American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-02-12
AUNT MABEL.
The Story or a vaIentlne.

AUNT MABEL. 81
The Story or a Valentino.
al never received but one valentine
in my ife,'' said Aunt Mabel, quietly.
Kate and Minnie, do you think it posi-
BILE that one of Ewes daughters could
dance through her spring, glide gaily
through her summer, and arrive at the
verge of her autumn, with but one
heart-throb of pleasure at the reception
Of 2. solitary valentine, sent by Some
The color flushed for moment oyer
the pale face of Aunt Mabel, and a
slight trembling of the lips might have
shown one more observant than her
youthful questioner, that underneath
that calm exterior lay hidden a deeper
feeling. Aunt Mabel was seated near a
window in an apartment luxuriantly APP
pointed, and her inquisitor was stand
ing before her examining a valentine of
exquisite finish. Kate and Minnie, her
Younger sisters, were similarly engaged.
Various were the EXPLANATIONS of de-
light that burst from their lips as they
drew forth from their lace envelopes
the pretty tribes over which they
-
Aunt Mabel was unusually quiet
Perhaps that day of all others revived
some painful memory, of which her
happy. pieces were unconscious. Ex-
cited over their valentines they GER
tainly did not notice her detection. A
silence followed. during which May
Derwent read for the twentieth time
the rhymed effusion addressed ITO my
Valentine At length that young
Lady looked up, speaking more seriously
now.
'But surely, aunt, you who are yet
80 handsome must haze had more than
one admirer. What kind of lovers
we're the beaus of twenty-five years
ago? Why, it is the prettiest and cas-
lest way in the world to let lady know
she Is admired. and they say that Saint
Valentine himself looks down indig-
nantly on the lover who fails to send
one of these tender missives on this his
natal day. Now, aunt, do confess that
you have had more than one cavalier at
your feet. 1 know that have heard
lather say more than once, that you re-
NAMED single from choice, and that you
preferred being"
can old maid" smiled Aunt Mabel,
seeing her niece hesitate. go on,
May; am far from being offended at
the title.
c.i"An old maid, then" said her niece.
"pve heard father say that you would
sooner slive forgotten and die forlorn,
like Tennyson's. hapless maiden, than
marry where your. heart was not en-
Your father spoke the truth. and
should advise my hieces to remain SIM
gk forever, rather.than wed where they
did not love truly and faithfully"
"Old maids, indeedr laughed blue.
eyed Kate, making a deep courtesy in
mock reverie. Thank you, dear
auntie, for the advice"
"Old 'maidsr> echoed Minnie, wav.
ing vaientine,on whichsparklsd frost.
ed silver hearts and capids. Come,
Kate; mamma is waiting to take us to
drive on. the park" And the light
hearted girls hurried away. -
May had not yet changed her posi-
ton, and laying her valentine on the
work table beside her aunt, she spoke
"Have you forgotten, aunt, that you
an opportunity occurred you would give
me an accodnt of your early lifeP Yor
often tell me that am too ,thoughtless
Perhaps I. shall learn some beautiful
truth from your experience that may
guide me through the unknown trials Of
the future"
So Aunt Mabel allowed herself to be
led to the low couch drawn up before
the fire, that burnt cheerfully behind
She polished CRATE, and with her niece
pestling down lovingly beside her she
commenced the recital SO eagerly de.
sired.
MANY, many years ago my mother
was left widow with two young chill
dren, your father and myself. OuI
poverty came suddenly upon us. My
father was one of New York's wealthy
merchants. but successive losses and an
extravagant style of living soon dimin-
ished his means. Anxiety of mind and
depression of spirits hurried Kim into
an early grave. leaving ms little family
morseless creditors had no sympathy
for the widow and orphans, and my
mother was too proud to seek aid from
ths Summer friends who had SO often
~partaken of her hospitality. Forgotten
and unknown she rented two wretcheG
rooms in miSerable locality. Here
she gained a SC hty subsistence for her.
self and little ones by unwearied tot
with herneedle. For years we strug.
glcd on/with barely enough to sustain
us. Young as we were, we felt the
change in our position bitterly, and
chiefly on our poor mothers account.
can hardly bear to speak of such things
now. We remembered we'll our elegant
home in the suburbs. the luxury thai
surrounded US, and the servants thai
came and went ut our bidding. Nc
wonder the sad change threw a shadow
over our young lives, but even that
dark cloud, SO long hanging over us,
had its silver lining, and sorrow and
want united us in a love that conse.
Grated our lives to acts of mutual helr
and sympathy. How often afterwards
did / recall my brothers words as we
hurried on our way TO school together.
." Mabel. he would say, poor moth.
er is toilihg for us now, so that we may
not grow up in ignorance. / feel thai
when l grow up / shall be able to give
her and you. my sister. pleasant home
and money enough to- supply all YOU
needs
3 SstHis words sounded prophetic then,
and had faith in his ability to accom-
plish his loving intentions.
Time passed on. At the age of six
teen my brother was taken into one o