The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-24

Soon a clear way was made 10 the road
and the we'll. Sam appeared with load
that made Jim excla.m. That's yaien-
tine OF itself!'
Father said II was all right-pttch In,
boysw The bell rang in the midst oil
their work. but after school more axes
were brought. and many hands mace
such light work that by 5 o'clock almost
oil the wood was chopped and piieo.
basket OF goodies lay by the shed DOOR
two pies cranberries and a chicken. with
odds and ends brought by different poys'
and then. tired OF steady work, the poys
longed for a frolic.
II say, let's put UP snow man anu
stick our valentine in his hand, ssio
Sam. At 1t they went, and a better man,
or rather boy, never was made. An ora
jacket and hat of Sans made nm so
realistic that, I'm the darkness, you wouiu
say: That's Sam Phillips standing at tue
door"
And so said Ann, as she came home
feeling In a better humor than usual
for she had had good dinner, and even
stayed to early supper.
II declare that's Sam Phillips ana mes
got my lantern. Lit, too.' she said 10
herself. 'Wel, he amt the worst OF
the lot. ] will say. What you want,
Sonny" she called. Sam. never moved.
She stepped up, and. vexed at what she
thuoght his Impertinence, shook him. He
was stiff! For moment, in the dark,
February night: Ann thought the boy
was frozen to the spot; but the lantern
showed her the snow face beneath the
hat, and with grim smile, she took the
envelope from the sleeve where IL was
pinned. 81 suppose it's a horrid, old
picture. / don't know but l deserve 1t Of
EN-" she thought Lighting her lamp,
she decided TO kindle fire before opening
the envelope She stepped out to get
the kindlngs, and started, as her hand
struck against something in the dark
ness where that morning there had been
nothing but emptiness. Hurrying back
for the lamp. she looked about the httie
shed-a woodpile, kindlings, and a pas
ket of good things! She dragged TINS
last init was too heavy to hft-and sat
down by the stove, though in her excite
ment. she had quite forgotten to klndie
the fire. She looked the things over,
went back end forth looking at the wood
pile. and then, suddenly remembering
the envelope, she opened that, wondering
If it would explain matters. n pretty
card, with text, Love worketh no III 10
his neighbor therefore love Is the ful-
filling of the law" lay i'm her hand. Ann
sat, icintiUbeIlDE WHeH lIdl AuhNh 100
meant so much 10 her; thinking, with
shame how long 1t was since she had
read a text from the Bible, that once
had been so dear. and then the card,
slipping from her hand. lay face down
ward On the floor. and she saw writing on
the other side. "a Valentine Offering from
your boy friends of H School"
That broke Ann all up. She sat and
cried as she had not been able to for
years-tears that softened and refreshed
her. BY and by she grew calm enough to
light her fire and get things settled for the
night. repeating again and again: THE
dear boys; the dear boys
Morning came, a warm, sunny day-a
February thaw Ann stood at her door
as the boys rather shy of passing the
house. went by in group. Come mere,
she said; 1--WE something to tell you"
They gathered about the door. You
don't know the good you've done me-
can't thank you properly; but | prayed
last night for the first time In years, and
| want you try and keep this boy here all
winter" she said, putting her hand on
the snow boy. The bell rang; the boys
gave a cheer and a laugh (Which was
a great relief, for 1t was really pretty
hard not to cry), and rushed OH TO
school.
Hetty heard it all after school and re-
ioiced and the minister. who had tried
i'm vain to bring Ann Brown into the
church, had his share of Joy when the
pale, nervous woi%an, little by little.
thawed out and joined in every good
work. She made many friends after that,
but none of them had quite the place IN
her heart that those pesky boys" had
found. -Independent.