The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-03-15
Sam WollOv'0 Valentine.
FROM PICK WICK PAPERS.

writing a letter IS 10 very easy t2-A
it being always considered necessary III
such cares for the writer to recliDe his
| head on his left arm, so as to place his
eyes as nearly al possible on a level With
| the paper, while glancins sideways at
| the letter he Is constructing to form With
his tongue imaginary characters to cor
respond. These motions, although un-
.uestiouably of the greatest assistance
to original composition, retard In some
degree the progress of the writer; AND
Sam had uneonsciousiy been a full hour
and a half writing words IN small text,
smearing out wrong letters with his
little finger. and putting In new e
which required going over very often to
render them visible through the Old
blots, when he has reused by the olea
ing of the door and entrance of hl,
parent.
We'll. Sammy" said The father.
well. my Prooshan Blue" respond
ed the son, laying down his pen. Mhat,s
the last bulletin about mother ln-law!
Mrs. Weller passed a very good night,
but is perwerse and unpleas-
ant this morning. Signed upon oath
s. Weller, Esquire, Senior. That's the
last vun as was issued, Sammy" re-
piled Mr. Weller, untying his shawl.
"No better YETI inquired Sam. -.
"All the symptoms aggravated"
replied Mr.. Weller, shaking his head.
but vot's that you re a dom of? Pur-
suit Of knowledge under difficulties.
Saulmy?' -,
..I've done now,' said Sam, with
slight embarrassment I've been
awritin.
so | sce," replied Mr.. Weller.
Not to any young 'ooman, | hope'
Sammy" -,
why, it's no use a sayin' it ant"
replied Sam. Its a valentine"
IA whatr' exclaimed Mr.. Weller,
apparently horror stricken by the word.
"A valentine" replied Sam.
"Samivel, Samivel," said Mr.. Wei
Ter, In reproachful accents, 81 didn't
think you'd ha' done it! AFTER the
warnin' you've had O your fathers
vicious propensities; arter all I've said
TO you upon this here very subject; arter
actiwally SEM and bein' in the compa
ny O. your own mother in law, vich
should ha' thought wos a moral lesson
as no man could never ha' forgotten to
his dyin' day! didn't think you'd ha'
done it Sammy didn't think you'd
ha' done itr' These reflections were
too much for the good old man. he
raised Sans tumble to his lips and
drank of its contents.
"Wot's the matter now?" said Sam.
"Nev'r mind Sammy" replied Dir.
Weller It'll be a very ~agonizin' trial
to me at nay time fife but I'm pretty
tough, that's vun consolation, as the
very old turkey remarked wen the far
mer said he wos afeerd ne should be
Obliged to kill him for the London mar
ket."
"Wotll be a trial?" inquired Sam.
ITO see you married, Sammy-to sc.
you a alluded victim, and thinkin
in your innocence that it's all very cap
%itai," replied MI. Weller. Its
dreadful trial to q fathers feelin's, tina
ere, Sammy"
"Nonsence! |" said sam. Il an
agoin' to se: married, don't you fre'
yourself about that; | know you're
!, Judge of these things. Order in YOU
pipe, and I'll read you the letter
There"
Drive Oh, Sammy" said Mr.. Vel
Ter.
Sam complied with the request, and
proceeded as follows: his father con
tinulng to smoke, with a fixed expires
q son of wisdom aud complacency which
was particularly edifying:
lahore | see you | thought all wo
ulen was alike.
so they are" observed the eide
Mr.. Weller, parenthetlcally.
d but now continued Sam-'now
find what a reg'lar soft-head, Ink
rid lous turnip | must ha' been; TO,
there ant nobody like you, though j
like you better than nothin' at all
thought it best to make that Iaythel
u strong" said Sam, looking up.
/ Mr.. Weller nodded approvingly, ant
Sam resumed.
$50 1 take the privilege of the day
Mary, my dear as the gen'fm'n il
difficulties did ven he walked out of
Sunday-to tell you that the first ant
ID only time | see you, your likeness wa
is took on my hart in much quicker tim
and brighter colors than ever a Likeness
was took by the protect macheen (wicI
p'raps you may have heerd on Mary IN
DEAR. altho' it does finish a portrait an
put the frame and glass on complete
= with a hook at the end to hang it u
by, and all In two minutes and a quar-
ter
Il am afeerd that werges on tn
poetical, Sammy" said MIR. Weller
obviously.
=. No; it don't replo ID Sam, readin
ID on very quickly, to avoid contesting tn
point:
Except of me Mary my dear, as you
valentine and think over what "
said. My dear Mary, 1 will now cor
clude.' That's ALL" said Sam.
ssp That's rayther a sudden pull up
an, it, Sammy? ?" inquired Mr. Weller
mot a bit on it," said Sam she
vish there wos more, and that's th
great art O. letter w%ritin'."
'Well,' said Mr.. Weller, there
of somethin' in that and l wish you
mother~in- law 'ud only conduct he
conversation on the same gen teel prir
ciple. Ant you agoin' to sign it?"
That's the difficulty" said Sam
don't know what to sign it."
ed "Sign it Veller," said the Oldest su
an viving proprietor of that name.
Won't do" said Sam. "Nev'
sign a valentine with your own name.
Sign it 'Pickvick,' them said NJ
Weller; its a very good name, an
an easy one to spell"
,sn The very thing" said Sam. :
in. could end with a verse what do yo
thinkY"
Il dou't like it SAM" rejoined NJ
Weller. Il Bever know'd respectful