The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-02-24
NUMBER 8.
gor noung Readt1s.
BELLIES VALENTINE.

As WALTER once said, there was never
any telling what Belle might take it into
her head to do next, but the thing she
did do after her return from Lakeside
was so queer and unexpected that even
Walter had to confess his astonishmcnt
over it.
Ever since old Mr.. Fisher bought her
blackberries and took care of her on that
memorable expedition from Lakeside
| Belle had cherished quite a friendship
for him, and though, as Lettie used to
say, "Mr Fisher did not understand
children at ALL" he liked Belle and petted
her in a kind though puzzled fashion.
But indeed, how could the good man be
expected to understand children? He
had never married, but lived all alone in
a large, old fashioned house in the very
town where Belle and Lefty lived. AS
he was grandma's friend the young mem.
bers of the family seldom saw him, and
Belle had not made his acquaintance
until they met at Lakeside. Now she and
Lefty used sometimes to walk down the
street with him if they met him in theil
plavs, and once or twice he had asked
them into his dark old house and hidden
his housekeeper give them some cake
The children took it with polite thanks
but afterward Belle told Marion:
at wasn't very nice and plumby like
our cake. l shouldn't wonder but the
woman hadn't any good cookery book. ,
"She has no family Of little folks to ea,
it in hurry while it is trcsh,' said
Marion.
"Perhaps she made this when Mr.
Fisher was little boy; it tasted very
dry" said Belle, pensively.
Marion smiled, but soon looked sc
grave that Belle nestled her brown heaC
into her sisters lap and asked:
Are you thinking business, Marion
You look so uncomfortable"
"Do l, pet? l was thinking about
some one else who is uncomfortable,
fear, or who will be so SOON"
"Tell me, please" said Belle.
"It Is Door little jamie Dennison, Belle
His mother is sick and will soon leave
Jamie alone, and then l do not know
what will become of the poor boy"
Bring him here to live" said Belle
promptly.
Papa has enough to support now,
said Marion, gravely. He IS not rlcl
enough to do all the good we would like
and we must divide our charities so as t
accomplish the most we can. Perhaps
can get Jamie place; only he is small
delicate and rather dull; so it will b.
harder to find one"
"lf he is that, he needs place more,
said Belle. People ought to be NOR
willing to take him not less
1t was as much Bellies nature to pit,
the weak, the sad and the poor, as it wa
to breathe. 1t was this tender-hcarted
ness, ioined with impulsiveness, that 81
frequently brought her into trouble, o
caused what Walter called lone o
Bellies summers" So she felt great pit
for Jamie, and when his mother died
few DAYS after this conversation, an
Marion brought him home to stay fey
davs until a place could be obtained, tn
little girl was very kind to the torlor
boy.
Lefty Carroll came over one morning
her fair little face very eager and II
terested.
"Oh, Belle! can't you come and hel
me choose valentines? Aunt Felicia ha
given me thirty cents, and there are tn
beautifulest ones down at Mannering
book store"
"Why, l had most forgotten abou
valentine time" said Belle. How gla
| am you reminded me. Yes, thin
mamma will let me go, and I've got som
money saved up"
There was truly a bewilderlng displa
at the valentine counter, and the chlldre
found il hard to choose among the Cupld
roses. hearts and doves spread out beiol
them, and then came the question OF mai
ing their money cover the desired numpe
AUNT Felicia told me to get sheet
lace paper and envelope, and she woul
write me some verses to send for one,
said Lefty.
$50 will l, too; Marion can help m
and can send it to cousin Sue, and I'll
rosy-posy one to jamie Dennison.'
! "1Aat boy ?" said Lefty, her nose soin
up tritle.
"He's Gods boy, if he is poor" sal
Belle, repeating her favorite creed VII
angry promptness. II should think you
be ashamed to-oh! here's MIR. Flsher!
! Mr.. Fisher looked IA little perpleXed al
y somewhat amused at the children's occ
\ patton, and said:
! ooh! valentines? yes; queer-very!'
q Whether he meant the pictures or u
e children, Lefty felt uncomtortably II
g certain, but Belle laughed.
!. "Did you use to send them? Isn't
o fun? Why don't you buy this one
4 erandma?" holding up tlorid Cup
n carrying a cage full OF turtledoves.
o "Dear me-" said Mr.. Fisher, hobbll
" away with his cane. "What pecull
= children"
"He always says that" cried Let
# "Makes me want to shake him.
"He doesn't know about things sa
Belle, placidly. IL mean to ask grandr
=. if he ever really was little boy"
d How grandma laughed at the qu
ton. -,
l. "Yes, indeed, and very nice lit
j. bow, too. If he had not lived alone fo
p wears he would be different now. 1t Is
70 pity he has neither chick nor child to Ike
:, him busy and interested, and from gol
l. to waste"
~ "Did YOU and he send valentines?' p
|, sisted Belle.
10 81 suppose so; I did," said grandn
II "Did the boys go and be first loot
# Valentines morning in your day, graz
70 ma ?, asked Walter.
=. az have heard of it," replied grandn
of "Don't know what mean, Belle? :"
. the person anyone saw first on that mo-
m ing was his or her valentine for the ye
ID so the boys would so very early to ms
II sure of being first at the door VIII
re they wanted to be taken as valentines.
re "How tunny," said Belle, and ask
is more questions laid up the informal
ID among other ideas in her queer Ii
IN brain.
Jamie Dennison was crying as he rub
n the knives after tea, and Belle, going
1y to bid him good night, stepped to fnd
10 the reason.
4, "Miss Marion can't get nobody to Il
o. me, and I'm going to the poor-house,
2, tbor no hound outn sObbed Jamie.