, and the carving
knife? Well, there's scissors
grinder below who will do them."
"You are very thoughtful, Mollie.
Yes, there are several things. Here
they arc" half opening the door,
"will you take them down to the
man, for Pm not dressed? Why,
dear me, you're in your dressing
gown yourself, Mollie-"
$50 l AMI forgot-but never
mind, aunty, it's good enough for a
scissors-grihder. l don't believe
he'll be shocked in the least" And
indeed there was very little to shock
a scissors grinder, or "any other
man." in the dainty 2oeignoir of blue
flannel with it's pinkcd ruffling and
open front, revealing a glimpse Of
snow-white petticoat. A more be-
coming costume could scarcely have
been devised. Perhaps our little
maiden was aware of the fact.
The grinder had taken up his po-
sition on the front steps.
"Here," said Mollie, opening the
door, "my aunt would like these put
in order. And please be careful of
the carver"
Two naughty dimplcs came into
her cheeks as she thus confronted
her unlikely valentine, and the voice
tremblcd slightly with secret laugh
ter. He was young man, and very
good looking, and now she saw him
closer.
"Arrah, miss, the howly saints
reward you'll" The Irish tone was
so very broad that it sounded like a
farcical imitation. Mol.ie could not
refrain from smiling; and CLINT OF