Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1895-02-14
HE EARNED IT.
VALENTINE STORY.

Oh. but those were jolly February days,
all shine and snow and jingle ana oeiis
that is, for most people 10 Laoole IL
was rat her gloomy, though he saw the sun
shine and the snow sparkle and heard the
sleigh bells tinkle, as everybody did. But
Laddie was little felloW-very little Tor
7 years-and he hadn't many ways OF
amusing himself when shut up IN the
house, especially when mamma was too
weak and tired to read to hlm or invent
games. This WAS the case now, and 1t
was a very hard time for poor Laddle, as
YOU NAV imagine He waited on mamma
quite cheerfully, however, and even
helped Hannah, the woman who came
now and then to do the heavy houseWork,
with good grace. but still there We're
many empty hours and some very sad
ones.
Mammals headache seemed to grow
worse. instead of better, as the days went
by. and often he saw her crying quietly.
He knew then hat she Was thinking oil
papa, for she always cried when she
thought or spoke of him. Papa had gone
away in a big hip ,omeM here, long ago,
when Laddie was baby. and he ship Ind
been wrecked. and he never came haek.
Iaddie often asked if there Vas no hope
of his ever coming, but mamma looked 80
sorry " hen she said, m afraid not, lit
tie enc. that he had about gwen up try
ing to find out any more.
One day. it Was the 13.h day OF this
sparkJing February. Hannah sent Laddls
down town on an errand. and he gaYly sci
eff Glad of any chance to be out. if only
for n short time. As he passed the gay
sbo,,- h. EAGERLY locked at he. bright pic
tnres their windows presented, wishing
he were rich enough to buy some of tae
lovely thing, for mamma.
His check. burned with excitement as
he looked at f5tl CAV picture. and thought
how surprised and clad his mamma would
he if he should send her one.
Without stopping TO remember that ne
owned onIy=tbree- pennies in the world,
and that money was scarce at home, he 10
,,o,, TRYING, 10 decide " lli2b once of the W.
Io,,+;,,ts ,,.,,,I5 h.. most epnronriatt for
nc s.,,....., hour, ,,,an7,oa Finally he chose
ono which had a blue background. with
C,,,ia riding acros. If ON a rose colored
cloud Tbi.card was framed with a plush
hordar and won,d Iool, very rich on
,oo,o,,a,s n,ap+elsbeIf So in he walked
holal,.o,,d said to + he clerk near he door.
GLOW rnncb i bat blue yaIentine?o
..Ei,.adcllors orswered + he clerk. with
a o,,eer sniIe at he small. rather shabby.
s,,rr. before him The smile CHANGED to
oIool, Of however pc he saw Iaddie,s
ewes fiji with tears He nut his hand on
the tfttie fellows shoulder and said. See
bara my, nov there are some very pretty
valentines ON this shelf for fiftv cents,
and here are some nice ones for only
t,ren+y-tve,,
Iaddie bripbtened and then began
ohoosi,,, eroong the cheaner ones until
10 ro,,,S,,,, bored that eVen= tV4ntv-tive
oa,,+s foro,e amonnt when ones
consisted of tbra,. f,,,rt4rs
He snddanlv locked mn and said.
-farf..,, couldn't earn tventy-tvo
cents between now and tomorrow, could
be9,,
..yybv I dare say he might by irving
hard ;, answered the clerk cbeerfully.
..Tbere,s ouite good bit to be earned
sometimes by CARRYING peoples satchels
from, tho station
60 onite bonefulIv our little man sped
away in he direction of the Western sta
ton, As he neared the place he saw that
the train had already come in. for num-
bers of people were hurrying toward
town in carriages or ON foot. Very few