The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-02-12
SAM WELLER'S VALENTINE.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

to any young 'ooman, l hope, Sammy"
"Why, it's no use sayin' it amt, y
replied Sam. "1t's a valentine"
ga whato' exclaimed Mr.. Weller, ap
parently horror-stricken by the word.
GA valentine" replied Sam.
"Samivel, Samivel," said Mr.. Weller, in
reproachful accents, 81 didn't think you
ha' done it. AFTER the warnin' you We had
O. your fathers vicious propensities; artel
all I've said to you upon this here very
subject; arter actiwally SEEM and bein' in
the company O. your own mother-in-law,
vich l should La' thought was a moral les
son as no man could ever ha' forgotten tc
his dyin' day! l didn't think you'd ha
done it." These reflections were too much
for the good old man; he raised Sans
tumbler to his lips and drank off the con
tents.
"Wot's the matter now ~ said Sam.
"Nev'r mind, Sammy" replied Mr..
Weller, "it'll be very agonizin' trial &c
me at my time O life, but I'm pretty tough,
that's yum consolation, as the very old tur-
key remarked ven the farmer said he vos
afeerd he should be obliged to kill him fol-
the London market"
"Wot'll be a trialo" inquired Sam.
"To see you married, Sammy; to see
you deluded victim, and thinkin' in your
innocence that it's all very capital" replied
Mr.. Weller. '"It's dreadful trial to a
fathers feelin's, that ere, Sammy"
"Nonsense," said Sam, 81 amt goin'
to get married, don't you fret yourself
about that. l know you re judge O these
things order in your pipe, and I'll read
you the letter, -there"'.
Sam dipped his pen into the ink to be
ready for any corrections, and began with
a very theatrical air
" Lovely --'"
"stop," said Mr.. Weller, ringing the
bell. "A double glass O. the inwariable,
my dear"
every well, sir,'' replied the girl, who
with great qnickness appeared, vanished,
returned and disappeared.
"They seem to know your ways here, "
observed Sam.
eyes, replied his father, give been
here before, in my time. Go on, Sammy"
"'Lovely creetur','" repeated Sam.
"'Taint in poetry, is it ?" interposed the
father.
"No, no." replied Sam.
every glad to hear it" said Mr.. Weller.
"Poetry's unnatural. No man ever talked
in poetry cept beadle on boxin' day, or
Warren's b,ackin' or Rowlands oil, or
some O. them low fellows. Never you let
yourself down to talk poetry, my boy.
Begin again, Sammy.
Mr.. Weller resumed his pipe with critical
solemnity, and Sam once more commenced
and read as follows:
" Lovely creetur' feel myself a
damned -
"That amt proper" said MIR. Weller,
taking his pipe from his mouth.
NO: it amt damned" observed Sam,
holding the letter up to the light, cts
shamed, there's a blot there; 81 feel my,
self ashamed"
every good" said Mr.. Weller. "Ge
on
&c Feel myself ashamed, and completely
cir l forget wot this ERE word is. >
said Sam, scratching his head with the pen
in vain attempts to remember.
"Why don't you look at it, them" in
quired Mr.. Weller.
$50 am a lookin' at it," replied Sam
"but there's another blot: here's &C,
and 81, and ID "
"Crcumwented, p'rhaps, suggested Mr.
Weller
"No, it amt that" said Sam: 8" cir
cumscribed,' that's it,
"That amt as good word as circum
vented, Sammy" said Mr.. Weller, gravely
"Think not ?" said Sam.
"Nothin' like it," replied his father.
"But don't you think it means more -
inquired Sam.
"Vell, prhaps it's more tenderel
word,': said Mr.. Weller, after a few mo-
ments' reflection. $50 on, Sammy
"'Feel myself ashamed and completely
circumscribed in dressin' of you, for yor
are nice gal and moth in but it, "
"That's very pretty sentiment" sale
the elder Mr.. Weller, removing his pipe to
make way for the remark.
" Yes, | think it's rayther good" OBJ
served Sam, highly tiattered.
"Wot like in that ere style of writin','
said the elder Mr.. Weller, :" is, that there
amt no calm names in it,-no Wenuses
nor nothin' o that kind; wot's the good o
calm young CONAN Venus or a angel
sammy
'Ah! what indeed 9' replied Sam.
You might just as well call her grit
fin, or unicorn, or kings arms at once
which is very veil known to be a col lection
O. fabulous animals" added Mr.. Weller.
"Just as WE'LL replied Sam.
"Drive on, sammy said Mr.. Weller.
Sam complied with the request, and pro
ceeded as follows: his father continuing tt
smoke with mixed expression of wisdom
and complacency, which was particularly
edifying.
"'Afore see you thought all women
was alike.
$50 they are" observed the elder Mr.
Weller, parenthetically.
But now, " continued Sam, now
find what lar soft headed, ink-red
'lous turnip must ha' been, for there aim
nobody like you, though i like you better
than nothin' at all. thought it best te
make that rayther strong" said Sam, leok
ing up.
Mr.. Weller nodded approvingly, and Sam
resumed
So take the privilege of the day
Mary, my dear,-as the gen'lem'n in diff
ficulties did, ven he walked out of Sun
day,-to tell you that the first and only
time see you your likeness wos took on
my hart in much quicker time and brighter
colors than ever a likeness was taken by
Al. - - 4,