The Globe-republican., 1894-02-09

quite sixteen.
They were all
braids, and puffs, and fluffy curls-all
loops. and ruffles. and ribbons - all
smiles and dimples. 1t was the Satur-
day before Valentines day, in a certain
year of grace, of which l will not give
you the precise date. but less than ten
years ago. and more than five. OF the
half-dozen girls, two are busy teachers
now. two are married. one is playing
mother to her brothers little brood of
orphan children, and the sixth. not
less happy than the rest, has gone on
TO the next country, where they tell us
she will never grow old, never be sick
nor sorry any morc-happy Bertha,
whom, surely, God loved.
But, that day in February, none Of
them thought much about the future
the present was enough, with its fun
and frolic. its wealth of all the pleas
ures which girlkood holds hear. They
were passing the long day together.
Two of them were sisters, and belonged
'in one house, and the rest had come
'there to be with them; for they were
all going to make valentines. They
had made funny ones, and foolish ones
tender ones. with just little dash of
satire in them-poctic ones and prosy
ones-and at last it was dinner time
. feast of all the things that school
girls love. Roast turkey there was,
and cranberry jelly, and sweet pota-
toes, and squash, and then such pies
and buildings, and nuts and raisins.
How could they hold it all? All, they
were hungry girls At least they were
all hungry girls but Nelly Hunt, and
she scarcely ate any dinner at all. she
was SO busy thinking. She was
Bertha's sister, and this was her home
and Bertha's. and it was to the girls
own room that the little party went
back again, after they had eaten and
praised Mrs. Hunts dinner.
''What are you thinking about.
of Nelly's chair.
''These valentines" Nelly answered.
slowly.
swell. surely they need not make
you sober-they are absurd enough"
"Yes, and it's just because they are SO
absurd that they make me sober. l
was wondering why we couldn't just
rs we'll have said something to help
somebody-to make somebody think
TO do some good"
''Nelly's heroics." cried Kate Green.
Aippantiy. Miss Hunt as moral re-
former!''
Nelly blushed from her pretty ears
70 the roots of her sunny hair; but her
eyes shone clear and there was a ring
swered:
"You can laugh if you will. but I
mean what say, and I'm going to try
IN experiment. will write one boy q
val',tine. such as think girl ought
TO write. and TIL send it,
$50 you SHALL" Bertha said. gently
Bertha always was peacemalser; land
we'll all go away and see mamma and
the baby while you write it When it's
done you must call us"
"Yes, and you must show it to u.s."
cried Kate Green, as she went away;
''thats only fair. We promised this
morning to show each other all we
sent and we shan't let You of"
And then the five fiuttered away
like . flock of birds. and Nellie was
quite alone.
Her task was harder than she had
Imagined It is only the old. perhaps,
who are sage In counsel by nature. At
any rate, to give good advice did not
como naturally to pretty Nelly. But
GAe had an idea of what she wanted to
aAy. and 1T last she got it said
She had written and rewritten il,
end finally concluded that she could do
10 better, and then copied it into her
neatest handwriting before she called
the others. 1t was little stiff. to be
sure. and preachy and high-flown, but
Is sounded like q lofty effort and a
complete success to the listening girls
This was what it said:
my vALEErNE:-You will have plenty OF
A1e speeches and praises. and perhaps. of fun
81 fancy. from Others. so shall not give you
ohose-L who have but one interest In you.
nnmely. that you should be the best boy and
~ beot man which It is possible for you to b.
go II Jon ore selfish. II you are tndoleat Il
yeoase oeaa Jon YIN never DO happy in yoar