The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-03-03
The Wrong Valentine.
BY LESLIE THORN.

BIZ LESLIE IHOkNs
The girls have got a secret from Us" said
Tommy.
The kitchen at Pegg farm wasa delightful
place of winters evening. Papa and
mamma and sister RosamOnd, who was big
enough to have long dresses and beau. sat
in the parlor where there was an air-tight
wood-stOve and sun-burner lamp; but the
children all clustered around the wood fire
in the kitchen, where old Sue, the black cook.
sat, fast asleep, with red turban twisted over
her wool, and her knitting-work in her hands.
There was candle on the table, to be sure,
but most of the light came from the blazing
logs on the iron fre-dOgs, and sometimes you
could see everything in the room as plain as.
if it were daylight, and sometimes it would
be almost dark. And the children took turns
in getting into the very corner where by
twisting their necks little, they could look
up the chimney and See the stars shining far
overhead. And they ate cookies and nuts
and played and scufhed merrily to-
gether-and every now and then old
Sue would wake up and say "Chilluns, leave
off dat noisel' and then she would fall asleep
again. Oh, l can tell you it was fine fun in
Mr.. Pegg's kitchen.
"a secretp said Jimmy Grey, who lived
in the next house. "What secret?"
at wouldn't be a secret, If We knew
shortly returned Tommy.
''PoOhl' said Jimmy. Girls never can
keep secret We shall find it out fast
enough. Let's have some more of the but
ternuts now, Tom"
But the secret that Mary and Alice were
whispering was only about Valentine
Il should like to send one to Aunt Desire"
said Mary Pegg, who was blue-eyed little
u 4 L. Al.
curled down on her shoulders. "A real nice
one, you know, Ally. With roses and Cupids
and little gilt bird-cages. Aunt Desire likes
Valentines. She told me so last year--and
she gave me such lovely big wax-doll on
my birthday, and box of dominoes at
Christmas"
WELL" said Ally, "why don't you send
her One?"
because" confessed Mary, looking rather
ashamed, I've spent all my money for candy
and ribbons"
"Won't your father give you any more?"
Not until next month; and then it will be
too late for Valentines Day."
''Well, look here" whispered Ally, .I've
got Valentine that I'll give YOU
us it pretty?"
"ohh real pretty" cried Ally. "A heart
with Love in gold letters-and you lift it up
and there is little girl carvings basket of
nowers, and verse Of sweet, sweet poetry
underneath. / am sure your Aunt Desire
would like it. It's one that was sent to me
last year."
The very thing, said Mary, gleefully.
ooh, Ally, I'll be so much obliged TO you.
But don't tell the boys. They'll laugh at us"
And the girls whispered in their corner
and the boys cracked butter-nuts in theirs,
and old Sue snored away with the ends of
her gay bandanna turban all but touching
the candle flame.
"Move the candle a little further, do"
giggled Jimmy Grey" and set the top-knOt
in blaze"
But Sue was not so sound asleep but that
she could hear what was going on. She
jumped up and dealt Jimmy a sound box on
the ears.
''Git out of dis yer" she cried shrilly,
and Jimmy was compelled to leave without
so much as square inch of the nice apple
turnover which was to be cut later in the
evening.
"Halloo, Jim, said Tommythe next day,
I've found out the secret"
''What is it?" said Jimmy.
"Matey gave me letter to mail. And its
Valentine.
"O-o-hl" said Jimmy. "Let's have q
look 1t amt half sealed. / can open it a'
easy as not Amt it pretty though? Oh
Tom, look here-let's play a trick on the
girls"
"How77 said Tommy, whose wits wer'
not as monkeyishly quick those of hi
playmate.
ave got funny Valentine--an old sitcl
bent double. with hooked nose, riding on
broomstick. and Go to the Mischief painted
under it. It's one i got TO send TO our Bet
sey, but father found it out and wouldn't lie
me send it after all. But wouldn't it be
joke to take out that fancy picture and pu
in the old witch7"
"Let's do itr' said Tommy; and so the,
substituted the grinnirc old witch for Ally