Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-02-18

take it out, mother" afraid to touch it
with his not sover-cleau hands.
But don't think for moment, because
TOMS hands were not quite clean, thai
Tom was an untidy boy; far from it. He'd
been playing Snowfall, " and you know
that often little mud ge is mixed up with
the snow, and fellow snow balling isn't
apt to stop to pick and choose.
The mite Of a woman-she wasn't BIT
taller than Tom, and he was only clever
! years old-took out the valentine. 1t hac
| a wide lace border. and around some YER
ses, which were written in a girls hand in
the centre Of the page, ran wreath OF ro-
ses and forget-me-nots, with cunning wee
birds peeping from behind the leaves, and
a dear little Cupid sitting on the largest
rOSe
"Phew ~ said Tom, ''isn't that mag ~
he meant s'magniicent''-ss cad it, little
mother"
ssLittle mother'' began:
ITO Tom Hall, that's me, sure
enough" said Tom; ego on, dear.''
"Tom Hall is inst the dearest boy
That ever T did know,
His hair is golden like the SUM-
''1hat amt me, though" interrupted
Tom, 'smy top-knot's black"
"His eyes like stars to glow,
And then he always is so kind
And has pleasant smile'-
"I'hat's you." the reader stopped to s;ay,
looking fondly at her boy.
"And speaks so sweet-I love him well,
And love him all the whie.'
''There must be some mistake here,
Tom" said she, when she had finished.
s'Why, mother?" asked sister Debby,
who had come out of the small room back
read the valentine.
"Well, in the first place." said Tom,
making comical face, ''my hair amt
golden"
'Oh that was put in because it sound
ed pretty, said Deb. "They most always
have golden hair in poetry and pictures
And how can there be any mistake when
there's your name on the cover of the box,
as plain as the nose on your face-T-o-m
Hall 2"
''That's So" said Tom, running his fin
gers through his curly hair, and making
it stand up all around his head in the fun
NEST manner.
II can't make it OUT" persisted the lit
tie mother, "but there's mistake som e.
where. Not that Tom don't deserve such
such a valentine, for he does," she con-
tinued, with a finish of pride, 'sbut we don't
know anybody who could Afford"
1.-THE potatoes! the potatoes!' cried Deb,
II smell 'em scorching,' and away she
flew to save the dinner, and that endet the
for awhile at least.
The next day, just about dinner-ti me
again, well-dressed, handsome boy. 18th
golden hair and soft, brown eyes, rusl led
into the mite of a store.
s'Did valentine come here yesterd; ~,
directed to Tom Hall 20 asked he, il l a
pleasant voice.
eyes," answered the little widow.
Well, Pm afraid III have to claim. it,
though do see the same name, With Tive
addition Of an L., over your shop 6loor.
1t was sent by my cousin Fannie, and the
dear little girl forgot to put the Who'll di-
rection on it-only wrote the name. You
see, she never sent valentine efore
and so they looked in the Dire Glory
and my fathers name being Reginald [, the
postman brought it here"
AS the new Tom Hall finished his come
what confused, but very boyish EXP DANA
ton, the old Tom came whistling in,. and
Deb brought out the valentine, her lips
quivering as she said: "And so it isn't
our Toms after all, and he's so kind and
good, just what the poetry says, If he
hasn't got golden hair.''
Tom blushed at his sisters praise. and
the other Tom looked at him keenly.
81 knew there must be some mis- Jake, y
said the gentle little mother; mot. tina
my Tom does not deserve it, but w know
no one who could buy such be autifuI
81 say" said golden-haired Toni, look
ing at them curiously, ''isn't it jolly fun
there being two Tom Halls. Perha .ps we're.
some relation"
ooh no indeed" said Mrs. Hall; tive,
have no relations in this country"
care you quite sure Of it," the BOY rat
tied on. II should like to see Toms faith
er and ask him myself.'
''He died last Summer said curly head
ed Tom, speaking for the fiji st time, while
tears sprang to his mothers eyes.
Brown-eyed Tom grew serious. "I'm
awful sorry" he said, Sand ! wo' didn't
take the valentine, only Fan woNld be al
most broken hearted if she thought I didn't
get it-she made the verses out of he own
head. She's very smart little CIR |, and
we're very fond of each other"
"Oh!' said the other Tom, ssyounre well
come to it. What would fellow want
with another fellows Yalantina2,.