The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-02-11
Select STORY.
AN OLD VALENTINE.
Mary E. wilkins in The Home-Maker.

II say amt had no valentines, neither
on ye? Amt you had none, Carfne
'sNo, ma am said Caroline.
The two young girls stood before their
grandmother. Caroline was the elder, and
taller, and prettier. Both of them hung
their brown heads and smiled bashfully.
They lived in western town, and had
come on visit to their grandmother; her
feeble, mperious pipe, and her old black
eyes full of unexpected CLEANS, impressed
them. They stood there side by side, in
their neat blue dresses, with nice white
frills around their necks, and their brown
hair in smooth braids, and answered their
grandmother questions with shy, sweet
Difference. The old woman, small and frail
as dried grass-blade, and waving like
one, with her false black front awry, and
her black lace cap slipping, so thin in her
black dress that she seemed to be shrink
ing from sight behind its loose folds, sat
there, in her calico-covered rocking-chair,
with the air of queen. Now her beauty
and strength and youth were gone, she had
acquired certain watchful and childish
dignity which she held before her like a
shield
/ She had asked her granddaughters how
their mother was, and their father, if they
went to school, and who we're their teach
! ers then suddenly came the query as to
the valentines The day before had been
St. Valentines Day. When the young
girls shook their heads bashfully in re-
sponse, the old woman seemed suddenly to
fill out her gown better. When Caroline,
her pretty face crowning her slender height
like pink flower, said "No, ma am, to
the repeated question, the old woman gave
thud on the floor with her cane.
"Ain't never heerd nothin like it y
said she, .'why amt you had no valentines? +?
You amt very homely; you amt so good
lookin' as was at your age, but you look
well enough; Car'line does, anyway. Amt
there no fellers in Ashfeld? Why amt
you had no valentines, eh y
The girls looked at each other they
blushed and hesitated.
aaWhy amt you?' repeated their grand
mother.
Caroline looked at her sister
Il guess they don't send valentines
quite as much as they used to, she said,
timidly.
II guess they're a little out of fashion"
chimed in her sister.
"Out of fashion No, they amt out
of fashion, neither They've alters sent
| valentines as long ago as | can remember.
l guess I've he'd valentines 'nough in my
day to know leetle sonethin' about it.
Never heerd of sech thing where | was
brought up as Valentines Day agoin' by
and girls not hayin' some valentines if
she was thought anythin Of Hand me
that psalm-book off the stand there.
1t was the youngest sister who brought
the fat black psalm-book to her grand
mother The old woman fumbled long
over the book, she pulled out many papers
and unfolded them with her trembling fn-
gers.
81 hope there amt been nobody AIMED
din with this book said she. Finally
she spread out paper triumphantly, and
the girls pressed close to see. There,
look at that, there's valentine Y said
their grandmother.
The young girls eyed the decorated
sheet, with its white doves, and pair Of
lovers in bower of roses The margin
was little yellow with age, but it was
in very good preservation.
'.see the verse under the picter p said
the old woman aI'll say it to ye if yen
wait minute. I used to know it by
heart.
She ruminated then she repeated the
verse in singing quayer
~ love thee. fairest maid, so well,
can keep Silence never,
But always would thy praises swell.
And yet, It's passing strange to tell,
I'd Silence keep forever.
The oak supports the tender vine,
Come, love, and be my valentine
'sHe writ it himself, said the old wom-
an" aHe made it up, he could make
real pretty varses. His name was Amos
Dawson; be was old Abner Dawsons son
his mother came from York State. Ye
don't remember nothin bout it, s'pose
That valentine must be nigh seventy year
DID, why, guess it's older'n that Sakes
alive, it must be higher hundred, for
want more'n thirteen, when she got it,
and that was twenty year arter itwas sent
Twas sent to Silence Temple, and that is
what't means bout keepin' Silence. |
don't see how he ever thought ont, fur my