The Newtown bee., 1880-03-03

mornin' she told us she hadn't no place to stay, an we reckoned to take care of her our own selves after that. Joe an me got her crackers and milk an things when we could; an we made believe she was our housekeeper. Joe swep' the crossin's an one day team knocked him down an killed him all of sud- den. This here Bab she cried so, an was so lonesome after Joe that I allowed it was better to try an find her home if could. I seen folks a sendin' wal one orter like little girl better than picter. I seen you on the street, ma'am, the day you gave the lame man some money, an I followed along to see where you lived, an when you went up the steps you seen me. an you smiled out of your eyes so good that most knowed you'd be kind to little girl what hadn't nobody but me. She's real cute. mann. I seen you once, too," added he to Dinah, who stood with dish towel in hand, gravely weighing his words. '' was blackin' a feller's boots on the market the day the dog over the stones in the gutter. Didn't he run, though, when you let him go?" e~ ee.
 q 'clar fort" said Dinah, "he's tellin' the trufe! 'Peard like I felt he might be liable the minnet l sot eyes on bim."
 Dick made no comment on Dinah's change of base, but looked earnestly into Aunt Ruth's face. As she said nothing he repeated timidly, with a little quaver in his voice:
 "She hain't got no mother nor no- body in the world, only me- ma'a am; an' she's real cute!"
 Dick" said Aunt Ruth, quietly, II home for myself than to take so much
 Ma'am," said Dick, gravely, "I heard a preacher-man on the street one day tellin' about a good feller that wanted the little children took care of, an that he said into some book or other Che had it, 'an read out of iD, When you do it to them you do it to me, an I'll remember and be good to you some time for it!' When we found Bab a-curled up in the box looking so little an so helpless, I thought it meant for us to take care of her, an poor Joe, he reckoned so, too."
 "I think I'll keep my valentine, Dick" Aunt Ruth said, with q smile. '' I never heard of sending back a valen- tine, I believe. And I think I will send one myself, too. Thee may carry it for me to Friend Bradley's office, on Har- lem street, Dick"
 The note was written in fair, up- right hand, in few concise words:
 FRIEND BRADLEY: Isend thee val entine. Thee will find the lines belong ing to the picture in the twenty fifth chapter of Matthew, fortieth verse
 RUTH HARMON.
 It is a year since Aunt Ruth received and sent valentine, and the l4th of Feb- ruary, 1881, when it comes, will find no happier child than little "Drat-you- Bab;" no prouder boy than ''Valentine Dick" who occupies the post of errand boy in Friend Bradley's office; no more peaceful heart than Aunt Ruth's; and certainly he would fail to spy out, with his strongest beams, more dignified, undismayed, constitutional grumbler than poor old Dinah, who pets or scolds the children as inclination and oppor- tuDity dictate, and who sums up the whole matter in these words:
 Sometimes children is a comfort, but mostly they is an aggravation. Them two-them two wallenties-is a-wearing the life out of my bones, the poor orphanless things But Missus Ruth is so sot in her ways that I've got to have lem under foot to the end of time, if the Lo'd spares usi"-Lucy M. Blum, Grs Philadelphia Times.