Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-02-18
HOW 1T HAPPENED.
st. Valentines Mistake, and the Great
Good IL Accomplished.

the world on st. Valentines Day2 The
postman, of course. All eyes are on
the alert for the postman. All ears
listen for the merry jingle of the door
bell, and many a pretty foot is poised
ready to start for the door al the first
tinkle-te-tinkle.
On a certain St Valentines Day, in a
certain street OF certaic ely, little
girl stood in a deep bay window. II was
one of those streets where splendid
blocks Of tall brick-houses almost join
poor, tum ble-down tenements. The
bay window was draped with costly
lace curtains that fell about the little
figure, touching her pretty curls and
her soft pink cheeks. This grand house
stood by itself, and next door was a
tiny, implanted cottage with a green
holland shade at the window, where a
pale woman sat all day sewing To
this window sometimes a little girl
came and laid her cheek against her
mothers face, and the mother stroked
the child's hair then went on with her
work
All through the morning Of st. Val
entine's day the little girl in the lace
curtained window watched and
watched, her eyes aglow and her heart
beating fast. She was expecting a
famous valentine. 1t was no secret
Her best uncle" had promised her a
pony Postmen have a great deal TO
do ibid you ever think about it), tramp
ing from end to end of the long streets
over and over and over, wet days or
dry days, hot days or cold days, still
days or blowy days, but even they are
not expected to carry ponies about aud
distribute them to little girls. No,
Uncle Tom was 10 send the money
seventy-five dollars-and the little girl
tAgnes was her name) was to buy the
pony herself. with papa's help. There
she stood, watching, side the lovely
filmy, tiowery curtain. II was a bright
day, with good deal Of snow on the
ground The boys were out with their
sleds, the stages were on runners, and
shoppers, rag-pickers, telegraph boys
and postmen found a great deal OF
fault with the walking Perhaps that
was the reason the postman was Sc
late
'.There he Isl Mamma, there ne isr
shouted Agnes, at last. Gle has gone
to that house across the street, where
the lame boy lives.
II hope the poor little fellow has got
wheeled chair for valentine, said
mamma.
Agnes was too busy watching To an
swer. do you think my pony came in
this mailq'' She said.
I'VE shall soon see, replied mamma.
.'Oh, why don't he hurry2" said the
child Hes going to that next house
who would have a valentine there
They're only an old shoemaker and hi.
wife
perhaps their children have sent
them a pretty present, said the lady
.Oh. there he comes straight across
the street. My moneys comel my
moneys come. And I'll have my dear
dear little pony! I've named him. nam
ma, already. I'm going to call him
Swallow. and away ran Agnes down
the stairs to the area door TO get hel
valentine.
She came back crying ITS some
old bill mamma, and not for me al
all, she sobbed.
"Oh, fel" said her mother, u
wouldn't be a baby. There are two
more deliveries to-day Your valentine
will come before the day is over"
1t was just dusk when Agnes saw the
postman from her place behind the cur.
tain making his last round. This time
he went TO the little house where the
sewing-woman lived. Agnes could hear
the bell ring; and she heard the seam.
stresses daughter say as plain as could
be: "Why, it's for me. mammal Now
he's coming here, . said the excited child,
holding her breath as she watched the
blue suit gliding through the darkness.
But he went straight by the gate, that
hard hearted. stiff-necked postman, and
Agnes, with tears and questions, ran to
her mother TO be comforted.
What was more surprising and move
serious, the money didn't come at all.
Uncle Tom was off on long journey
across the Pacific, and. OF course, could
not be heard from directly. Had he
sent the pony, or had he not? Agnes
mother eounseled patience. But what
child was ever patient in such a case?
In the house near by, where the
seamstress lived. there was something
unusual going on. Tie little parlor
was lighted very brightly, and the
seamstress laid down her work for i
few minutes.
The next day other things happened
The carriage of a celebrated doctor
stood before the door. And somehow
Agnes mother found out that the little
girl who lived in that house was blind
The celebrated doctor had come TO ex
anime her eyes. The seamstress haC
fallen heir TO some money, so tn,
grocer boy told Agnes mothers cook
1.-The winter passed away, and tn,
money was not found When ques
toned, the postman said he had deliv
cred all his letters at their prope
places on st. Valentines day Neithe
had the pony, so to speak. run into tn
dead letter Office. Uncle Tom coul,