, 1875-02-14
ST. VALENTINES DAY.
Tender Memories that Cling
Around It.
It's History and Qrigin---special
ObserVanCes,

It's History and 0rigin---specia
ObserVanCes.
Valentine Parties Across the Water
Reader, canst thou remember thy first intro
ductlon to ST. Valentine I do not mean th,
first 14tt Of February that passed over thy bals
and unreasouing poll after thy entrance into tht
ereen-room Of lite's great theatre, when thor
liest rupicund and puny-fsced infant, "mavl
ing and pqking in thy nurses arms, but ths,
eventful one whereon thou frat learned the
meaning and mission of St. Valentines Day
Dost thou recall the blissful era, aud the emo.
tions that it Awakened in thy young soul Car,
| thy case-hardened and world-deadened and
world-deadened heart now renew in inas.
ination those delightful sensations that it knew
"When all the world and love were young J"
All! the beauty and the sweetness Of the first
love! Thou coudst never forget it's thrill, we're
tho burden aud years Of care upon thee tenfo1d
| greater than it is.. Her name Was Mary Ann
Jones. She was the daughter Of Deacon Jones,
hatched-faced, sour-1ooking man, who lived in
brick house On the hill overlooking tho village,
and had the reputation OF being mora powerful
in prayers and sharper at driving = bargain than
any ono else iu all Russyil1e. These facts arc
dim and misty in thy mind, but no cloud OF
forgetfulness CASTS it's shadow over the picture
Of Mary Ann herself ~ she appeared to thy shy
gfa"ces ACROSS the aialo that separated the boys
and tue girls "sldes"a at tue village school, and
as thou treasurest her portrait IN thy memory
still. The sweet little baby face with its peach
blossom checks and rosebud lips, the little chin
that dimpled 60 prettily when she smiled, the
beautiful eyes, whose soft blue tint always
caused thee 10 think Of the forget-me-nots that
grew in the summer time BY the sido or the
woodland brook, and, framing the picture,
mass Of cu.is uf epua sold,--oh, well dost thou
remenbcr all the details that made up the bent
iiio vision! With elf,s Of spplee ros sy~cheekea
BaIdHins and yellow pippins, aud sticks Of red
aod-w1ite candy, thine all-absorblng devotion
was feebly told, bnt oil how d,dst
thou long for courage to speak Of
that devotion. that deep lore that consumed thy
and dare net, So dldat thou Aa.l with delight
the blessed inspiration 'ha: suggested
rAE MISSION OF THE VALENTINE.
It was lovely token, for which thou d,dst part
with long-treasured two. shilling piece, aud
thought such beauty and art chtaplY bought.
Upon tue spotless white Of the paper beautiful
flagree depicted wreaths OF flowers and billing
doves. aud the plumpest OF infant Cupids, each
OF whom carried bow as large - hlnself, and
qu'Ter niled to oYeFaoNmR With arrows. while
above all we're two large hearts OF gold trans-
fixed upon skewec. Below there was clear,
smooth space for veree, on which thy trembling
hand wrote, in letters that alas! eprawleG over
the fair gingerbread Wo:k on each side:
Tho rose is red,
The yioet's tlue,
Sugar is sweet,
and 30 a1e you.
To this original and affecting sentiment thou
didst yanly long to add IN, asse resat1on With IA:
gard to yonr poor pen and paIIid ink-in snita Of
the TACT that it was writing iuid Of rba hiackest
sort-couuled with an assnrance Of Inv nndving
love- but the already covered SPACE Tould not
admit it. and so with stch didst thon non fold
the tell-tale muesive IL d piece Of white paper.
aud lay it in her desk, between friendly reader
until ihs moment whcu the childish hauds
FOUND AND uSFoLpEp THE rREAsuRE
How did the bot blood rush into thy
cheeks, AZ g1anc,ng from behind tue
kindly shelter Of DaEoll thou sawest the look
Of delight ilradiate the beautiful face, and then
the blue eyes raised we're turned to thine WITH
such look Of trusting love and gratltude-dld
she not know then noue othercould have given
the beautiful Talent1ne?-Whl]e the glowing
cheeks ans wered thiua with blush az ruddy
school, when thou walkest homevard by her
side did not ahe Gay
Ali, me! All that was long ago, and Mary
Ann in iaterd4ys, dcyelored frightful tendency |
to freckles, aud that BABY nose took on an !
ominous sharpness. aud she married, at !
last, red-Leadcd young farmer, and |
aud cares soon obhterated
tho last lingering trace of the beauty ]
That thy soul had n Norshiped. Put that was long
after thou hadst left Russsile to win thy way
ID tue great world, wherein thou hadst found
many another fair face to worshlp. At last, too,
fidst thou find what thou hadst sought for long,
\ fair face whose shadowing ringlets mocked
,hee not all in win with their hue, but whose
ustre family told thee OF gold in hidden Golfers
hat ahe-a lowered brile-would bring thee.
and 80 thy tender heart nas soon
1oCcuEp BIZ THE ARROW OF CUPID,
Ind the rich mans daughter WAS easily won,
md - pray thee pardon me- gentle sit, |
will make no further disclosures II you OBJ
ect you are welcome to turn the next leaf at
;our leisure =
So dnes fate Arrange thincs for us sl1. and in
s sEutc Al-~~