The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-02-08

them to pillow. the young damsel
who did this was sure to dream OF her
valentine. t. whom she would be mar
ried befo:e the year was out. To catch
lover asleep on St. Valentines day
means to kiss him and win pair of
gloves. AS young man is very will
ing to pay this modest price for kiss
from his true love. there is much in
nocent shamming for the privilege. In
the same way the youths of the past
were abroad early in the morning of
ST. Valentines day that they might be
the first to meet the fair ones OF the
opposite Eek. who st,O,l led out on the
same gentle GRAND. Those who did n It
go cut watched at windows.
The aga which succeeded the pagan
obs ervances of the DAY. and which was
marked by the chivalrous attentions
of knights to ladies, was the golden
age of valentines. Costly and elegant
gift, We're bestowed. and the most
chivalrous and tender sentiments were
the day Toe first valen1ine ever writ
ten was penned by Charles, Duke of
Orleans. who was a captive in England
at the time. 1t leaves the impress Of
his character. and the age of chivalry
French rhym IS compare we'll with our
fine M dcrn love verse.
In some PARTS of England the old ira
ditional customs are the same as with
us to-day. Youngsters @ about ring
ing doc: bells ana SCUM. ing knCckers:
at The same time the LETT, rs or pack
ages are thrust under the door. and
the hcarc.' is OFT Ike the wind. The
whole t wn is kept in a hUbbu, until
a late htur. This is on st. Valentine 5
exc. The next day the postman APP
pears laden with tie pest valentine.
In this ,untry great pains i, taken
to ave some new offerings in the shape
of extensive satin and lace mi>sives.
but the Old German lace a e. valen-
tine. which rcvca n it, tn!eScOpic
depths miniature village. CT castle,
or Ia 7toral scene. has the preference.
These are cheap. AMI convey the senti-
ments of the sender d, we'll as t:lc more
expensive ones. And they are dear
fl ON associations. The emblems are
cupids ard doves. and the poetry
what can he more expressive?
That rhae Ct the day which was
formerly illustrated by the merly-mak-
ing Of individuals is n wv carried out by
means of the masque radc and the comic
valentine. These flamirg pictures. set
t, ,rse, that ridicnle every sort of
character and only stop shOrt of icing
scurri!Ous. are sold in enormous guam
titles. Some of the charactures are
dangerously apt. l. frequently hap
pens that in tie secrecy and harry of
sending these anonymous communica-
tiOns the missives are exchanged. and
ludicrous mistakes occur.
I a. N.1o 4
after it, the pretty correspondence of
the world. The pleasant holiday with
its loves and doves. h carts and darts,
masks and mummeries. fell out of popu :
lar favor for few years. But it is a
fete of the people, and the people re-
vived it again In exclusive circles,
valentine balls. valentine lunches and
other pastimes distinguish the ami
versary of the SOod old saint and keep
his memory green.
"A Valentine Bee.
I'm going to write valentine to
papa" said Clara, who was twelve
years old.
I'm going to write valentine to
papa" said Johnnie. who was nearly
eleven, and taller than Clara. and de-
termined not to be OutdOne b; her, es-
pecially where papa was concerned.
Som /, put in eight-year-old Bess.
Me. too" said six-year-old BERTHE.
who could print nicely.
Il m a dom to write i'm whole lot
O balentimes, said Boy Blue. who was
hardly four, and didn't even know his
letters.
why. OF cours, lets all write val
entines to papa, said mamma. bright
ly. Grandma will. | know. for he 5
her own boy. Well paste EN- all to-
gethcr. with hers at the beginning
and Boy Blues a. the end. Won't that
make Il tand c ,mb:nation valentine?
And know twill please papa"
Well have a sort of valentine bee, -
said grandma, like the pairing bees
I've tod you about. Now. let's all sit
around the big table and go to work.
Boy Blue shall have my gold pencil to
write his"
And we'll write on this legal-fold
notc-paper. laid mamma Write just
on one side AMI we'll taste them to end.
and here's great long envelope to
send them in. Now. let's be busy and
get them done before the postman
comes
to the little folks that he had been
gone long time. bat. anyhow, they
could send him great big valentine
and the pens and pencils and paint
brushes were very busy indie d for the
next h our.
If could show you all the verses and
pictures that went into that valentine
| know you'd laugh.
Each sheet of mammals paper. when
unfo, ded. was a fO1t long: 50 that when
grandma and mamma and Clara and
Johnnie and Bessie and Bert and Boy
Blue had all written and printed and
drawn and painted their valentines.
and mamma had joined them togethe,
end to end. the grand combination val
entiue was seven feet long
"More'n foot longer than papa.
said BERTHE. As they gathered around
to admire their VIC, k
Now we must put it into the en-
velope. said mamma, for its nearly
time for the poslmsn.'
Il guess he's coming now. said Clara