The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-02-16

interestingly can't learn tnlS young SeAcIa-
ton nothing on this line.
OF course, once and awhile a badly 'stuck"
fellow would run down his ''unreciprocated
sweetheart" and cause some right unconeen-
al matches-1many of these sort ulster lay for
my old 'oman, SO she says, but me and her
had "corgenial' times-the young generation
''catch on III bet Generally the meeting
between the young was mutual, if not pre-
arranged, and they had fine time.
Seriously, a kiss in the dark was always al
lowed to the mated ones with no thought OF
improperly, and the privilege belonged to
the beaux to steal every kiss they could dur
ing the day, and even the whole year through
it give fellow extra privileges and most al
ways eliminated in marriage before another
st. Valentines day rolled around
Alter q day Of fun and frolic the night was
begun with party of some Sort the testivl-
ties being appropriately ended by some dig
nifed old couple walking into the middle OF
the room, with lights dimly burning and the
mated couples standing they suit their &C
tions to their words as they say:
els there one here tonight who can lay the
hand on the heart and say do not love
kiss in the uar,, ?' Whereupon there is
snacking of lips all round and the crowd dis
perses
These old customs are gone. They don't
write sweet little verses to each other as they
ulster nor they don't have any kissing-if they
do its mighty private 1t is cranky III me to
think of them tmes.d reckon. 1t takes money
now to celebrate the day, it ta','s money to
do anything. The youngsters sail away TO the
stores and pick ont something according to
its moneyed value--the valentine that costs
most is the one. Such happy days are allowed
to pass unnoticed lest there be some anxious
to pour out the walls of their wrath upon poor,
innocent, down .trodden folks like me.
How much better does the old way of cele-
brating this day seem? There is no outpour-
ing OF love in these things from the store, and
there is nothing in their elegance that has the
smack Of sincerity OF that touches the horat as
did:
AS sure as grass grows round the vine.
III be yours if you'll be mine.
Or, for the sake of variety:
Assn as grass grows round the stump
You are my own sweet Sugarlunip.
know such as this is not in keeping with
these progressive times, but it was the inno-
cent outpouring OF sincerity, and made such
days looked forward to with joyful anticipa-
tons.
The coming Of spring, too. it was, and the
coming of The birds. Maurice Thompson writes
sweetly on this:
The blue birds will come with the coming of
spring,
And feel a new song in my mouth,
A song that my lips are hungry to sing,
In the warm dim woods of the south.
The birds don't come much any more, and
there is mighty little mating except among
the English sparroTs. I can we'll remember
when the trees ulster hang with birds nests
and every hollow stump was occupied by
the pretty mated blue birds. They tell me
that progress and the English sparrow has eX-
terminated the other birds, but don't know.
1t strikes ne that perhaps the birds got tired
of building nests and worrying with baby
birds is what the matter is, and sometimes /
am scared that the human race will be eXter-
minated on the same principle. 1t is distress
full to think how many mated couples Of the
human family dread the building of nosts"
and tie worrying with the young.
would say to the young generation:
Get you mate and get you home,
You will never be none the less happy;
A mother is blessed by children you know,
And a man feels proud, called-"pappy."
SARGE PLUNKETT.
Mrs. Winslows Soothing Syrup for Children
r. child mother.