The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-02-20

other ladies are suited, now what will
you have 2"
81 was only looking at the vale
tines, sir, said Nettie in low voice.
That is right, perfectly right; look
we'll before you choose, and you will
surely be suited. What do you think
of this one 2" and Mr.. Percy held up a
blue satin heart ornamented with
punches of pink rose 0uds.
81 think it is beautiful, sir" an
swered Nettie, smiling.
And il is only seveDty-five cent?.
Shall put it in an envelope for your"
continued Mr.. Percy.
"No, sir, / do not wish it, thank
you"
Not pretty enough, oh7 1 must say
you are rather hard to p ease, my little
lady. How will this do2 II is very neat,
and only twenty-five CENTS" and Mr..
Percy handed her small sheet of lace.
edged paper covered with flying doves,
holding violets in their beaks.
"That is very pretty, too, but and
Nettie hesitated.
"Surely it is not too dear, but | have
some cheaper ones, two for five cents"
cit is not that they are too dear, sir,
but 1 cannot buy them, have no
money"
"No money" cried Jennie Ashley,
turning around, "what did you come
here for, Nettie Russell2"
| wanted to see the valentines"
"The best thing you can do, Nettie
Russell, is to go home. If you have no
money TO buy anything we do not want
Won with ,,u soid Stella
The tears rushed to Nettie's eyes !;
she left the store and FASTENED 10 reach
home.
"If l only had something pretty to
give Miss Stowe," she murmured, "a
card or anything"
When Net,ie reached home she ran
to her little room and began to look
among her treasures to see if she could
find something worthy to give her
teacher. But the two or three cards
which were pretty enough, had adver.
tisements of French kid boots" or
Eureka stove polish" on them. With
Sigh, Nettie closed the box and put it
back in The bureau drawer; then she
went downst airs 10 set the table for tea.
"Nettie, Nettie," cried her brother,
rushing into The room an hour later, II
have had the jolliest time ina yinab e.
DR.. Cox drove out 10 old Mr.. Hinkley's
this afternoon and he took me with him
to hold his horse while he went into the
house. While we were going through
Jefferson's woods, [ saw great patch
of the most beautiful violets. l know
how much you like Them, and wanted
to pick you bunch, but DR.. Cox was
in bnrru I'm uf ,rl1u onrru haoone n
they are the first of the season."
"You are good boy, Dick, and 1
thank you just as much; but come TO
tea, we waited for you"
The next morning Nettie awoke as
the clock was striking five.
Il am not one bit sleepy she said,
sitting up in her bed and looking out of
the window. "How funny it is out
side: " onder how it would feel to get
up 80 early. l have great mind to 60
for walk. Some one told me it brought
good luck to take walk Valentines
Day before the sun rose.
"Oh, know what 1 will do" she
continued, excitedly jumping out of
bed and beginning to dress; :" 1 will 60
to Jefferson's woods to pick big bunch
of violets for Miss Stowe; they will be
my valentine to her." Nettie crept
softly down stairs, wrote few lines to
tell her mother where she had gone,
and putting a slice of bread in her
pocket, she opened the door and started
for her walk. "Let me see," she
unused, have four miles to go, two
each way. am sure it will take me at
least two hours and half to go to the
woods and back; that will leave me
half an hour to pick the violets; l need
not arrange them till l reach school,"
Nettie munched her bread as she
walked, and almost before she knew it,
she had reached the woods. How dark
and lonesome they looked! For mo.
ment Nettie stood still, afraid to &c
further, then laughing at herself for be.
ing so foolish, she ran along between
the trees till she reached the spot where
the violets grew. Throwing herself on
the grass, she had soon picked hand
full of the fragrant blossoms, and kissed
them, saying: "You dear, sweet little
things, how love you for blooming &c
soon. l am sure you are thousand
times prettier than those old valentines
at Percy's, and you don't cost a penny
either; 1 do hope Miss Stowe will bt
pleased with you, you darlings!"
Talking in this way, Nettie picked
and picked till she had gathered ,
bunch 80 large that she could scarcely
hold 1t in her two hands. After ar
ranging them tastefully with few
sprays of delicate ferns, she tied on he
hat and started homeward.
She was very tired and the way
seemed much longer, but she KEEP
bravely on, humming a song to chez
herself. When she reached the school
house che found the girls in a state O
great excitement. Hiding the violet
under her apron, she slipped into thu
recitation room and laid them on Mis-
Stoves desk, tying card to them OF
which she had written: Z" A valentin,
to my dear teacher" When Miss Stow,
entered the room little later, she wa
indeed surprised to find her desl
covered with dainty envelopes, eacl