The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-02-19
BRIDGRTs VALENTINE.

The postman raped sharply on Mrs.
OiDonohue's door (this door belonged
to the back room on the third floor of a
tall, narrow, dingy house in a long, mar
row, dark street containing many other
tall, narrow, dingy- houses) on st. Val
entine's morning. His sachel and his
left hand were filled with letters and
valentines; and in his right hand he
carried a pretty blue-and-gold paper
box-a little battered, as paper boxes
are apt to be.when they come by mail
tied with blue satin ribbon, and smell
ing like roses.
A young girl wearing soiled calico
dress and shoes down at heel, but with
her rough curly hair piled in huge puffs
on the top of her head, and pair of
cheap tawdry earrings in her ears, hold
ing torn and crumpled novel in her
hand, opened the door.
:" Miss Bridget O'DonohueP" asked
the postmans
"That's mesef,r answered the girl.
"Then here's a valentine for you, 7"
he said, handing her the box; and turn
ing quickly, he was down the stairs and
out Of the house in a twinklng.
Mrs. O'Donohue was washing, and
the windows of the room were dim with
steam. Bridget went toone of them,
wiped couple of panes dry with the
skirt of her dress, and opened the box.
A howl of delight burst from her lips.
San what in the worruld is it, Bid
DIV dearP'' cried her mother, rushing
from the wash-tub, ker arms covered
with soap-suds to the elbows
"Bape awayl Don't come near it
wild the soap-suds!'' screamed her
daughter. "It,s ona of thin Kitty
Crowley was s-tellin' about last night
avalentine. And och! amt it lovely
Niver sor the likes before. - = .
Mrs. O'Donohue put her arms behind
her and looked over her daughters
shoulder. 'sBless us and save us!" she
exclaimed; " it makes me think of the
fairies. Sure it looks like some of their
worruk; it do entirely"
ss Niyer in all me life sor the ike
before, y repeated Bridget, and don't
believe She ever did 1t was beautiful
valentine. 4 sheet of creamy, satiny
paper, on which were delicately painted
the loveliest white roses and snow-drops
and blushing moss-rose buds, and in the
center of which was fastened pretty
gold ring, and beneath the ring this
verse was written in a plain anc hand
some hand:
offer roses pure and white
Emblems OF girlhood's happy days
md sw set moss buds by Cupid pluekec
To deck Loves ways;
And snow -drops-Hope's own dainty flow
That whisper you may yet be mine,
ISear girl with sunny hair and smile
My Valentinei
These lines Miss O'Donohue spelled out
slowly, mispronouncing many of the
words, and making sad nonsense OF
what was rather nonsensical already
but her mother listened with as much
delight as though the reading were per-
fect-as, no doubt, she it thought was
exclaiming, as her daughter finished,
"That bates Tom Moore intirelyi But,
Biddy darlint, you haven't sunny hair
you hair is like the night.
s'They mostly put that kind OF hair
in songs said her daughter; "an'
wish YOU wouldn't can me Biddy again.
Bridget's bid enough, so it is, an III
change me hull name whin git mar
ried. so | will. l wonder who in the
wide worruld represented me wild this
beautiful valentinefp
"Bridget 0'Donhue, = said her moth
er solemnly, at the same time looking
at her with admiring eyes, g some
Young gintleman has fallen dead in love
dyou, AN you only three monthsin this
bIissid country. An l don't be sur
prised at il, for since you put them puffs
on the top Of your skull, an bought
YOU thin illigant efsr-rings, you look like
princess. An sorra a doubt / have but
that he'll be wantin' to marry you in .
year or SOL was married meself at fif-
teen-an' Ihope you u not be desartln
your old mother whin you're foine
lady, =
al wouldn't so demane meself," re
piled Miss Bridget, with q toss of hei
head, " if you bees only washer-wom
an. III buy you a six dress an a hal
wild an oarsbich feather, an goold
watch stos wear whin you comes TO ses
me. Bit you mustn't be comm toe
often. He mi1htn't like il. -
.Shure hi niver iRterfare between
vor an him. tae brave gurril. y said hei
mother. - Mcthers-iE-law do be dom
that too much, they dos but III kap'
nseplace, niTer fare. An now, Biddy-
I name Bridget-darlint, your frind
must see this valentine, geold ring an
all, an larn the prospects that has aros'
before you. But it wont do for you Il
be'runnin' about from house TIL hous'
wild & as though you'd niyer had tn
like before at all at all. F"
"Shure niver had" said Bridget.
"Whistl no made teIlin' the same,
said her mother. g For al they know
,-u,,, had hundreds in the old Country