Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-02-21

| evenly Drowned crust
| "Why, Belindai" exclaimed the specta-
tor, folding her small hands on q corner OF
the table, "who is going to eat all those 7"
"Oh, they'll keep" Belinda replied, in the
same matter-offact way.
Their difficulty seemed bridged over with
pastry. The cock brought two small plates,
knives and forks and sacrificed one Of her
pies for their lunch.
"Where did you get your gold ring 2"
asked Belinda, in sly, qnzzicsl fashion.
"You know. Aunt Val gave II to me in
stead of the silver one lost before" The
deiciousness of the pie would not permit her
| to be vexed.
"You might call her st. Valeria," re-
marked Belinda; "her name is some like
| Valentine"
A thought flashed into the child's mind,
and with double enthusiasm over that and
her pie she cried,-
"Ob, | wish Aunt Val would come home
with papa " after moment adding, " But
she won't. She never visits us in the win
ter,-and it's so long to summer "
The next day, being the fourteenth Of
| February, more attention was given to st.
| Valentine than to books in Gertrude's school.
To Gertrude herself the day promised little
Some of its hours and incidents were not
such as are joyfully remembered. Her
schoolmates' pockets were lined with lovely
valentines in school hours, which were
drawn forth for mutual admiration at every
proper and possible opportunity. Gertrude's
pocket had only her handkerchief in it, and
on the cambria there might have been
fearful spot or 80, at thought of how desolate
a little girl she was for the time. She was
very quiet, preferring that st. Valentines
slight to her should pass unnoticed.
Just after school had been dismissed for
the afternoon, and the girls hocking out
we're Haunting again their valentines like
banners, some one said, "There comes
Charley Watts" and one of those harm
lessly mischievous lads that never fail to
grow along with nettles and Canada thistles,
came running up. Wherever this joker ap-
peared there was apt to be fun falling to
raise laugh he could without much trouble
do his own laughing. To-day, however, he
looked remarkably inc ffensive and meek
even demure, with the corners of his mouth
drawn down and fastened. Perhaps even
he had considered that seriousness is be-
fitting on a saints day. Selecting Gertrude
Burton among the crowd, he handed her
large, square envelope, saying,
"Got it at the post office. Your fathers
sent you valentine, sure"
The child received it with cry of delight
and tore it open in an instant Several of
those who pressed around for the first sight
at her valentine-no doubt the most sump-
tuous the day had brought forth-fancied
they heard chuckle from Charley as he
hurried away. 1t was so natural to suspect
that boy of cutting capers. Then arose
cry of indignation, echoed by many voices
a cry that must have pierced the ears of this
young culprit, who had good reason to make
himself scarce. A valentine truly One Of
those denominations that have so often dis
graced the day and withered this saints
laurels 1t was the picture of a girl all lat
itude and no longitude, having feet like
pair of No. / Goldfish, and wearing green
gown and purple cap over bristling red
hair. Above her head she held iauntily
torn yellow sunshade, and before her some
lean pigs of an unknown breed were scamp
ering away terrified
al don't believe look like that, or bad
enough to scare animsls," screamed the re-
cipent of this doubtful favor.
Some of the girls could not help laugh
ing at the shameful caricature as it went
from hand to hand but all tried to comfort
Gertrude, and begged her not to cry.
"And Charley Watts told lie-a real
big whopper," insisted Gertrude. "Said
he got it from the post-office, and there is
no p p)stmark about it. You all heard him
say that-how did he dare ~
As the abused child entered her own
home once more, Belinda met her laughing,
holding in outstretched hands letter and
small parcel.
"No," cried Gertrude, in bitter refusal,
wheeling around. "This isn't April Fool
Day, and anyway I've been fooled enough.
wonder and she recommended crying
"what makes everybody so hateful to me
nowadays. o papa, do come | wish you
had taken me with you, so could see dear
Aunt Val"
Belinda occupied several of her spare
minutes with warm persuasion, squatted on
the carpet before the child, who had flung
herself into a chair, fualy inspiring her
with faith to examine the articles.
"There now, you see It's your papa's
handwriting, alike on 'em both. Charley
Watts found they was at the post-ofice, and
brought them over"
"Ohl" Then Charley had really got some
thing at the postoffice from her papa, as he
| had said.
With still some reservation Gertrude re-
quested Belinda to open parcel.
O Joy that overflowed a young heart, more
| llldu ITO cOiiO"o "a Wv
| last two days Her present was slender
little gold chain with locket attached.
The letter, when she grew calmer, Gertrude
opened with her own hands;
"My Precious Valentine IL have been unable
| to ascertain many particulars concerning our
saint Perhaps you would be interested to know
that he lived about sixteen hundred and nifty
| years ago in the reign OF the Roman emperor
| Claudius and was celebrated for love and good
deeds Shortly after his death, in consideration
| of his many and great virtues, he was canonized
the word in the Catholic church signifies that
| he was put on the list OF saints, and began to be
| called st. Valentine. From the first this saint
day was observed in manner thoughtful people
disapproved; and the priests and others in au-
thority made every effort TO turn certain silly
and grotesque customs into something better
| but without entire success.
Then the writer bade the child affection
ately to be as good as the gold of her gift,
and signed himself I" Papa Burton" The
best Of all was that he had remembered she
was his Valentine.
"Only one day more TO wait" she said,
hugging her letter.
That last day of the three passed, and at
dusk two persons, gentleman and lady,
alighted from carriage at the door Ger
trude, who had heard the sweet music OF
the trains whistle and was watching at the
parlor window, instantly recognized her
papa and sprang to open the door, but there
paused at the head of the steps, in silent
awe of the stranger
Aren't you glad to see me, darling y
Inquired sweet voice, an arm quickly en-
circling the little form, while with the other
hand the lady raised her veil to give kiss.
"Oh, it's Aunt Val I'm so glad
"Will my little Valentine please give her
aunt that was another name I"
The child looked up in her fathers face
little bewildered, he had spoken so gravely
as well as tenderly.
Belinda said l could call her st. Val
eria."
"Call me mamma" said the winning
voice.
"What, for always-for always And
you will stay with us2 o papal o new
mamma | love everybody cept Charley
Watts,-and like him-s little"
"Did not leave word for you, my dear,
said her father, clasping her to his heart,
"that l would bring you what you had
loved best and lost Could that mean any
thing but a mother ?"-Seiected.
THERE is no doubt that the habit OF car
rying concealed weapons is at the root of
most of the crimes of violence chronicled
from day to day. II men had not weapon
at hand when they become incensed, they
would not cut or shoot. II they had to
seek weapon, in nine cases out OF ten
they would not make themselves criminals
Aoain MANY of the distressing accidents