The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-03-02
QUEER VALENTINE.

" Plishkin, plushkin, pelican gee,
We think no birds 30 fluffy as we;
PlishBin, plushkin, pelican gill,
We think so them we thought so still.
Gertrude Winthrop looked rather be-
wildered as these sounds issued from the
door which the servant opened for her.
They're rum Ones" Whispered the
girl.
Two children were hopping about
the room rs they sang the strange glib
belish given above. One was a keen,
sallow-f faced boy of nine; the other a
pretty, fair.haired girl of seven. The
boy had hat on with a bunch Of di-
lapidated cocks feathers in it. The girl
wore long ostrich plume, and various
scraps of red flannel pinned here and
there on her dress.
"Oh, halloI we're pelicans," cried
the boy, in no way abashed; that's
the pelican chorus"
You're precious pickles, that's wot
| you are" said Jane. "Ifever see sich
| imbs of the -"
She hesitated out of respect for the
| stranger.
Gertrude surveyed her charges, and they
in tnrn bestowed on her an unf1inching
stare.
What are your namesP" she asked,
softly; 81 am going to be with you,
anG teach you, you know"
''Gollyl" said the boy, wouldn't it
be larks if you never found out!-then
you couldn't call us, you know. And
II you cidn't call us we wouldn't have
to come"
Bat can easily find out, -" said Ger
rude, with laugh; 80 you had better
be gentlemanly and answer my ques-
ton"
my names Roderick, but they cal
me Rod. Her names Nina, but ] call
her Ninny, COS she's numbskull--all
girls are numbskulls."
his is your room, ma'am," ex-
claiut d Jane, opening door and going
in When Gertrude stood at her side
size turned the key.
"Seel you kin do this when you want
to be alone; and you'll bless the min
utes you git from that pair
I'm goin' to leave to-morrel
--as give warnen regular-an' my life
wore out with them two young imps-
savin' your presense-which you'll tnC
'em out, soon enough; and l wouldn'
prejudice you agin 'em beforehand; anC
that cantankerous old cat, either, dowr
below-oh, they're sweet lot"
"Hush p' said Gertrude. 81 canno
listen To such"
"Well, I'll say good word for Mastel
Eric" said - turning to go; ~
knows how to treat :. poor girl. He's ;
eentleman-more the pity he's to b,
thrown away on that fibberty gibbet
Miss Francia, as is no better nor "a"
"There, there !" cried Gertrude, a
the children were pummeling at tn
door, ''you may go now-thank you.
There were two or three scratched III
desks and some torn books, also glob
over which strange maps had beel
smeared with ink and red paint.
"Well. Roderick.n she said, turninI
to her little subjects, who had most mu
tinous faces, what do you study I"
"Ohi when l feel like study, lik
Roman history best. I'm goin' to be
heather and worship Jupiter. bull
an altar TO him the other day; got on
of Francia DormerSs white boxes, an
printed Jupiter Ave lmperatore' on j
and made Pile of sticks and matches
and poured cologne over it for incens'
and, gollyl how it burned! That was
- sacrifice, you see; and Francia say
she'll sacrifice me the next time NEE
die with her things. said TO hel
'Frsneia, you've got no feeling Tor ~
q man history"
4 Lam a heather, too" cried Nina.
Il &" You amt; you're a Christian
= cried Rod, as if he were hurting at her
l. most opprobrious epithet.
l. IL won't bea Christian all alone
d cried Nina, with a roar.
- Hnllol What's therumpusP What
the rowP" cried a good-natured voic
and very handsome young man e
b- tered rather hurriedly, ana stopp
% short at the sight of Gertrude
l. HThey want to be heathens," So
Sr Gertrude, with an embarrassed smile.
Well, venture to say it would
- hard to find two greater young heathe
in our enlightened country. Excuse !
FOR bursting in so upcermoniously.
wanted to queneh Inese y ungste
% noise. My mother"
~ rOh, l forgot" answered Gertrut
20 neryously;' she especially spoke of
DO dislike TO noise. In little time | sh
earn"
Eric was forgetting everything -eV
the two young savages WI no were swar
ing up on HMM looking at the VIC
derful beauty OF this young girls ia
Surely. if Mrs. Chumleigh had seen II
face in anything bnt the half darkn
in which she delighted, she would ne
have brought Gertrude Winthrop Il
" be house,