The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-03-12
THE DAILY STAR
RRIDGET'S VALENTINE.

/
O'Donohue'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 satchel and his
left hand were filled with letters and val
entines, and in his right hand he carried
pretty blue-and-gold paper box-a lit
tie battered, as paper boxes areapt to be
when sent by mail-tied with bluesatin
ribbon and smelling like roses.
A young girl wearing soiled calico
dress and shoes down at the 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,
holding torn and crumpled novel in
her hand, opened the door.
"Miss Bridget O'DonohueT asked the
postman.
"That's meself," answered the girl.
'Then here's valentine for you, said
b. handing her the box; and turning
quickly he was down the stairs and out
Of the house in twinkling.
Mrs. O'Donohue was washing, and the
windows of the room were dim with
steam. Bridget went to one 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.
can what in the wurruld is it, Biddy,
dearw cried her mother, rushing from
the wash-tub, her arms covered with soap
sads to the elbows.
"Kape awayl Don't come near it wild
the soap-suds!' screamed the daughter.
"It's one of thin Kitty Crowley was a.
tellin' about last night-a valentine. All,
ochl amt it lovely? Niver sor 1 the
likes BEFORE"
Mrs. ODonohue put her arms behind
her and looked over her daughters shoul-
der. "Bless us an save us!" she exclaimed;
"it makes me think of the fairies. Shure
It looks like some Of their worruk; it do
entirely"
"Niver in all my life sor the like be-
fore" repeated Bridget, and don't be-
ieve she ever did. 1t was beautiful
valentine. A sheet of creamy, satiny pa
per, on which were delicately painted
the loveliest white roses and snow-drops
and blushing moss-rose buds in the center
Of which was fastened pretty gold ring,
and beneath the ring this verse was writ
ten in plain and handsome hand:
~ offer roses pure and white
Emblems of girlhood's happy days
And sweet moss-buds by Cupid plucked
To deck Loves ways;
And w-drops-Hope's own dainty flowers
That whisper you may yet be mine,
Dear girl with sunny nair and smile
My Valentne?'
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 deli ght as
though the reading were perfect-as he1
daughter finished, THAT bates Tom
Moore intirely! But, Biddy darlint, you
haven't sunny hair; your hair is like
the night"
"They mostly puts that kind of hair in
songs," said her daughter, "an' wish
you wouldn't call me Biddy again.
Bridgets bad enough, so it is, an I'll
change me hull name whin ] git mar
ried, so | will. Iwonder who in the
wide worruld represented me wild this
beautiful valentineW
bridget ODonohue," said her mother,
solemnly, at the same time looking at
her with admiring eye, "some young
gintleman has fallen dead in love wild
you, an you only three months in this
blissid country. An 1 don't be sur
prised at it, for since you put thin puff
on the top of your skull an l bought
you thin iligant earrings, you look like
princess. An sorra doubt ! have bu
that he'll be wantin' to marry you in {
year or SOL was married meself' at fif
teen-an' l hope you'll not be desartin
your old mother when you're foint
lady"
II wouldn't so demane meself," replied
Miss Bridget, with toss of her head, ri
you bees only washer-woman. I'll buy
you silk dress, an hat with an oars
trieh feather, an a gold watch to weal
whin you comes to see me. But yor
mustn't be comm too, often. He nigh
not Like it,"
"Shure I'll meyer interfare between
you an him, me brave gurril," said he
mother. "Mothers-in-law do be doin
that too much; they do; but I'll keeI
me place, nevar fare. An now, Biddy-
name Bridget-darlint, your frinds mus
see this valentine, goold ring an all. an
- larn the prospects that has arose befor
you. But it won't do for you to b.
Yunnin' from house till house wild it a
though you'd niyer had the like before
at all, at all"
"Shure niver had" said Bridget.
"Whist? no made tellin' that, same,
said her mother. "For all they know
you had. hundreds in the old country
Put on your Ulster an your new hat, an
20 an ak your frinds here to atay party
For a tay party l intend to have at
o'clock this very afternoon, an Will,
you're away Pll put aside the washin
an red up the place. An you'll hav
to 90 widout the lace hankerchy Ilprom
ised you till next month, for the none,
Eve saved must go for the atm al
drinkin'."
O. :. L H.. NF..s ntnul