Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1886-07-02
MANS VALENTINE.
lint they lovely. Mamie ~

MES hOnrSo little treble. s0h, EDkoIs
hreathlesely. '.d'yon think d'you think
praps some one might send me
0nePa
It's tho 18th of February and the first
day Of genuine blizzard. The wind
rages round the street corner and al.
most blows away the two ragged little
mites who are standing hand ii hand
staring with al their eyes ct the gay
shop-window Pete has seen II before.
He knows each valentine nearly BY
heart and his glowing description Of
them has aroused iii Nannies little
breast a wild desire to behold their glo-
ries for herself. On their way 90 the
city-it must be three miles at least from
the dingy court which is their house.
Pete has done his best to explain TO her
the raison d'etre of valentines.
ssYe see, Nan, he saws. nthey're few
folks a. likes other folks TO send to folks
ez likes Aepl.l And Nan is content
with the explanation. Pete, = she asks
again. I'd you think they is any one q
likes me 'nough 'nough to send ne
onegn Il guess they is Nan, an
swers Pete. hesitatlng But great,
rough errand-boy who i passing out OF
the store overhears Nannie's innocent
little question. ssWhat!v he says, with d
grimace, send valentine to dirty
little red-haired thing like youP Ishould
think notp' and he goes his way.
Pete's face grows red with anger.
I'D like 70 he him, he mutters, saw
agely, and then he tries gently to soothe
poor, little, crying Nan The boys
rough words have hurt and frightened
her. and she is growing tired and cold
and terrified BY the increasing crowd.
With great care and trouble Pete gets her
home at last, II, indeed, sshomeh it can
be called-a damp, wretched cellar in q
disreputable court, where a drunken
shreW known as s.Whiskv Sal'' IS the
only parent the child knows. AS for
Pete, he is not much better of. lie lives
in the same court, but on the ground
floor. and il the youngest Of q large
family, half of whose members are for
the most part maintained though cer-
tainly not IN luxury lat the expense OF
the State. Goodnight, Nannie,p he
says, as he leads the weary child down
the cellar steps; ssyou just betcher life
you'll II git a valentine Saturday. And
on this Pete is fully determined. Poor
little fellowl How it is to be done he
has as yet not the least idea. Except
the rags on his backs he has no smallest
thing he can call his own. He thinks
and thinks and puzzles his small brain
all evening without result, till at last be
Is thrown for supper crust Of bread
and two cold potatoes. Then he has an
inspiration. He will save to-night's
and tomOrroW's food and sell IL.
Alas! half the bread and one of the
potatoes are already gone, but the re-
mainder he carefully hides away, and.
hungry as he Is, drops of checrfullY to
sleep, delighted with his plan.
The next day Pete has windfall. By
some lucky accident part Of cold leg
Of mutton finds its way into the house,
and as the family IS at present much re-
duced IN members owing to some pain
ful circumstances about which strict sill
ence is preserved good part Of it falls
to Pete's share. He hides il with the
rest, and who viii not say that he Is
hero to resist as be does the lonQinos
for siust one taste which assail hin1p
he feels that he is not strong enough ID
Withstand them If he stays at home, and
so he wanders out, faint and hungry.
into the cold. He strays about the city
al day. hoping for some Job to turn up
By which he can earn few cents. but
Is disappointed and returns to the court
in the evening in time to receive his
share Of ofp0tatoes and few cold, domghy
buckWheat cakes, which have been
given by some generous housewife. Add
ing these TO his store Pete seeks. bundle
IN hand a norfmfxa frxeesesr sm4hm..m 49,.