St. Landry democrat., 1882-02-18
Our Young Readers.
A STRANGE VALENTINE.

"A 1hANUG
"When aciA you be ready to 90 down
street for our valentines, Lilla?' asked
Margie Goold, as she stood listlessly at
the window watching the passers-by.
"You said you'd 60 half an hour ago,
and I've been waiting ever since"
But Lila was deep in her arithmetic,
and apparently unconscious that Mar
gle had asked any question, until sud-
denly she jumped up, and, throwing
some papers well covered with figures
into the CRATE, exclaimed:
II would have been ready long ago
had it not been for that horrid D.
"Why, Lila Goold, you ought to be
ashamed to call d. horrid," cried little
Fay, Indignantly, from her seat on the
rug, where she was giving Fido lesson
in making believe dead.
Eyes, indeed, you ought" seconded
Margie. Mamma was saying just a
day or two ago that we must respect D..
and remember what faithful nurse she
was to all of us. And you, of all others,
to call her names, when she sat up
night after night with you when you
were so i'll! And anyway she has only
come to bring the clothes home, and
will probably go right away again, as
she always does.' - .a
Lila interrupted Margie's praise of
their old nurse by throwing herself on
the sofa and laughing immoderately.
Margie looked indignant, Fay puz-
zled, while Fido came quickly to life and
barked vociferously. IN
There! even Edo resents having D.
SO talked about cried Margie, trium-
phantly. .. Re- .-... -.
81 never meant Dinah at ALL" laugh
| ingly protested Lila. s'She is dear
old soul. Imean the D in my exam
pie, who is digging ditch with A, B
and C, and I'm to find out how long it
takes them, and then how much faster
d works than A. l get along finely
until d appears, and then don't know
how to go on
"Oh,n said Maggie, in a relieved
tone; "but wasn't it strange that just
as you said something about D, old
nurse D. came across the street with
the washing, and, of course, thought
you meant her. Here she comes out
again, and the poor thing can hardly
stand, it is SO slippery. Mamma as
Mrs. Goold entered the room" why
does d. bring the clothes still? [
should think Rosa would offer to come
with them, instead of sending her old
aunt out. Why, just see! she can
scarcely stand
"Rosa does not send her, dearie, -
said Mrs. Goold, joining her little girls
at the window, for she told me she
thought it dangerous for Dinah to be
out in the winter so unprepared as she
is, but that Dinah persists in coming, no
matter what the weather, that she may
inquire herself about de chillen.'"
"Good old d." said Fay, using the
name that Lilla-the first baby-had
given Dinah, and both the others had
adopted in their turn. "Why, mann
MAJ continued the little one. strain
ing her eyes to catch a glimpse OF
Dinah's departing figure, show will
she ever get home? There! good!
Rosa has met her. I'm so glad!'
cd. needs pair of that new kind of
rubbers that we stopped to look at to-
day in Mr.. Brooks store window, "
said Lila, putting away her books,
"and then she could get along finely
"Let's get her a pair exclaimed
the wide-aWake Margie, when we go
for our valentines. VIII you give US
the money, mamma? l think the price
is dollar.'' 4,e
"Tn give twenty-five cents toward
it," answered Mrs. Goold, as she laid
some on the table, and left the room.
/ "Of course mamma means by thai
that we ought to give the rest. What
do you say to getting the rubbers, in.
stead of valentines for Lou and Jess?''
suggested Margie.
"'rhcn they won't send US any
They never do, you know, until they
get ours. .aaz
"Thats so; and Madge Hammond
proposed to-day that all the girls bring
their valentines to school Monday, ano
we wantto have as many as we possibly
can, and here''-spreading them Out
upon the table as she spoke - so fal
I've got only three - -.
! Fay's brown eyes were opening widel
and wider as she listened. Papa gays
me lot ofpennies to send a vantaline
to Cousin Daisy, but I'd rather send s
rubber vantaline to Dinah. = 81
! "You little darling!'' cried Lila
kissing her, '.you're a lesson to u.s.
Then, turning to Margie: guess i
baby can give her money, s0e can. Let.
go right down for the rubbers, and sene
them in valentine style, as Fay proposes
Yes, of course Fay shall 60, too isht
added, noticing the large eyes turned
questioningly to hers. =.
About an hour later they rushed int
the sitting-room, exclaiming: "We'yt
got them, and they're beauties e I
throughout, and come over the ankles. :
"How did you know the size?' IN
quired Mrs. Goold, after she had dull.
admired them.
1.-The most fortunate thing in tn
| world - answered Marpie, "WaS on