Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-03-08
A HOMELY VALENTINE
But Not Insanity Keeping OF
the Day.

Without was the frosty air and the
crystalline whiteness of midwinter
morning. The fields and roadsides
were covered with thick, shining
"crust," and the bending boughs Of
the trees were coated with sparkling
mail, vulnerable only to the glancing g
arrows of the February sunshine.
Within, fit complement to the glitter
ing wilderness and icy show outside,
were warmth and color and bright
ness. The sunlight lay on the shining,
yellow painted floor of great farm
house kitchen. On an immense
braided rug before the glowing cook
stove lay big, purring. yellow cat.
The oven door was open, and revealed
a baking Of pies, juicy and bubbling in
their plates, and their delicate brown
fakiness declared them just ready to
be transferred to the pantry shelves.
One table held pans whose yellow
cream was waiting to be skinned,
and deep brown stone jar and shin
ing tin skinner were beside them.
Another covered with a crimson cloth,
with plate and knife and fork for one,
was evidently the breakfast table de-
layed for some one, for whom were
waiting also, beside the bread and
butter, the apple pie and doughnuts
on the table, bright coffee pot and
two or three GOV cred dishes at the bach
of the range.
Mother and daughter were in thu
room; the former a short, rounded
motherly woman with pink cheeks
despite her fifty-five years, bright
large, brown eyes, and hair still thcl
and brown and bonny, though here
and there lay silvering strand. No
even the black and white calico coulC
make her look otherwise than CHEEKY
and comfortable; and though she hat
known sorrow, she would always be t.
others a comforter. Sue Wyllie wa
taller and more slender than he
mother had ever been, with a pale
and more reticent face, yet with tn,
same hair and eyes. She was donninl
cloak and leggings for her cold wall
to the district school-house, where she
taught.
The jingle Of sleigh-bells passin,
drew both for a moment to the win
dow.
"Dr. Worthy. He's going up t.
Mrs Lanes, suppose. The younges
boy. Freddy, has been sick lon,
time, they have been afraid he woul
be crippled. Poor womanl I'm afrai
she has hard time. She can't hel
It, with four children, one an invalid
the Oldest, May, only thirteen"
'Mrs. Lanep l don't remember an
one-Oh! it's Mary Lane, Mary Brad
ford that was, and Mary Gage
daughter, and lives on the home plac
there. I've been away so long I'd fol
gotten. They had but just come whe
Iwent Do you think they're so yer
poor, Sue?"
II think they must be-" Sue ar
swered.
Her mother had been away in
distant State at the bedside of he
mother, then living with anoths
daughter, Mrs. Wyllie's only sistel
and had only returned after her deaf
two OF three weeks before.
May, and George, he's clever
come to school. Fred's the invaliC
and the baby Nell is only three. The
wear such thin clothes, though it seen
as if their mother did her utmost wit
what she has. And they'll never sta
to their dinners, however stormy I'll
Perhaps they don't have much to brin
I've thought called there; and Mr.
Lane is so thin and pale and tired lool
ing, though ever so pleasant and chez
full Imagine she would't give "
while she lived. / think DR.. Worth
must be very good to them; he goes vel
constantly. l thought we might .
something. but though father was vii
ing neither he nor could think of an
way to give without hurting their prit
and their feelings, too, for they a
proud"
II don't doubt it. but not in any sill
way, or she wouldn't be her mother
daughter. You can't remember he
Sue? She died when you were lit
thing. She was my dearest frier
when we were girls together. We we
married on the same day, Valentine
Day, thirty-fve years ago this mont
Mary-this Mary, was married vel
young. She's been widow now he
self year or two. It's we'll she h
the old place to come to. il she's 3