The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-02-14

''but 1t don't seem like Christmas 'thout
any snow, or sleigh-rides. or any thing.
New Year don't either. does it?"
NO" said Florence; "any time
don't, and to-day is just as bad's tho
rest OF 'em. o girls, don't you mem.
Der what a lovely valentine got las
year,"
'.And / did. too.'
"And so did l! Oh dear mer'
Then there was silence for q little
while-a very little while. Mamma,
rocking the baby to sleep by the west
window, smiled, and kept on singing
her soft lullaby; but you could have
seen that she looked along the road,
which was only track across the
prairie. quite often and rather anxious.
~.
Bout this time the postman used
to come" said May. with sound OF q
sob in her throat; ''evcry year but this.
/ wish
$50 do !, too. said Ncttic.
just then mamma, watching the
prairie-trail, saw little moving speck
in the distance. The little girls didn't
sce it; they were ut the east window,
and, besides, their eyes were too full
Of tears TO see any thing SO far away.
Even mamma couldn't be quite sure Of
what it was, though she thought she
knew.
The speck kept coming nearer and
nearer. and growing larger and larger,
until mamma was sure; but she didn't
say q word; she only went on hum
ming to the baby a CHEEKY little song.
Mammals always singing bout
silver Innings and things like that. !"
said Florence pretty soon, her tears
getting ready to fall again; but /
don't b'lieve there is any. Every
things so horrid and lonesome!''
''And we never can 60 anywhere!
Oh dear, dear.'
Not after plums, when they're ripe.
Not to school even. cause it's SO far.
And mamma says she can't bear for US
to be little black she-shc"
'.Heathens. you mean," said Flor
ence, and she couldn't help the least
little laugh, though she choked it
down as quick as she could; "that's
what mamma said only she didn't say
black ones. And that's just prezactly
what we'll be. and not know any thing.
And I'd like to know were's tho silver
lining to that"
There was queer little tremble to
mammals song, as II somehow a laugh
was getting mixed up with It.
Il wish l was back to my gramma's,
went on Florence. II wish
Rat-tat-rat-tat-tat!
go to the door," said mamma,
quietly. 1--WE got the baby"
Tho children hung back little. A
visitor was rare thing and might be
on Indian, and they were afraid Of In
dams. But pretty soon Florence went
ahead, because she was the Oldest, and
opened the door softly.
There was nobody to be seen, but
papa had come, because they could
hear him Embarrassing his team In the
lean-to.
why. who"-began Florence. and
then she gave . sudden little shrill
scream.
"O-o-oh! O Nettie! Q mamma! O
May! O-o-ohr'
For there. hitched to a post ut tho
corner OF the house. were three little
Indian ponies, so nearly alike you
couldn't tel! one from the other two
unless you knew.
Around each pony's neck was tied a
ribbon. ono red, one white. one blue;
and to each ribbon was fastened card.
On the red-ribbon card 1t said. Net
ties Valcntine;n and the white was for
Florence, and the blue for May.
| don't believe you ever saw three
happier little girls. They laughed and
danced and sang.
The only trouble was each one want
ed to name her pony Valentine But
they settled tho matter nicely at last.
They named them all Valentine.
I'LL call mine VAL" said Florence.
s'fof short, you KNOW.
And I'll call mine 'Allie.'" said
Nettic.
And I'll call mine Tiny said May.
''Oh, isn't every thing splendid"
so there's some good hero after
oil, said mamma. with smile.
well, / guess there is!' laughed
Florence; there's ponies. Youth 3