Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-02-24
FEBR u AIRY FOURTEENTH.


MS cap ahead or him out OF the school
house door, into the group of boys and
girls under the cd maple tree, and fol
lowing the cap in such head 'ong man.
ner that he almost " capsized." Hur-
rah She says we may"
May what 2" said Allen Kirk who
had just joined the group.
Have d valentine post office" an.
swerod half dozen at once, Gin the
school house, and open 1t ct the noon
recess"
1.-THE teacher Ia better than thought
she was, announced Tom Grant. "l'll
send you one, Dolly, 40 look out for it
and IL won't be comic Dne either"
III tell you what, boys, said Fred
Slime to his two confidential chums In
nirchief, let's get up good one Oh
Snub-nosed Billy Won't he Just
dance with rage |" and the three boys
went off Arm III arm la way tho,
meant mi. chief.
Billy Townsend, or, as be was general.
ly called, Snub hosed Billy" was IA
acknowledging boy, about ~ years OLD
with freckled face, red hair, and Ger
tsinly the very suubbiest" nose you
ever saw.
IL be- had been bright and jolly, HIS
being poor would have made no differ
ence to these tun.lovIng boys, but he
was sensi i've and hot. tempered, and
when the boys leased him about his red
hair and turn.up nose" he would fly
Into such = passion that 1t soon became
The fashion 10 tease Billy.
The next day was Valentines, :"
and long before school time the boys
and girls came tiptoeing into the school
house with Notwithstanding enve-
lopes hidden in their pockets and under
their aprons, TO be deposit in the box
in Miss Slosn's desk.
just before school was dismissed for
| dinner, size began To distribute them,
| and ~ each name WAS announced the
happy possessor came smiling up TO re-
| ceiye his share.
| Little Dolly had just come into pos
session OF her promised one, and then
Miss Sloan called "Billy townsend. :"
| Biliy said. "Whst, ma'am," in
rather a frightened voice thai IN AIDE the
SCHOLARS all laugh. and even the teacher
smiled AZ she said
why, Billy, it's valentine for
you. Don't you want it?"
| " did not expect any, ma'am," the
boy answered as he came bashfully for
ward, looking no pleased that Miss
Sloan watched him curiously while h.
opened 1t, and was startled TO see the
look OF fury that came over his face as
he looked At the valentine, then cfum.
Piled 1t up in his hand and thrust II
into his pocket.
She did not say anything till the box
was empty and then spoke very quietly
and pleasantly.
Billy, will You wait and show m,
your valentine? The rest of you arr
dismissed" turning to the othe
scholars.
Fred Slime and Harry May looked a
each other in CONSERVATION at the turl
afiairs we're taking. They would jus
as soon Miss Sloan did not see Ina
| valentine, but there WAS no help for
now, and they had TO 20.
BY this time Billy had his hea,
down on the desk to hide the tears tina
would come In spite Of him, and Mis-
3 .oan, putting her hand gently on hi
head, salt:
What In 1t, Billy? l saw you
valentine troubled you. VIII you sho,
: IL 10 me?"
Billy did not answer, but putin
one hand INTO his pocket drew out tn
valentine and gave 1t 10 her.
There WAS Billy in caricature Ger tair
ly-tho face covered with DiotchesOf pain
Tor freckles, nose turned up 30 tar yo
could hang "A bucket on IL, hair u brigt
red, with u boy standing behind hii
pretending TO warm his hands by tn
blaze of the hair.
Billy" Miss Sloan said quietly
this Is very mean trick, but l d
not think the boy b intended to hurt 20
3d."
"They did ma am answered Bill,
. without raising his heal "The
{ never let me alone for momen
{ Ohi" he went on with burst of tear
|. mother! mother why did you die an
leave me?'
Miss s ioan petted and con- forted hi
until he began To feel little less 10
lorn, and tod him If he would not Y,
: NO angry the boys would not care
/ tease him. And then alter thinking
y long time, he said
Pm try. Miss Sloan ; and than
you, ma'aIn."
"That's a b. ave boy. I'll help yo
1, all can but 1t must deped mostly {
= yourself. Now you need not stay fl
: the resi- Of school - and going To u
door with him she rang the bell for Il
rest of the school, who came III as Bill
| WcuI Outs anu thOy WCio a
seated she said
ID Boys, Billy showed me hts vale
y tine" Fred and Harry blushed al
looked rather guilty, but she took !
notice and went on: Il am mo
grieved than can tell you, to think N
boys should have done no mean al
v, coWardly thing ] should never ha'
allowed you TO have the box II l hs
'f thought This would be the result.
would have been ss brave for two
three of you to sneak up behind hi
when he could not see you and stril
him, and IT would not have hurt hi
4, half 30 much. Did You think po
ii, Billy had DO few troubles yOn wOu
make some for his benefit ? Is it not
ing" she went on, speaking mo
"a. warmly, "that he 10 poor and negle'
III ed, with q miserable rather, and oft
eV hardly enough to cat? His moth
WAS his only friend, and she died mai
a. months ago. l know you did 4
!. realize what q cruel thing II Is to o.
~ one more trouble when he has
- many, and are sorry already. do 4
= ask which of you did it but / do a
u that every one of you boys and 81
will try and prove to poor Billy that
q, is not without friends, and make
hard life easier to bear"
n There was moments pause, tn
\, one hand after another was hello
~ with the promise of sympathy, q
q helm and then Fred said earnestly
"Miss Sloan, it was l who sent Il
ne valentine"
al helped I" "And II" interrupt
Harry and Charley. j,
Il 1T was who suggested it first,
sE lam heartily ashamed of myself. a
ID. will tell Billy 70 to morrow"
81 Right. Fred" answered M