The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-03-03

pretty device of 'Love" and flowers, chuck
ling TO themselves as they thought how hor-
riied the little girls would be if they only
knew it.
A week after St. Valentines Fay, Aunt
Desires carriage drove up to the door. Mary
flew to meet her.
mo, little girl, said Aunt Desire, sternly.
She was a stout old lady in black silk
dress, with a crooked nose mot unlike that
of the old witch" in the picture), white
hair, and keen black eyes that sparkled like
diamonds. 81 don't want any kisses from
girls who make fun of their old aunts, and
send them wicked, ridiculous pictures. You
don't seem TO think that you yourself will be
old and crooked some day?"
"Aunt Desire, / can't think what YOU
mean" said Mary, in dismay
at won't do any good to tell lies about
il" said Aunt Desire, sternly. L know your
handwriting perfectly well, and you can't
deceive ne.n
Mary burst into tears, for she was really
fond of Aunt Desire, and ran away to her
mother, to tell all her troubles.
"And l thought the Valentine would
please her SO much, mamma" she sobbed.
II don't know what all this means" said
Mrs. Pegg, in great surprise. 81 am quite
sure that my little Mary would never send
such a vulgar'and ridiculous Valentine to any
one, much less to Aunt Desire"
Just then in came old Sue with tray of
coffee and cake.
"What's dat Missis talkin' about2" said
she. "Nolumtines2 Gracious me-old Sue
she seen Tommy and dat mischievous Grey
boy a-foolin' over volumtinesl Put one In
a envelope and took il to de post Took an
udder one out, and took it TO de upstairs.
Bless your heart, old Sue she knows whar it
is. Old Sue, she'll go get it,
And off she trudged, up the stairs to the
little green chest in Tommy's room beside
his bed-head, where he kept all his particu-
lar treasures; and there, hidden away under
apple of compositions was the very Valen-
tine which Aunt Desire had not received,
with the little gilded heart, and the wreath
Of roses, and the verse of poetry which Ally
and Mary had so admired
"Darl" said cid Sue. trudging down again,
"what you tink OBJ dat arr I'd ought to been
detective p'leece ossifer, OATS what I done
ought"
Tommy was called in at once from his alb
sorbipg occupation of snewballing the old
black rooster, and questioned as to the trans
fer Of the Valentines. Tommy did not deny
ii. He was a mischievous little elf, but he
WAS not a scamp, and he confessed his fault,
with burning cheeks and downcast eyes.
Tommy" said his mother, "why did you
do such mean and contemplate act?"
"For fun" said Tommy, sheepishly
enough.
ADO you think it seems very funny now?"
"No-no, ma'am," confessed Tommy
"And don't you know that it Is a States
prison ofense," sharply interrupted Aunt De-
sire, to open letters and abstract the con-
tentse'
At this Tommy looked very much terri
fed.
'Would they hang me?" said he.
You'd deserve it richly" said Aunt De-
sire. ''And so you thought the old witch on
the broomstick looked like me, did your
Humph WE'LL don't think this nice four
bladed knife, with a nut-picker and cork
screw into the bargain, looks at all like you.
you won't get it."
She put the knife which Tommy had so
long coveted back into her pocket.
Il shall give it to Josey Miner said she.
"Hell know how to value It'll And Mary,
dear, come here and give me a kiss. I'm sorry
/ was sharp with you. But I've got
beauty of a doll house at home with all the
furniture and everything complete, down to
the servant in the kitchen, and the cat asleep
before the parlor frel And I'll send it to
you the first thing tomorrow morning"
Little Mary's face frightened mp like
buttercup after a shower, as she crept to her
aunt's side to bestow the kiss of reconcilia
ton.
"But Pm sorry about Tommy's knife" said
she.
az IL.