The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-02-16

" SAi' viz al diI sSSCiltHC W DIS lOG Ine
boys to take turns, and to leave only
one valentine at time, so that the rest
OF us could have the fun of seeing him
open them. Burt left the first one, and
gave the bell an awful pull. That was
Marie Stanton's.
Manly laid down his book and
went to the door; and pretty quick came
back, with the valentine in his hand.
He seemed surprised. We couldn't
hear a word they said. | wished we
could; but we couldn't get near enough
to the window for that. Well, when he
opened it he looked so pleased. And
he read the acrostic to his mother, and
then they both laughed just then the
bell rang again; and when he came
back that time he looked SO funny and
acted as if he didn' know what to make
OF it, He sat down and opened it. And
that was Mabers, and they both laughed
when they saw the cat.
Mabel was so pleased that she gig
gled right out; and Mr.. Raymond put
his hand over her mouth, for fear they'd
hear her. And the boys came round to
the window to look in, too; for thew
said we were having all the fun. Then
Will went back to leave another; and
do you think-he's so full of fun-he
rang the bell, and before Manly got
back into the sitting-room he rang it
again. And he rang it like that four or
five times. He'd just get into the room,
when he have to go back to the door.
Finally, VIII came racing around the
corner of the house Just as Manly sat
down, with his hands full of things
He had my pictures and Edith's
box of candies. You don't know how
funny he looked. He acted as if he
couldn't understand it. They'd take
up one and look at it, and then lay it
down and take up another; and they
talked so fast! | did wish we could
hear what they said. But Mr.. Ray
mond said twas better that we couldn't.
| don't see why, though.
Before they'd looked those all over
Burt ran around to leave the rest. He
said he was going to leave Mr.. Ray
mond's book the last thing. Well, he
rang the bell two or three times, and
then came back to the window. He
told Julie that he'd left her necktie
Mrs. Wheaton went to the door that
time, for Manly acted so excited when
the bell rang again. He got up, and
sat down again; and finally his mother
went.
"Well, they opened one. That was
Bellies. Then the next one had the
little round slitted paper, and Burt said:
"' Now for your necktie, Julier
Manly read what it said on the out
side and then took hold of the tassel;
but, as he raised it up, | saw something
shine and | heard Burt say, under his
breath:
"'Oh! | made mistake
And then he ran off just as fast as
he could.
"You see, that was Burt's. He made
one just like jules and fastened ten
dollar gold piece under there; and he
meant to leave it till the rest had all
gone, so we shouldn't know anything
about it. But he made mistake and
took the wrong one out of his pocket.
"And what do you suppose Manly
did? He actually cried! He did. The
tears just rolled down his face. And
then | looked at his mother, and she
was crying too.
"'Well,' Mr.. Raymond said, we
mustn't have this
$50 he sent Joe round to tell Burt to
hurry up and leave the rest. Just then
we heard the bell ring, and Manly
started up as if he was shot. | guess
he thought he'd find out who it was.
And Burt didn't think he'd be there
so soon, and he had to scamper like
fun to get out of sight.
"Well, he left the rest of the valen-
tines and Mr.. Raymond book, and the
boys went to fix the sleds But two or
three of us girls stood up on tip-toe
and peeped in, and Manty'd got the
book undone and sat there holding it in
one hand and his handkerchief in the
other.
but Mr.. Raymond said we hadn't
better stay any longer. So we got on
our sleds and we had splendid ride
home. We separated when we got to
Hyde Square, and nobody went our
way but Mr. Raymond and Ethel.
Belle went home with Julie, Granger
and Joe.
"When we left Ethel and her father.
at their corner, Mr.. Raymond put his
hand on Burt's shoulder, and said
these were just his words:
"' Morton, you did noble deed to-
night, and 1t was none the worse be-
cause you meant to keep it secret.
Goodnight, my boy
81 know it made Burt glad to have
Mr.. Raymond say that, for he thinks
he's just about perfect; but he only said
it wasn't much. But wasn't it nice of
him? | do think he's just the best
brother in the world.
"Well, we got home at last, and it
was after ten o'clock, and was tired
enough to go to bed. But never did
have such nice time in my -
Mrs. NJ. c. Dowd.
Hard nm tho Door EaIInu