The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1888-04-27

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She looked up implOringly. She
really couldn't speak.
Aunt Kate laughed. "Why, yes,
child, take them if you want them
foolish things! But what on earth
will you do with them 7 cut them
upp
Ont them up? Helen looked
aghast. Indeed she wouldn't. She
should send them, every one.
"Nonsense, child! Aunt Kate
said: "Send them wherel Such
senseless things ~
They're lovely y cried Helen,
Indignantly. "Didn't you think SO
when you got 'emi know who'll
think they're beautiful ~
"Well, who then ~
Helen nodded IN a determined
fashion. "You know Paradise
Row. don't you that horrid little
poor street, where there's such lots
OF ragged little boys and girls.
They'll like 'em. | could put them
in bag, just like postman, aud
give one to every little girl on the
street-tar as they'll go. Can't
give little boys any, won't be
enough, and any way, poor little
girls look forlorner n boys. When
is it time to send valentines,
anntie ~
! So auntie looked at her calendar
and told Helen the day after to-
morrow wonId be Valentines Day,
and then she bundled up Helen's
pile of treasures, which the child
had quite forgotten, aud told her to
run off with them, while she her
self put away the rest before dark
But before Valentines day came,
Helen had thought of some one
else 10 whom she wauted to send a
valentine. This was old Mr.. Gran.
ger up at the corner of Hyde street.
"He's fOrloruer than those chill.
dren, she reasoned, which might
have surprised Mr.. Granger little
tor he lived in by the finest house
iu the town, and could have bought
out Helen's papa u dozen time;
over. "He must be awful lonesome
nobody bur that butler man to talk
to. Nobody to eat diuner With, noI
TO give him presents ChristmaseS
nor birthdays, nor any times. lie
looks like nice old man, aud Fm
awful sorry tor him. And this is
such a pretty little valentine. 1t
says, i think of thee aud that's
what 1 do, and 1 want him to have
il. Perhaps twill make him feel
better"
Valentines day came, bright aud
clear, and Helen was out early
with her little bag. "Pm the
valentine postman," she announced,
when, In answer to her first knock
in "Paradlse Row." frOzy-lOOking
woman appeared, wiplng tbe suds
from her hands Oh her soiled aprou.
"How many little girls are there
in this house, pleasef Four, yOu
said I" aud then she put four pref
ty little valentines in the astOnish-
ed woman'S hands, and smiled con-
tidiugly at her. zone apiece" J" she
said brightly. ''GOod bye;" and
on she went to the next house.
Aud all aloug the street delight.
ed children first stared in wonder
at the valentines, aud then crowded
to the windows to stare at the lit
tie 'pOstmau" till she was out of
sight. "Paradise Row" didn't know
what tO.make of it.
At the last house Helen knocked
in vain. just as sue was turning
away, in doubt what 10 do, a rag
ged little boy sauntered up.
"Taint no use knocking there,n
he volunteered. NobOdy's to home
but Polly, an she can't come"
"WhO's Polly ~ queried Miss
Helen, sand why can't she I"
"She can't" answered the boy.
"Sbe's lame. Open the door if yer
wanter see her.n
Helen opened the door o little
way and peVped in. 1t opened into
a narrow ball, not very clean,
so she stepped inside aud knocked
at an inner door. A faint, sharp
voice called, "Come in," aud open
ing the door Helen found Polly,
the thinnest child she ever saw,
who sat close to the feeble FIRE,
wrapped in an Old shawl, aud whe
looked up with bit of a nod, say
lug, "Ma's oul," but then swiled a
little when sue saw only Helen.
"Oh, are you sick 7" cried that
little maid impuIsively. "rm so
sorry. Ididu't want anybody. l.
l only brought you a valentine"
taking out the biggest and prettiest
Of all she bad.
"Oh myP cried Polly, 10 her
sharp little voice, aint il pretty y
Her eyes danced aud the thin
cheeks flushed. 1t was pretty to
see her pleasure.
Then Helen stayed few minutes
and learned that Polly had fallen
down stairs two years ago, and
never walked since; that she hadn't
any brothers or sisters, aud her
mother "weut out to days work.
Bot there were two more little glrls
10 the house. "And isu't that fun
~, !" said Helen, HfOr Pve Just got
two valentines left You give 'em
zach Que, please. And goodbye,
Polly. III come aud see you again