The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-02-27
VALENTINES DAY.

Dectr mrs. Ou1ilcQy:-ln looking over
an old porto-folio this morning, dis
covered in pocket of it the aceompa-
nying verses, and the incident it brings
to mind being apropo of the cause of the
the age, | will relate it. When my sis
ter, Meta Victoria Victor, and myself
were girls, we had a married friend Of
whom we were very fond, and when we
made any little soeiable at our house al
ways invited Mrs. Chamberlin. Her
husband never objected to her going
out, but an old bachelor friend of hers,
and ours, did. He held that married
woman and mother had no right to ab-
sent herself from home to attend any
party whatever. On Valentine Eve a
party was given when il was agreed that
all our valentines should be read out be-
fore the company. Our bachelor friend
read this one, which my mischievous
sister had sent him, albeit the woman
had not yet asked for suffrage:
Mrs. John d.
Chamberlin, she,
Being the mother of children three,
Is fulfilling her mission as fast as she can
According 10 Scripture as preached by man;
She fits and sews
The braids and bows
In beautiful, elegant, splendid rows
Around and over her children's clothes.
She teaches them all, with patient care,
Their A B C's and their evening prayer.
With butter and bread
They all are fed
Six times a day, and then sent to bed;
While she patches the rents with needle and
thread,
And thinks of the eurls on the little head
Other darling, dear, delectable Fred.
Mrs. John d.
Chamberlin, she,
although the mother of children three,
Sometimes with an intellectual fit
Is taken, and when in the midst of it,
AstOunds us all with her sense and wit.
Poor little dears!
We all have fears
That her babies will soon be left TO their tears
For woman that knows twice two is four
Is fit for a wife and mother no more.
And, ah, 'tis said
That having some red
Trimming to sew on n frock for Fred,
She put on two rows, and then two rows more,
And counting them over made out there wer
fouri-
without asking her man, who was down a
the store.
Ever since then,
1t is feared by men
That she will discover twice five is ten;
And should she do it, farewell, John d.
I n raarn oud errn fort M l,o.v,,a e. H.,
| And children all, you may scream and squal
[ Il is Kitty alone who will come at your call.
/ But though troubles fast on the rest may raj
II is Mrs. John D. who will feel most pain;
And dark and dreary Will be the day
| on which she shall learn, as perchance sh
| may,
That the dream Of her youth has passed away
Dark, desolate,
/ VIII be the fate
/ or the woman who learns, be il soon or late,
That the story so framed her fancy to please
Is fllse-and the moon is not made OF greel
! cheese.
/ SO, Mrs. John D.,
| Listen to me,
In the name OF your husband and childrel
| three:
| II you would thrive
You must contriye
To act as if twice two were 1--WE;
/ Unless John ID.
Chamberlain, he,
Would rather you should think II were three
At the close OF day,
Should you chance to stray
Beside the river, and you should say,
"What is that lovely thing, my dear,
That hangs up in heaven, so round and clear?
| Up TO the skies
Should he raise his eyes,
And looking solemn, sublime and w.se,
Say: "That, my darling, that hangs above
That-let's see-is cheese, my love-"
SIS it 9' you must reply; chow nicei
/ wish we both of US had a slice"
Venture no other reply to make,
For your happiness then will be at stake.
Now, Mrs. John ID.
Chamberlain, be
Sure that you take this advice from me,
/ For the Innocent sakeS OF your children thre'