Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1886-07-14
MANS VALENTINE.


most blows away the two ragged little
mites who are standing hand in hand
staring with all their eyes at the gay
shop-window. Pete has seen it before.
He knows each valentine nearly by
heart and his glowing description OF
them has aroused in Nannie's little
breast a wild desire TO behold their glo-
ries for herself. On their way to 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.
Eye see, Man," he says, they're few
folks ez likes other folks to send to folks
ez likes them" And Nan is content
with the explanation. Pete" she asks
again, ''d'you think they is any one ez
likes me 'nough-'nough to send me
one?" I'll guess they is Man," an
swers Pete, hesitating. But q great,
rough errand-boy who is passing out of
the store overhears Nannie's innocent
little question. What" he says, with q
grimace, 'send valentine to q dirty
little red-haired thing like you? l should
think notr' and he goes his way.
Pete's face grows red with anger
'.Td like to hit 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, if, indeed, 'home" it can
be called-a damp, wretched cellar in a
disreputable court, where drunken
shrew known as whisky Sal' is the
only parent the child knows. As for
Pete, he is not much better off. He lives
in the same court, but on the ground
floor, and is the youngest of a large
family, half of whose members are for
the most part maintained-though GER
tainly not in luxury-at the expense OF
the State. Goodnight, Mamie" he
saws, as he leads the weary child down
the cellar steps; 'you just betcher life
you'll git a valentine Saturday." And
on this Pete is fully determined. Poor
little fellow! 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 he
| is thrown for supper q crust OF bread
| and two cold potatoes. Then he has an
inspiration. He will save to-night's
| and tomorrow's food and sell it.
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 off cheerfully to
| sleep, delighted with his plan.
The next day Pete has a 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
| full circumstances about which strict sill
ence is preserved a good part of it falls
| to Pete's share. He hides it with the
| rest, and who will not say that he is 6
| hero to resist as he does the longings
! for '.iust one taste which assail him!
| He feels that he is not strong enough tc
withstand them if he stays at home, anC
so he wanders out. faint and hungry
| into the cold. He strays about the city
all day, hoping for some job to turn VI
| BY which he can earn a few cents, bu
is disappointed and returns to the court
in the evening in time to receive hi:
| share of potatoes and few cold, dOughy
buckwheat cakes, which have beer
! given by some generous housewife. Add
| ING these to his store Pete seeks, bundle
| in hand, certain corner, where the
youth of the neighborhood is wont tc
| gather. After some bargaining, il
which all his keenness is needed, he
succeeds in disposing of his wares to an
| Irish paper-boy known as ''Scruffy" fol
the large sum of 5 cents. Scruffy, for
| tunately, is of a generous turn OF mind
eye kin kape the pancakes" he says
munificently, turning them over with
his grimy hands. ''Thim cakes is that
heavy wouldn't be afther given 'em to
an 'ospital let alone atm at thin me-
silf." Poor little, half-starved Pete,
however, devours them greedily, and
then, clutching tightly his precious 3
cents, turns homeward again. In the
morning, early, he is off to the city. and
is almost the first customer in the large
bookstore. please, mister, hev We got
any valentines for 2 cents?" he asks,
kindly, and the yawning clerk produces
tray containing a despised ''chear
line" Pete hurriedly selects the pict
ure of an impossible little girl with vel.
low hair and sky-blue eyes, holding a
bleeding heart, and then inquiries anx.
iously: '.Please, sir, could 1 git cover
an stamp fer cent?"
Eyes, guess you could" replies the
amused clerk, taking in the forlorn
little figure and producing an envelope
and stamp from behind the counter.
"Shall write the name on it for your
"Oh, please?'' says Pete eagerly. "It's
fer Man," he adds.
Man? Nan who?" demands his
kindly friend.
The boy fushes quickly. II guess she
h'aint got any other name," he an
! swers; "they call her mother Whisky
SAL" doubtfully. ''.---~-.~-...
'Well, do you know the number
son?" asks the clerk after pause.
Eyes, sir Nine Humboldt court" re-
| plies the child, promptly, and in few
moments Pete, the proud possessor of q
stamped envelope addressed to "MisS
| Nan -, 9 Humboldt court" is on his
| way to the nearest lctter-box, whittier he
is directed by his friend the salesman.
He sets off bravely and arrives safely al
the further side of the slippery crossing
| but alas! as he does SO bitter wind
sweeping down the street snatches the
| precious letter from his half-benumbed
fingers and whirls it back in the middle
of the crossing. With a cry the boy
darts after it, and succeeds in regainine
his treasure. He presses it close against
his battered coat and turns to retrace
his steps, but-how does it happeni
Does he slip on the icy street, or is he
faint and giddy from long fasting? he
falls-a cable car is swiftly turning the
corner-how can / tell it?
A moment later child's mangled
body, with crushed and blood-stained
| envelope still pressed to the lifeless
breast, is the center of crowd. With
difficulty they make out the address or
the torn paper, and carry him -
Il L.,