The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-05-14
,MistellaneOMs.
DIR. JACKS VALENTINE.


together-pretty creatures in the very
first season of their long dresses--the
eldest not quite sixteen. They were all
braids and puffy curls-all loops and
ribbons-an smiles and dimples 1t was
Saturday before Valentines day, in a
certain year of grace, of which will not
give you the precise date, but less than
ten years ago and more than five.
''What are you thinking about, Nell r.
Bertha asked, sitting on the arm of Mel
ly's chair.
"These Valentines" Nelly answered
slowly.
"Well, surely they need not make you
sOber-they are absurd enough" "
eyes, and it's because they are so alb
surd that they make me sober. 1 was
Just wondering why we couldn't Just as
well have done something to help some
body think-to do some good"
''Nelly's heroic ?, cried Kate Greene,
fippantly; 'NIiss Hunt is a moral re
former !"
Nelly blushed from her pretty ears to
the roots of her sunny hair, but her eyes
shone clear, and there was a ring OF
earnestness in her voice as she answered
''You can laugh if you will, but ]
mean what say, and I'm going to try
an experiment I'll write one boy a val
entine, such as think a girl ought tc
write, and I'll send it."
Her task was harder than she had i'm
agined. 1t is only the old, perhaps
who are sage in counsel by nature. Al
any rate to give good advice, did no
come naturally to pretty Nelly. But sh'
had an idea of what she wanted to say
and at last she got it said. She haC
written and rewritten it, and finall,
concluded that she could do no better
and then copied it out into her neates
hand writing before she called the others
It was little stiff, to be sure, an,
preachy and high flown, but it sounde,
like lofty effort and a complete success
to the listening girls. This is what
said: rr~-, 81. ...qr!
MT VALENTINE; You will have plent
Of fine speeches and praises and perhap
Of fun and fancy from others; 30 sha
not give you those--I would have br
one interest in You, namely that 20
be the best boy and the best man Whic
IT is possible for you to become. If 70
arc selfish, if you are indolent, if 20
are mean, you viii never be happy
your own society until you have sunk s
low that you don't know the diferenC
between goodness and badness. But
you set out TO be gentleman and ma
of honor and faithful worker, you wi
do good deeds and live happy life an
be worthy the everlasting esteem of
Your VALENTINE.
Nellie read it with rising color and
little quiver about her mouth whit
Bertha understood; but she read it vii
firm voice and careful, deliberate aceen
Then she said when she had fnisher
81 shall burn up all the rest of my va
entines and send only this one; for it
what mean in earnest, and, as o
Aunty Smoke says, 'H it don't do
good, it can't do no harm"
''To whom shall you send it, dear
Bertha asked gently, a little subdued
Nelly's epistolary success.
'I hadn't made up my mind" Mel
answered thoughtfully; ''they all ne,
it,
''Oh, send it to Jack, cried KIT
Greene, ''He boards with US, and
needs it--bal enough. If ever a b
was fun Of his pranks he is, and if eve
! aboy ytormenteda a girpslife out Jack dc
mine" ~.
A color clear and fright as haI
glowed on Nelly Hunts cheeks. II
she had dark-eyed Jack in her mind