The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-02-20
OUR BOYS AND GIRLS.
A Valentine If Yiolets.
A CALIFORNIA STORY.


the pupils were coming out TO lunch.
81 have something to tell you," she
continued as the girls left their ranks
and clustered around her, /" bring your
lunch baskets and come down TO the
brook as soon as you can"
"Shall we like what you are going to
tell US, Stella ?" asked Mary Hoppe
guess so. know you will"
al know what it is cried Jennie
Ashley.
"No, you do not, am the only girl
in the school who does, and found it
out accidentally. But, girls, do get
your baskets, the bell will ring before
have told you my secret" With
merry laugh the girls dispersed, and
Stella ran down to the brook. There
was an old summer house near it which
Stella and her friends considered their
special property, and they ate their
lun ches in it every day.
When Stella entered the summer
house she was surprised to find it &C.
oupied by Nettie Russell, one of her
classmates, but with whom size and her
friends rarely played because she was
what they called " charity pupil"
Well, Nettie," said Stella, impa-
tiently, when she saw her, "what are
you doing here?"
Esther Lake told me that you
wanted all the girls of your class, an
swered Nettie timidly.
But | never meant you to come,
Nettie."
"Oh, said Nettie, blushing, 81 did
not understand that or l should rot
have Gonna I can on awavt
"Since you are here you may as well
stay" said Stella carelessly, "only
what l am going to tell the others will
not interest you very much. That ia to
say, you may not have part in it, even
though it does interest you"
"Why not, Stella?' asked Nettie
curiously.
Because, because-never mind the
reason"
Is it because l am poor and dress
badly?'
81 wish you would not say such
things, Nettie, you know We do not
care for your clothes at all-but ah,
here are the girls" she cried, pleased
to have the conversation interrupted.
Now that we are here, Stella, sup
pose you tell us what you want us for"
said Susie Ellis.
81 have made discovery"
"Of what?" asked Susie Ellis, "s
passage TO the North Pole?"
Ono; but that tomorrow will be
Valentines Day, and"
Everybody knows that" said Lena
Wallace.
"And Miss Stoves birthday" con.
tinced Stella, rot noticing the inter-
ruption.
"Miss Stoves birthday !" cried Susie
Ellis, chow did you find it out?"
81 am not at liberty 10 tell; but l
thought that we are all so fond of her,
il would be good idea il, instead of
buying valentines for one another, we
should get them for Miss Stowe. We
can buy them this afternoon when
school is out, and tomorrow morning
we can put them on her desk. She
will be so surprised and 80 pleased"
"It will be lovely" said Mary Hops,
shut, girls, do any of you know why we
send valentines on the fourteenth of
February"
eff you like, can tell you, Mary"
said Nettie Russell, advancing; 81
asked mamma last evening, and she
read all about 1t to me-"
Indeed, should like you to tell me,
Nettie; you want TO know too, do you
not, girls?" asked Mary.
Eyes; tell us, Nettie," cried the girls.
"Well, you see," said Nettie, Ga long
time ago there lived a good man called
Valentine. He was quite rich, and
spent his time in visiting the poor and
bringing them presents of things that
they needed. He was put to death by
one of the Roman emperors, and his
friends, wishing to honor his memory,
continued the custom OF giving presents
to the poor. But, instead of doing 1t
all the time, as st. Valentine did, they
chose one day in the year which they
called Valentines Day, and from that
has originated sending cards with love
verses to our friends. But mamma
said it would be much nicer if we fol-
lowed st. Valentines example and
went about doing good"
81 think 30, too" said Mary, s'and !
am willing to do it if the others are."
81 propose, girls, that instead of send.
ing valentines, we take our money and
give it to the Children's Hospital"
"You are very unkind, Susie, to spoil
my plan about Miss Stowe," said Stella
angrily.
~ don't want to send my money tc
the hospital" said Jennie Ashley; 81
prefer buying handsome valentine fol
Miss Stowe"
$50 do l" cried Lena Wallace, "and
I have ninety five cents can spend"
81 want to give Miss Stowe a valen
tine, too" said Mary. "Suppose, Susie
we send some of our old toys and books
to the hospital"
"All right" replied Susie; "but
have enough money to do both"
Then, girls, you all agree TO give
Miss Stowe a valentine?" asked Stella
Yes, we all agree"
"Well," said Stella, "as soon al
school is over meet me in the cloal
room and we can go down to Percy'l
together; but mind, say nothing abou
our plan to anybody"
"Of course we shall not, or we should
have all the girls doing the same thing,
said Lena; "but there goes the bell
let US see who will reach the hous,