Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-04-04
JERRY,s VALENTINE.

The trouble with Jerry was innate
bashfuIness. Even the thought of hav-
ing to meet anybody caused him TO
shrink and shiver, and when in memory
he recalled some smiling face and soft
melodious voice that had spoken TO him
it caused him to blush rosy red to the
roots of his hair and made him hang his
head In confusion. Bashfulness was
Jerry's failing, and a life time of twice
three score and ten, 1t was said, could not
cure him of If, or it was bred in the
blood.
AND, as ID always the case with our
tailings, Jerry's one weakness was the
talk and merriment at the whole neigh
borhood. The staid and proper matron,
tile prim and precise old maid and all
the girls-the hoydens and the demore
ones-and the little girls, the boys, the
youths, the young and the old men-all
were aware of Jerry's besetting sin, and
all, it seemed, tried TO the best of their
ability to remind him of it whenever op
portunity offered.
ION the Sunday previous TO the day on
which the incident of this story happened
Jerry accidently overheard plot among
some of the girls at Random, his native
village (the place had been named after
one of Jerry's forefathers and his full
name WAS Jerry Random), which made
his blood run cold in his veins. The
plotters had chosen their time we'll.
They had placed themselves C1tside of
the meeting house door, SO that their
presence was surprise to Jerry when
ne came out. and he found himself rig ht
among them before Ee vas aware OF it.
They all had their backs turned to him,
however, and as he passed they did not
seem to notice him, but went right on
with their conversation.
ooh, it will be such fun" said Molly
Mesher. "Mrs. Random know will be
quite willing for US to come, and during
the evening we viii each watch our
chance and in turn ask Jerry to become
our valentine for the coming year."
"POor Jerry! How, he will blush and
stammer," said Clarissa Jones in musical
tones; then added: II have a good mind
not to go with you girls; it will be too
bad"
"Just listen to Clarissa. girls said
Emma Sloan. l for one believe she is in
love with Jerry; she always sticks up for
him and tries tC shield him."
Clarissa blushed.
''It is hopeless love, them" laughed
Julia Green. Jerry wouldn't accept of
it if il were offered TO him. Why he
was telling him of it, and before she got
half through the declaration"
That was the last Jerry heard. The
words confused him so badly, however,
that he did not know whittier he was
going: he only knew he wanted to get
away as fast as possible and STROBE along
blindly until he run up against the fence
surrounding the little church with such
force as to almost knock him down.
He reached home that Sunday some
how, but by what route he could never
remember. His clothes were soiled and
torn, he was hatless and minus one shoe
while his face and hands were scratched
and bleeding from coming in contact
wi6h thorns aud briars.
His mother, good Mrs Random, with
hands uplifted In horror, met him on the
porch.
"Why, Jerry, what is the matter? Are
you 6runkf' she asked.
Jerry looked down and blushed pain
fully. Even in the presence of his moth
er his failing beset him.
mo, ma'am," he answered.
"Then how comes it that you are in
such plight? Amt you ashamed of
yourselff"
eyes, ma'am."
Jerry stood there, hanging his head.
For goodness sake, Jerry, go into the
house," said his mother. There comes
Molly Mesher and three other girls, and
If they see how you look, they will never
stop talking about it until your dying
day"
Jerry lodges into the house, and was
the last seen of him for that day.
Valentines day came on apaca. Be-
tween that day and the Sunday before
Jerry had discussed with himself the
possibility of the girls carrying out their
threat 70 come to the house. Or, would
they change their minds and stay away !?
He felt that he would rather take whip
ping than 10 face them, more SO as his
mothers eyes would watch him, ard he
knew from former experiences that she
would do all she could to help the girls to
tease him, 'to cure him of his foolish
ness" she would say.
But on Valentines day in the morning
ali uncertainty was over. The girls were
coming that evening. Jerry" said his
mother at the breakfast table, II have
some of the young folks here this eve
ming. So you had better get through
your chores early, and be ready for
them"
"Oh mother" groaDed Jerry.
"Quit your foolishuess now and be a
man. Inc girls invited themselves
almost but as it is leap year they had a
perfect right to do so, for il has always
been the custom here in Random, since
long before 1 was born, that the girl
pick out their OWL beaux that year. I
did it when | was young, and that is how
| came TO marry your father.
"Oh! and do you think someone will
ask mefa
shouldn't wonder" replied Mrs. Ran
dom. Then she added, looking at her son
with some pride: "You are young and
good looking and well fixed, only you are
SODA sinful it makes you feel miserable
If you could ouly get married you would
be cured. 1t done heap of good for
your father, and he was something like
you are now before he was married"
"But I don't want to be cured-that Is
! don't want to get married." protested
jerry biushing and stammerlng.
"Oh, you will get over that" said his
mother smiling. your father did, she
added. IF could only get Clara Jones
to propose to her you wouldn't have the
courage to refuse her, and that would
settle it. 1t settled it with your father
Jerry only groaned and looked pitiful-
ly helpless.
The forenoon passed away, and Jerry