The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-03-02
GRACE's VALENTINE.

UhAOE> y fALENllNEs
A crisp, clear morning, with a dome
of purest blue overhead, and a 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 congealed its surface during a
complete calm of the disturbing elements.
What could have been more propitious
for skating party?
1t was a pretty scene, Warmly clad
and daintily booted-fying 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 naots
and repartees, and-must / say itP-oc-
casionally shaft of malicious meaning
yelled under honeyed-sounding words. 9
Such is hfe-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.
Itwas 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 a maiden who does
not greet the coming of st. Valentine s
Day with an expectant thrill at her
heart as the postman's S ring is heard, and
the white-winged messengeris delivered
to her whose bold chirography tells at
once the secret of its sender's namep If
SO, she is an anomaly among her lind,
and must have been aged Cat 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
q picture Of youthful maidenhood as one
could find in days journey
She had no lack of attendants. It 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
usual thing, prefer girls society to boys.
And here let me whisper secret. Such
afriend 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
society as fully as the brilliance of fire
does upon due amount of coal.
Twill not deny that Elsie was very
much pleased when she saw Harry Vail
make his appearance upon the ice; for,
although fine, manly fellow, who could
hold his own with the best at 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 aptto 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 sun
Hover can help turning its golden leaves
toward the sun as he takes his diurnal
pilgrimage from east to west.
Owing to this prepossession in his favor
ne was considered privileged person
age among the rest of the boys; for Elsie
allowed him to fasten the skates upon her
httle feet, and to hold her muff. and
wen, II he had been her shadow, he
couldn't have been in more constant at
tendance upon her; and it occasioned
some hSart-burnings, for ''the bestskater
on the pond, and the prettiest girl, ought
NOT TO be monopolized, said one party.
IN an injured tone; and another neglected
.ad made grumbling answer that "It
was adeuced shame, and he meant to put
stop to that tracket, though it remained
70 De discovered how he would first begin
- set about it, as he was too shy to speak
girl $ presence, and bIushed to the
Ioots OF his hair if one of the pretty sis
sernood addressed even the simplest re-
marx directly to him.
Are you going to send any valentines
Ie-mlsorrow. 70 ElsiePn asked May Osgood,
'Aaang up beside her friend.
les; shall put one in the post to-
.lgnt Tor little Micky in the infant class
= asSunday-school. You've seen him, MAY, |
a. aaia ne $ the cunningestl little thing-and |
30 patient''
a. May be I'll send him one, too, now
.iae you've put me in mind of it. But |
aen You going to have little fun on |
your own accountp I am. Mamma saws
I dalg u getting too big for such things, but
dont think so.''
-. u !, haven't quite made up my mind
~ .ss answered Elsie, with warning
Saa,s Ssaaee at her friend. for Harry was evi-
usnuy paying interested attention to
th;aa 1nas tney were saying. ..What do you
;ua ;ullk about it. Harryp she added, turn
"g Esam.ilingly toward him.
/. II splendid fun to send comic ones"
ae "a answered. that is, if you can hit upon
M.a nate the ugly things!" exclaimed
~. s' Venemently. ''rd never forgive
ahY ''n one if got one.''
h !, nut you wouldn't find out who sent