The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-03-02
GraCe's Valentine.

Grace's Valentine. a
A crisp, clear morning, with q
dome Of purest blue overhead, and
a mantle of snow white .ermine un-
derneath the feet. At an easy
walking distance sheet of frozen
water, so taultlessly smooth that
Jack Frost must have swooped down
upon it and congealed its surface
during q complete calm of the dis
turbing elements. What could have
been more propitious for skating
party?
1t was a pleasant scene. Warm
ly clad and daintily booted-hying
along over the sparkling surface of
the lake went the merry skaters
red cheeks growing redder, and
bright eyes shining brighter-clear,
young voices ringing out in chimes
of tinkling laughter bon mots and
repartees, and-must l say it?-oc-
casionally shaft of malicious
meaning veilcd under honey sound
ing words. -... ...
Such is life-bitter must mingle
with the sweet, and suspicious,
Grabbed natures are ever to be found
among the sunny, glad spirited ones
who do so much to fill our lives
with happiness.
1t was the day preceding the one
which is marked with the white peb-
BILE upon the calendar of every child,
and also upon many children of a
larger growth. Is there a maiden
who does not greet the coming Of
St. Valentin's Day with an expec-
tant thrill at her heart as the post
mans ring is heard, and the white
winged messenger is delivered to
her whose bold chirography tells at
once the secret of its sender's name?
If so, she is an anomaly among her
kind, and must have been aged (at
hearty from her cradle.
But to return to my story. One
swift footed fairy of girl was the
cynosure of all eyes as she circled
around, as much at her ease as
though she had been born and bred
upon skates. She was as pretty a
picture of youthful maidenhood as
one could find in days journey.
She had no lack of attendants.
1t is one of the peculiarities of
male nature to set value upon
what is most difficult to obtain
and Elsie, great favorite, was one
of those rare young misses who, as
a usual thing, prefer girls society
to boys. And here let me whisper
a secret. Such a friend is the incest
to have. One who is at all times
lovable, and bright, and charming,
and whose vivacity does not depend
upon the masculine element in soci
ETY. as fully as the brilliance of a
fire does upon due amount of coal.
l will not deny that Elsie was
very much pleased when she saw
Harry Vail make his appearance
upon the ice; for, although a fine,
manly fellow, who could hold his
own with the best at game Of base
ball or at a trial with the boxing
gloves, still there was an absence in
him of that yainglorious boastful-
ness with which brothers are so apt
to try to impress their sisters or
their girl friends; and then. too, he
was so sensible and helpful in all
emergencies, that Elsie could not
any more help liking him than the
sunfower can help turning its gold
en- leaves toward the sun as he takes
his diurnal pilgrimage from east to
west.
Owing to this prepossession in
his favor he was considered a privi-
legged parsonage among the rest of
the boys; for Elsie allowed him to
fasten the skates upon her little
feet, and to hold her mnff, and
we'll, if he had been her shadow, he
Icouldn't have been in more constant
attendance upon her; and it occa-
stoned some heart-burnings, for
'the best skater on the pond, and
the prettiest girl, ought not to be
monopolized," said one party, in an
injured tone; and another neglected
lad made a grumbling answer that
sit was deuced shame, and he
meant to put a stop to that racket y
thoush b it remained to be discovered
how he would first begin to set about
lit, as he was too shy to speak in a
girls presence, and blushed to the
roots Of his hair If one of the pref
ty slsterhood addressed even the
, simplest remark directly to him.
Are you going to send any valen.
tines tomorrow Elsie? asked May
Osgood, skating up beside hel
| friend. i :
5 Yes; shall put one in the post
tonight for little Micky in the in
fant class at Sunday school. You've
seen him, May, and hes tie Gun
ningest thing-an SO patient! zae
May be I'll send him one, too
now that you've put me in mind OF
it. But aren't you going to have Q
little fun on your own account?
am. Mamma says I'm getting tor
big for such things, bnt ! don'1
: think So aJiat sseas rGfs
4 haven't quite made vi, my mine
,fyet,' answered Elsie, with . warning
glance at her friend for Harry was
evidently paying interested atten
!, ton to what they were saying
sWha.. do you think about it Harry
1sle added, turning toward him. e9s
Its splendid fun TO eend comic
ones he answered, that is if yot
: can hit upon g good one filEl
II hate the ugly thingss exclaim
ed May vehemently. I'D never for
lgfye any one if got one.a
. But you wonldn't find out VIII
Z sent il, said Elsie. e
We've i visitor at our house,
said Harry, and he's q perfect gen
fellow. Hecan draw the eutes
believe I'll get him i,
scratch me off something nice, and
& I'll send II to the girl / wantto hav,
|. for my valentine all through th,
. year,
People can't always get wha