The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-02-10

6oCupid, and Robin, and Roxy,
Made love WITH fiowers for words,
As they walked and talked in the garden,
And nobody told but the birds.
AUNT MABEL.
ne sssry sr vale.tiae.
"l never received but one valentine
in my life," said Aunt Mabel, quietly.
20, Aunt Mabel, you are joking!
Kate and Minnie. do you think it possi-
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
heartthrob Of pleasure at the reception
of q solitary valentine, sent by some
faithless swainP"
The color flushed for a moment over
the pale face of Aunt Mabel, and q
slight trembling of the lips might have
shown one more observant than her
youthful questioner, that underneath
that caim exterior lay hidden q deeper
feeling. Aunt Mabel was seated near a
window in an apartment luxuriantly ap-
pointed. and her inquisitor was stand
ing before her examining q valentine of
exquisite finish. Kate and Minnie. her
younger sisters, were similarly engaged.
Various were the exclamations of de-
light that burst from their lips as they
drew forth from their lace envelopes
the pretty triries over which they
blushed and smiled with girlish pleasure.
Aunt Mabel was unusually quiet.
Perhaps that day of all others revived
some painful memory, of which her
happy uieces were unconscious. Ex-
~seA L..
tainly did not notice her detection. A
silence followed. during which May
Derwent read for the twentieth time
the rhymed effusion addressed "To my
Valentine" At length that young
lady looked uP speaking more seriously
now.
"But surely, aunt, you who are yet
80 handsome must have had more than
one admirer. What kind of lovers
were 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 loo<s 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. l know that / have heard
father say more than once, that you re-
manned single from choice, and that you
preferred being"
s.An old maid" smiled Aunt Mabel.
seeing her niece hesitate. $50 on,
May; I am far from being offended at
the title.
"An old maid. then" said her niece.
1--we heard father say that you would
sooner live forgotten and die forlorn.
like Tennyson's hapless maiden, than
marry where your heart was not en-
gagged"
"Your father spoke the truth. and !
should advise nv nieces to remain sim
gle forever, rather than wed where they
did not love truly and faithfully"
"Old maids. indeedr' laughed blue
eyed Kate. making q deep courtesy in
mock reverie. ''Thank you, dear
auntie. for the advice"
"Old maidsr' echoed Minnie, wav-
ing valentine on which sparkled frost
ed silver hearts and cupids. "Come,
Katei mamma is whiting to take us to
drive ON the park And the light
hearted girls hurried away.
May had not yet changed her posi-
work table beside her aunt, she spoke
u RAC80AAx tOhO.
Have you forgotten, aunt. that you
promised me some time ago that when
an opportunity occurred you would give
me an account of your early lifea You
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
the polished CRATE, and with her niece
nesting down lovingly beside her she
commenced the recital so eagerly de-
sired
.. Many, many years ago my mother
was left Q widow with two young chill
dren, your father and myself Our
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 him into
an early grave. leaving his little family
without any means Of support. Re-
morseless creditors had no sympathy
for The widow and orphans. and my
mother was too proud to seek aid from
the summer friends who had SO often
partaken of her hospitality. Forgotten
and unknown she rented two wretchec
rooms in q miserable locality. Here
she gained . scanty subsistence for her
self and little ones by unwearied toll
with her needle. For years we strug.
gled on with barely enough to sustain
us. Young a. 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 well our elegant
home in the suburbs. the luxury that
surrounded us. and the servants thai
came and went at our bidding. Nc
wonder the sad change threw q shadow
over our young lives, but even that
dark cloud, so long hanging over us,
had its silver lining, and sorrow and
want united MS in q love that conse-
Grated our lives to acts of mutual help
and sympathy. How often af erwardi
did recall my brothers words as we
hurried ON our way to school together.
".Mabel,' he would say, poor moth
er IL toiling for us now, SO that we may
not grow up in ignorance. feel thai
when I grow up shall be able to give
her and you, nv sister, pleasant home
and money enough to supply all YOU
needs
.sHis words sounded prophetic then,
and hsd 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 ol