The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-02-11
GRACE's VALENTINE.

of purest blue overhead, and amantle of
snow-white ermine underneath the feet.
AT an easy walking distance sheet OF
frozen water, so faultlessly smooth that
Jack Frost must have swooped down up
on it and CONCEALED its surface during a
complete calm of the disturbing elements.
What could have been more propitious
for a skating partyP
1t was a pretty scene, Warmly clad
and daintily booted flying along over
the sparkling surface of the lake went
the merry skaters-red cheeks growing
redder, and bright eyes shining brighter
-4clear, young voices ringing out in
chimes of tinkling laughter mots
and repartees, and-must Isay it?-oc-
casionally shaft of malicious meaning
yelled under Notwithstanding words. =
Such is life-bitter must mingle with
the sweet, and suspicious, grabbed ma
lures are ever to be found among the
sunny, glad spirited ones who do so
much to fill our lives with happiness.
TWAS the day preceding the one which
is marked with the white pebble upon
the calendar of every child, and also up
on that of many children of larger
growth. Is there maiden who does
not greet the coming of st. Valentine S
Dayswith an eXpectant thrill at her
heart as the postman's ring is heard, and
the white-winged messengeris delivered
TO her whose bold chirography tells at
once the secret of its sender's name? If
so, she is an anomaly among her lind,
and must have been aged Cat hearth
from her cradle. 20.
@ But to return to my story One swift
footed fairy of a 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
apicture 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 vivacitv does not
depend upon the masculine element in
society as fully as the brilliance of fire
does upon due amount of coal.
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 a game of
baseball or at a trial with the boxing
gloves, still there was an absence in him
of that vainglorious boastfulness with
which brothers are so apt to try to impress
their sisters or, their girl-frends; and
then, too, he was so, sensible and helpful
in all emergencies, that Elsie could not
any more help liking him than the sun
flower can help turning its golden leaves
toward the sun as he takes. his diurnal
pilgrimage FROM east to west. r' ,5.h M
Owing to this prepossession in his favor
he was considered a privileged person
age among, the rest of the boys; for Elsie
allowed him tofasten the skates upon her
little feet, and to hold her muff, and
well, if, he had been her shadow. he
couldn't have been in more constant at
tendance upon her; and it oecasioned
some heart burnings, for ''the best skater
onsthe pond, and the prettiestgirl, ought
not to be monopolized. Y said one party.
in an injured tone; and another neglected
lad made a grumblinc. answer that at
was adeuced shame, and he meant to put
a stopto that racket" though it remained
tobe discovered how he would first begin
TO set about it, as he was too shy to speak
in girls presence, and blushed to the
roots of his hair if one Of the pretty sis
terhood addressed even the simplest re-
mark directly to him. a'a,-'lF''a'7
fare YOU eoineto send any valentines
tomorrow, Elsie?n asked Nav Osoood
skating up beside her friend. IN 80,
ayes; + shall put one in the. most to-
night for little Micky in the infant class
atSunday-scliool. YOU We seen him. Nav.
and he's the eunnineest little thine-and
soYpatient!'' ,l5o9 sii al f79f TT
.'May be I'll send him one. too, now
that you've put me in mind of it, But
aren't Won going to have a little fun on
your own ACCOUNT am. Mamma saws