Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-02-14
THE AporHEcAeY's vALBNrIHs.

Ia was lonely house for child to live
ip-onIy papa, who had been i'll for many
months, little Ida herself, the ten-year.old
mistress Of the establishment, and Mira.
Libby, the housekeeper. Across the street
the postman had been ringing all day. Ida
watching at the window with piece OF
red flannel around her throat, mad seen
little lads and lassies slipping envelopes
under the doors; then smalt girls, and
sometimes big girls, came out on the steps,
looked up and down the street, and smiled
as if they were very much pleased.
"Why do they get SO many letters to-
day 2" asked Ida, timidiy.
Mrs. Libby was cleaning the nursery
closet, aud answered shortly, "Those are
valentines; como away from the window.
You'll get cold.
Valentines, said Ida thoughtfully to
herself - | wonder what that IS"
She slipped down to the library and
dragged the Y volume of the encyclopedia
beside the register. Ida had long since
adopted the plan of looking up Mrs. Lib
by's replies In papa's library. The child's
head bent over the page "Valentines-A
declaration of affection between two peo-
PIE. sent on st. Valentines day, the 14sh
Of February
" A valentine must be something very
nice" thought Ida. :" the children over the
way were 60 happy. wish l could send
one, but only know Mrs. Libby" And
with SIGH she put the heavy book back.
Mrs. Libby came down stairs with her bon
net and shawl on, and Ida, taking small
parse from her pocket. asked, "WIll you
please to buy valentine?"
''What for ."
q for me to give to you.
Nonsense Little girls don't send
valentines to old women like me. Keep
your ten cents to put in the box, when you
get well enough to go to church.
Ida SAL still long time after this. She
wanted to be like o5her little girls, but ali
the little girls she had ever known init
mately, were in books, and it so happened
that none of these had ever spoken of
Valentines Day. the telephone bell rang
Ida heard the housemaid order five
pounds of coffee crushed sugar to be sent
up immediately" and then an idea came
into the child's mind 81 can't 90 out to
buy valentine, but 1 can telephone one"
She repeated again, ga valentine is a
declaration of affection yes [ can tele-
phone q declaration of affection. Mrs.
Libby is out Papa can't hear in his room,
and III get Mary TO go down and look at
TIRE furnace" Thus Ida made her plans.
The next question was, to whom should
she send her valentine
I'd better look on the telephone list.
Seth Bennett, Nj. d. That's the doctor
VINO comes to see papa and me; he
wouldn't be in-he is always out. John
Dixon, grocer Thomas Irving, baker oh,
here is Z. 81. Whitney? That's the nice
spOthecary man who brings the medicines
ID Ike TO send him valentine"
Richard Whitney's clerk stood at the
telephone. Messages were coming in very
last that February afternoon. Sam Jones,
tho under clerk, was putting up the pack
ages One porous plaster for Mrs. Lewis.
Two ounces pulverizsd slippery elm bark
sent Immediately to 70 Spruce street"
Some one wants to speak to Mr. Whitney"
Gan right" he shouted back through
She telephone. He's in tbs back shop
I'll cal! him."
There was smell OF chloroform in the
back shop. Mr.. Whitney, on top of step
ladder, was preparing prescription.
Lady wants to speak to you, sir, said
the clerk.
Couldn't she give the message %
Said she couldn't.
Mr. Whitney went to the telephone and
called Whats wanted %
To his astonished ears came back: 81
send you declaration of affection"
! do not understand" said the apoth-
ecsry, no. quite sure of his hearing.
The message was repeated, each word
very distinct.
''Who is it,"
Your Valentine"
Sam Jones, judging from the expression
of Mr. WhItney's face that it was a case
of strangliDg, commissions, or poisoning,
had taken down bis hat ready to run. - No
matter Sam, said his employer, return.
ing to the chloroform atmosphere of the
back shop. 1t could not be q Joke; the
voice was too sweet and true. a child'e
yoice-a little girls, he thought-but he
did not know any little girls. 1t might be
one Of the orphans at the asylum-prooably
was. Every Christmas Richard Whitney
had been in the habit of sending number
OF small bottles of cologne to the large
brick house over the way. He did it from
principle, not from any acquaintance with
the children.
Valentines evening there was an exhibi.
ton at the asylum. Richard Whitney
went "Such kind gentleman" said the
matrCn I" he spoke to every child.
Then the public school examinations took
place. Richard Whitney attended them
all.
He became Sunday.school Superin-
tendent next he got his sister to give q
little girls patty.
Mr. Whitney has grown awful fond of
children all of sudden" said the head
clerk to the second clerk. All, but no one
knew he was listening for the voice of his
Valentine. The apothecary and Idas papa
were Old friends; of late years they had
seldom met, bat these last months Of Mr..
Hammoud's illness Lad brought them to.
gether again. Ida was shy child and
kept out of the way of visitors. The
apothecary was not aware that he had ever
seen her.
One April afternoon he met womsnly
little girl coming down stairs with q tray
In her hand. Miss Ida, suppose" said
he, passing her. Ida nodded gravely, and
as Richard Whitney looked over the bal.
uatrade he thought, "What lonely life
for child L wonder if she goes out
much. l will give her a drive tomorrow. 4"
Mr. Hammond was vary weak that
night, and when Richard Whitney, bend.
ing over him, asked, "John, will You trust
your little daughter to mel" the only re.
ply was a tighter clasp of the hand.
Early the next morning Sam Jones left a
parcel of gum-drops and a note for Miss
Ida Hammond. Presently the telephone
bell rang, and the head clerk said again,
" A lady wishes TO speak to you"
The message was simply this g Thank
yen very much; cannot go-papa is
worse"
Richard Whitney started. II was the
voice he had waited so long to hear.
"Why, it's H4mmonA's little girl" he
said, hurrying dowa the street. Poor
child !"
Papa died few days later, leaving bis
little daughter ia the care of his old friend
and now, every day, q child in a black dress
comes into tho shop, 70 walk hcme with
uncle Richard.
Wonder why he calls her Valentino
thought her name was Ida" said the head
clerk
Perhaps Valentines her middle name, "
suggested Sam Jones.
'fThat must be it, said the head clerk
4fves that must certainly be the reason.