The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-04-25
zOURI's VALENTINE.

It was the Thirteenth of February.
The sun had come out and made things
look very bright and happy, and in the
Southern country its light was so warm
and pleasant that three little girls had
come out among the grass and trees to
write their valentines. These girls were
Seth Granberry's three little States, as
they were called:
The two Cranberry brothers, Seth and
Josiah, were farmers, and their large
farms joined, Tho brothers were twins.
They were married on the same day.
There had been a sort of agreement be-
tween them, that whenever baby girl
came to the household of either, she
should be given the name of State in
the Union.
So it came about that, when some
years had gone by, there were six little
States, three in each family. The boys
did not count in this Union, for it would
not do to call boy Texas OF Mississippi.
Then came the time when Seth and
Josiah ceased to be twins in spirit, for
they had a serious quarrel about the
planting of a division stake, and the
ownership of three or four feet of land.
Seth, the more self willed of the two
had planted the stake where he pleased,
and Joe had submitted; but from that
day the brothers had not spoken to each
other, and the six little States, who loved
each other, had been separated.
Seth's Zouri-whose real name was
Missouri-had just declared that she
should send valentine to Uncle Joe.
81 met him down at the branch the
other day, she said, "and he talked to me
real nice. felt sorry for him, because
he said that Tennessee could never go
without crutches any more.
Lous'any and Georgia said they were
quite sure that zouri would be whipped
If she did not keep away from Uncle
Joe's folks and stop sending valentines
there. But Zouri was the youngest of
the three, and not old enough to be very
cautious; besides, she had little curly
red head and her fathers own wilful
spirit.
She went on, pniufnlly yv-itinO the
words of her valentine:
"Deer Tinker Joe, luv you wish you
wud cum over an set on the luther side
Of the chimly like you use to. Pa won't
let enybody set there now. inn sorry
Tenny has to go on cruches. frum your
loving valentine.
"'Taint right, zouri," Lous'any said.
"Pa'n punish you for it. +"
Besides, who'll take it over to Uncle
Joe? asked Georgia.
II will, said Zouri. and she shook
back her red curls and picked up hel
sunbonnet from the grass. "'Taint any
use to bother me about it, cause I'm
going to send it, and don't care.
Zouri was SO young--scarcely years
old-and so much accustomed to being
petted that such opposition as this hurt
her feelings deeply. But it did not shake
her resolution.
She had written the valentine that she
had meant from the beginning to write.
She left Georgia and Louisiana now, and
ran, pattering her bare feet over the
grass, to the fence that separated tn,
yard from the roadway.
"Shes gone to the fields, where pl
is" Georgia said, as she watched Zour
disappear down the roadway.
"Yes, and what's more, Louisiana
answered, "she'll make pa say she car
up and do anything she wants to. -
They were right in guessing tha
zouri had gone to find her father. Sh,
knew that he was somewhere in til,
fields. looking about his farm and plan
ming the spring sowing.
Every few moments her voice rams
out in a loud call; Poppy, where arr
your"
At last, from distance, she heard tn
answer: "Hallool Zouri, is that. you?
I'm down in the potato fieldl"
When she reached him he placed he
on the highest rail Of the fence while h
stood beside her and listened. Their
had always been a strong bond Of sym
pathy between him and this little girl
perhaps because she was "a chip Of th
old block.
whats the matter with Poppy's litd
gal?" he asked.
/ sits Lous'any and Georgiai they'v
been bothering me.
Zouri's cheeks were flushed and he
eyes bright, and it seemed as il her hal
took on more defiant curl than usua
Seth looked at her for a moment
Then he took her sunbonnet from he
hand and placed it on her head
"What have they been bothering 20
about, honey2"
Zouri quietly took the sunbonnek O.
as she answered; Because / said / W,
going to do something you didn't war
me to. But I just have to do it, Poppy
It would make me feel so bad il
didn't
Seth's face looked grave. It was
puzzle TO him, sometimes, to know no
to deal with Zouri.
"Wen, honey he said soherly, "di
you come way out here to get me to d
you do a thing after had told you 70
! couldn't?n
| No, Poppy, she said, ~ just CON
to get You to make Georgia and Loui
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