The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-06-02

of belis-ihat Ia, for most people; to
L1ddie, il was rather gloom, though
be saw the u shine ana the snow
sparkle, and heard the sleigh bells
Cinkle as everyone did. But Laddie
was q little fellOw-very little for seven
.years-and he ha'n'C many ways Of
amusing himself when shut up in the
house, CspeGia " when mamma was too
weak anG tired TO read to him Or iu
ven5 games. Tbs was the case now,
and il was q very hard time tor poor
Llddie, as you may imagine. He waited
on q lite c~haertul!y, however,
and even helped Hannah, the woman
wLo came now and then so Go the
heavy Homework, with very good
grace; hut sill there were many empty
hours, ami some very sad ones.
Mammals headache seemed to grow
worse instead OF better, as the day
went by, and often he saw her crying
quietly. He knew then that she was
thinking of papa, for she always cried
when she thought Or spoke Of him.
Papa had goue away il a big ship some
where, long ago, when Laddie was a
baby, ard the ship had been wrecked
and he never cams back. Laddie often
coming, but mamma looked so sorry
when she said: I'm afraid not, little
one" that be had about given up try
ing to find out any moro.
One day, it was the thirteenth day Of
this sparkling February, Hannah sent
Laddie down town on an errand, and
he gayIy started off, glad of any chance
to be out, if only for s short time. AS he
passed the gay shops he eagerly looked
at the bright pictures their windows
pre8ented, Wishing ne we're rich enough
to buy some Of the lovely things for
mamma, that beautiful silk ( L a GCees,
or one Of the great easy chairs, or some
Of those books He stopped longest at
the book window, for, though he didn't
read very much himself, he liked the
pictures ard mamma loved to read al
ways. But to day there was some
thing more attractive than the bright
Il bound voIumcs IN this window.
Scattered here and there, in artistic
groups. we're the most exquisite picture
cards, all f)WeTs aud hearts and ar
rows and s great white cRrd hung IN
the midst, containing one long word in
big letters.
w a~r'-epelIej Laddie. "Valen-
ti-n-ee! Why, Of course it's going to
be Valentine day to morrow, and /
thought Of i'll"
HIS cheeks burned with excitement,
az he looked at the gay pictures, and
thought how surprised and glad his
mamma would be, if he should send
her enc!
Without stopping to remember that
he owned only three pennies in the
world, q: d that money was scarce a.
nome, he began trying to decide which
ole OF the valentines would be most
for his sweetheart mamma
Finally he chose Z which had 3 blue
background, with Cupid riding across
ii on aro5e-coIored cloud. The card was
framed with Il plush border and would
look very rich on mammals mantle
shelf. 81 in he walked, boldly, and
said to q clerk, neal the door:
How much Is that blue vaIentine9"
Five dollars" answered the clerk,
with q quaor smile at tie small, rather
shabby little figure before him Tie
smile changed to a look Of pity, how
ever, as be saw Leddie's eyes fiji with
tears. He put his hand Oh the little
fellows shoulder, ana said: See here,
my boy, there n some very pretty
valentines on this shelf, for fifty cents,
and hore are soue nice ones for only
twenty-five.
Laddie frightened, and then began
choosing among the cheaper ones, until
he remembered that even twenty five
cents was q large amount when ones
fortune consisted Of three cop
pers. He suddenly looked up and said:
"A fello v couldn't earn twenty two
cents b tween now and to morrow,
could he?'
Why, I dare say no might, by try
hard answered the clerk, cheer
There's q ,itea bit to be earned
sometimes by carry ing peoples satcheis
rom the station"
So, quite hopefully u li5tle man
ped away again, wishing he could be
gin to hunt for weak at o1co-but re
Wondering the soap for HAnnah, ne
to the store ard bought it, and