The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-03-02
PINK AND BLUE.
"a Valentine Story.)
BY SUSAN COOLIDGE.

lar post-box. One was pink and one was
blue. Pink lay atop, and they cracked
to each other softly in the paper language
invented long since by Papyrus. the faith
er of Manuscript, and used by all written
and printed sheets unto this day. Listen
hard, next time you visit the reading.
room at the Public Library, and you will
hear the newspapers exchanging remarks
across the table in this language.
Said the pink valentine i am prcttier
than you, much prcttier Miss Blue
Blue was modester. 'Thst may bo
true, my dear Miss Pink still, some
folks like blue best, | think, she replied.
Il wonder they should went on Pink,
talking in prose now, for valentines can
speak in prose and in rhyme equally well.
You are such chilly color. Now |
warm people. They smile when they see
me- / like that It is sweet to give
pleasure.
Il like to give pleasure, too said Blue
modestly. And hope may, for some
thing beautiful is written inside me
What 2 oh what p cried Pink.
i cannot say sighed Blue. How can
one tell what is inside one2 But |
know it is something sweet, because
She who sent me here
Is so very fair and dear"
Blue was running into rhyme again, as
valentines will.
Il don't believe word of it, said Pink,
digging her sharp elbow into Blues
smooth side Nothing is written inside
me, and I'm glad Of it. l am too beauti-
full to be written on. In the middle of
my page 8 picture, Cupid, with roses
and doves. Oh, SO fine There is
border too, wreaths of flowers, flowers of
all colors, and motto, "Be mine" BE
mine What can be better than that
Have you got flowers and "Be mine" in
side, you conceited thing? If not, say
so, and be ashamed,as you deserve to be-
Again the pink elbow dented Blues
smooth envelope,
But Blue only shook her head softly,
and made no answer. Pink grew angry
at this. She caught Blue with her little
teeth Of muciage and shook her viciously.
Speak, she said. Il hate your stuck
up, shut.up people, Speak y
But Blue only smiled, and again shook
her head.
Just then. the pillar-post opened with
click. The postman was come. He
scooped up Pink, Blue. and all the other
letters, and put them into his wallet. A
fat yellow envelop Of law.papers separat-
ed the two valentines, and they had no
further talk
Halt.an.hour later, Pink was left at
the door Of grand house, almost the
finest in town. Charles, the waiter, car
red her into tho parlor, and Pink said to
herself: What thing it is to have a
mission. My mission is to give pleas
ure =
"A letter for you, Miss Eva said
Charles. He did not smile. Well.be-
haved waters never smile besides,
Charles did no; like Eva.
Where's your tray?' demanded Eva,
Grossly. You are always forgetting what
mamma told you. Go and get it. But
when she saw Pink in her beautiful en-.
velope, unmistakably valentine, she de.
cided not to wait. Never mind this time,
she said but don't let it happen again.
Who's your letter from, Evy?' asked
grandmamma.
i havn't opened it yet, and | wish you
wouldn't call me Evy it sounds so back
woodsy,' replied Eva. who for some mys.
terious reason, had walked that morning
, very much out of temper.
Eva = said her father. sterDly
Eva had forgotten that papa was there
To hide her confusion, she opened the
pink envelope so hastily as to tear it al
across.
90 dear = she complained Every
: thing goes wrong.
Then she unfolded the valentine Pihl
who had felt as if sword were thrus
through her heart when her envelope wal
= torn. frightened up.
Now she thought, when she secs til,
: flowers, Cupid and doves, she will bt
pleased
But it was not pleasure which shone oil
G Eva's oounterancc.
What's tho matter p asked papa. see
s ing her face swell and angry tears filling
D her eyes.
That horrid Jim Slack = cried Eva
? He said he'd send me valentine Jus
5 like PauliDe's. and he hasn't Hers wa
e all birds and butterflies, and had yerse
Yours seems pretty enough said pap
q consolingly.
= Its not pretty enough, responded Ev
F passionately. Its stupid ugly thing
- - | hate it, won't have it,
And, horrible to state, she flung Pink
actually flung her, into the middle Of tn
;, fire. There was time for but one crack
= ling gasp then the yellow fame seize
and devoured all-Cupid, doves. flowers
Another second, they were gone. !
% black scroll edged with fiery sparkle
l. reared itself up in the midst Of the glow
u then an air current seized it, it rose, an
the soul of Pink few up the chimney.
Is Blue, meantime was lying on the lap c
D, little girl of twelve, mile or NOR
a from this scene of tragedy. Two plum
hands carressed her softly.
!. Sister, may read it to you just ono
% more p begged cosxing voice.
Yes, Pet, once more. Thatll max
five times, and they say there is luck
, odd numbers,' said another voice kin
and gay,
So Pet read
n My dear is like dewy
All in the early morn;
But never on her stem there grows
RI single wounding thorn
l. My dear is like a violet shy
Who hides her in the grass,
And holds fragrant cup on high
!. To bless all men who pass
u My dear is like a merry bird,
My dear 10 like a rill,
Like all sweet things or seen or heard,
III Only she's sweeter still