Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1895-02-09
He Earned Il.
A Valentine Story.

Oh but those we're jolly February
days, all shine and snow and Jingle
ana bells--that is, for most people.
To Laddie it was rather 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 lit
tie for I 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 10 him Or invent games. This
was the case now, and it was very
hard time for poor Laddie, as you
may imagine. He waited on NAM
ma quite cheerfully, however, and
even helped Hannah, the woman
who came now and then to do the
heavy homework, with good grace,
but still there were 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 cry
ing quietly. He knew then that she
was thinking of papa, for she always
cried when she thought or spoke of
him. Papa had gone away in big
ship somewhere, long ago, when
Laddie was baby, and the ship had
been wrecked, and he never came
back. Laddie often asked il there
was no hope of his ever coming, but
mamma looked SO sorry when she
said, "I'm afraid not, little one, nthat
he had about given up trying to find
out any more.
One day, it vas the 18th day of
this sparkling February, Hannah
sent Laddie down town on an errand
and he gayly set off, glad of any
chance TO be out, if only for short
time. AS he passed the gay shops
he eagerly looked at the bright PIC
lures their windows presented, wish
ing he were rich enough to buy some
of the lovely things for mamma.
His checks burned with excite
ment as he looked at the gay pic
lures and thought how glad and sur
prised his mamma would be if he
should send her one.
Without stopping to remember
that be owned only three pennies in
the world and that money was scarce
at home, he began trying to decide
which one of the valentines would be
most appropriate for his sweetheart
mamma. Finally he chose one which
had blue background, with Cupid
riding across it on rose colored
cloud. The card was framed with
a plush border and would look very
rich on mammals mantelshelf. So in
he walked boldly and said 10 the
clerk near the door:
How much is that blue valen-
tine 2"
"Five dollars, answered the clerk,
with queer smile at the small, rath-
| err shabby figure before him. The
smile changed to look of pity ,how-
ever, as he saw Laddie's eyes fill
with tears. He put his hand on the
little fellows shoulder and said,
"See here, my boy, there are some
very pretty valentines on this shelf
for so cents, and here are some nice
ones for 25."
Laddie frightened and then be-
gan choosing among the cheaper
ones until he remembered that even
25 cents was large amount when
ones entire fortune consisted of 3
coppers. He suddenly looked up
and said:
"a fellow couldn't earn % cents
between now and tomorrow, could
he 7"
Why, ! dare say be might by
trying hard" answered the clerk,
cheerfu.ly. "There's quite a good
bit to be earned sometimes by carry
ing peoples satchels from the sta
tion.o
So quite hopefully our little man
sped away in the direction of the
Western station. As he neared the
place he saw that the train had al
ready come in, for numbers of PEG.
pie were hurrying toward town in
carriages or on foot. Very few Of
the latter, however, appeared to have
much to carry, and at first there
seemed no chance of getting job
But as he saw big, good -natured
looking fellow carrying small va
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