The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-02-16
COMICS.
A Story for VaIenline,s Day.

"Let's try Miss Palmer's," said
Johnny.
"She won't have Them" said Ben.
"Let's try" persisted Johnny; and
he opened the door to Miss Palmer 5
little store.
'Any comics?n he asked, Just put.
ting his head in the door. 81 see
plenty of doves and roses in the win
dow; but we want confess
81 don't keep Them" said the old
lady, pleasantly, if you mean comic
valentines, for l don't approve of
them
you'll lose money by it," said
Johnny, as he closed the door.
Miss Palmer called him back. 81
have some very pretty ones. Won't
YOU stop and look at them?h
at won't cost anything to look, :"
said Ben, and they went in.
81 suppose | shall have to buy Sis q
nice one" said Johnny, as Miss Palmer
handed down a large tray of valentines;
s. but there is time enough for that"
"There is a pretty one," said Ben,
taking up picture of Cupid and a
little girl sitting under an arbor of
flowers.
TOO soft" said Johnny.
Glow thiS?' asked Ben, lifting up
lace cage, and showing a chained
Cupid.
1t was rather comical to see anything
in cage and changed; so Johnny adj
mitted that that wasn't so bad, and
perhaps he would buy it for Sis.
but we are after comics now" he
said; 81 so come along"
Il would not send any comic valen-
tines, boys" said Miss Palmer. Il
have known them to cause a great deal
of trouble"
She had kept this little store for
years and had watched the boys from
babyhood.
1--WE must have little fun" said
Johnny. 81 mean to send some nice
ones besides"
As the boys left the store Ben said:
"Of course Skip will have some"
"Skip," as the boys called him, was
sharp-eyed, little man, with one
wooden leg, who kept variety store.
The boys were not mistaken. His
window was full of all kinds of comic
and common pictures
"Lets see your funniest" said
Johnny.
Skip q am sorry l never heard his
right nance spread out before them a
large number of hideous caricatures.
They began to laugh.
"You can suit all your friends there, "
said Skip, rubbing his hands.
&C | should say so" said Johnny; I'll
take this '-selecting a melancholy
looking young man, in red coat and
buff pantaloons, playing the flute
"for Tom Baker," he whispered to
Ben. "You know he always plays like
fury on the flute, and can't play any
more than monkey"
I'll take these said Ben, taking
out six.
Perhaps we will send you one
Skip" said Johnny, taking up one
called "The Lame Duck"
"All right" said Skip. "Send me
some, young gentlemen, an I'll iron
them out an sell them again"
"There is queer one," said Johnny.
"Oh, if dared, l would send that to
Lottie Clifford. 1t really isn't like her;
so it would be no harm"
1t was caricature of fashionable
young lady; but there was something in
the bend of the body and stoop of the
shoulders that reminded Johnny of his
unfortunate little neighbor.
go no." said Ben, quickly, that's
too rough"
"Well, will take it, anyway" said
Johnny.
"Only two cents" said Skip.
would you send it to SisP" asked
Ben.
"Of course | would" said Johnny
"She would only laugh"
Nothing is the matter with Sis, y
said Ben.
I'm going to send it, said Johnny
she will never know where it came
from. Now come to my house and We
will get them ready"
"Skip is good fellow" said Ben
patronizingly, as they left the store.
YES" said Johnny, in the same
tone, &" he is pretty popular. 1 trad,
there altogether now. There's Mis-