The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-26
~ Valentine.

Two little figures with faces tightly
glued TO the plate glass window OF d
stafioners shop. where hung DO he"li<
lcring and artful confusion. valentines on
an shapes and sizes. IN every variety u
brilliant or subduod coloring.
Strangely ont of place in this thorough
fare where richly dressed women anu
children. driving 10y in smart ealii"r's,
or passing from shop %. shop, thelI Suns
ana vclvcts brushing the worn clothing
of these little ones. they were all uncon-
scious Of the attention they attracted IS
they took ir rapturousiy the dispia! OH
tho outside. g
tho sentimental almsgiVcr. their clothes
were clean and whole, albeit the iatler
result was attained by patches almost as
divers in shape and color as inc N"i'"-
tines which had attracted the wear
The boy. about twelve years oil Atil
tie few remaining papers or MS iuoIhii' E
stock loosely under ono arm WINE we
other was thrown tenderiY around We
Girl a little creature who lcdni htaNlF
iinon "a crutch and whose age it was al-
most impossible to discOtcr-sO slIhlcu
and dwarfed was She. .......-
Suddenly she gave a long, rapturouS
SIGH. ooh, my, Johnnie. ain I them
grand Is Christmas comm all over
christmas, Well. Meg. You arc n baby.
Here's Christmas just gone ana You
tninkin' it's back again. o..
90 NJ ell. then. IhNulANf NlittN Ni' '.l
Chem" with the pride Of superior IN
tcllicencc "why. them valentines.
Ner uaid homage 20 this explanation by
n few moments silence, then she com7
"Eut Johnnie what's valentines for?'
For folks to send each other same
MS they send presents an Christmas. ldch
folks amt like us. Meg, so they con
have 10 stop al Christmas. put can Keen
sendiu' them all the year
"My," Meg said. sadly. Il wish We We're
wei. You see Meg, we amt" en-
Fir we was ! just know youl fetch me
one. wouldn't you. Johnnie eagerly.
Folks don't fetch them themselves.
Meg. for YOU see it's q kinder secret
where they comes from. and the folks
who gets them has TO guIss. Sometime
thov leaves them at the door and run,
away hut mostly they sends them by the
How'd you learn so much about wal
"Oh. / don't know. l picks mp lit
tie here and there and mehbe spells ont
a word or two in the paper ana then Z
pieces an the bits together same as your
mother patches our clothes. ,.
"If ! cot one Johnnie. Id guess ana
guess and guess who sent il, but ~ INC
same Id know 10 was YOU. on. how J.
would like 20 have one See ihat pretty
lady in the corner? shes my choice
selected the most artistic and the cost
MY. Meg. YOU are a swell, Why, that
lady must cost every cent of fifty. Why
don't Won choose "a little Onct
whats the use. Johnnie When J.
amt coin' TO get any ! might as well
choose the prcttieSt,' and as she tufnc
her ewes to his he saw they were fun o.
Ills arm frightened around the Thin IT.
tie shoulders and he shifted S!mpathcu-
caly. Don't cry. Megsie don't cry.
faint brave, yoS know, and Meg's al
ii know. Johnnie. o.ly just sometimes
II seems hard TO Doe sick and crooked and
poor an at one time. But, there. 10 IS
time for YOU 10 see about your papers;
Don't mind about me-" patting his hand
And. Meg. if you amt got no walen-
tine You've got me he cried in burst
Of boyish tenderness.
valentines" the girl replied. the light
coming back to her eyes ana d smile 10
Determination was stamped upon john
ME Burkes frccklcd face throughout that
winter day. not a moment was wasted.
and business seemed unusually brisk cN-
ira papers were sold. an errand was run
here n basket carried there. and IL was
not until the evening shadows were fall
ing over the great city that he allowed
himself mon cnts rest. Then finding
secluded corner he counted over his gains
with intense satisfaction So much must
lc laid aside for to-morrow's papers. am
other little collection went 90 Meg'> moth
cr. with whom he had lived even since
his own mothers death. and the ball
ance-he could scarcely believe his eyes
when he found the pile or pennies ara
dimes wanted only TWO cents OF the
amount FOR which he had been working
tho precious money which was 20 pur-
chase tho "walentine' for which Meg
longcl. There were OthcS-shop, where be-
knew the wares would Dee cheaper. but
for once Johnnie had determined 20 DO
MS the rich folks did. Love lent wings 10
the feet that moment ago had secmci
so weary. and soon his goal was reached
one glance i'm the window assured him
that the prize was still there. and the
boy entered with a brave look, but
nuttering heart. the brilliantly lighted
shop. II was rather late for customers
AMI only one lady was standing al the
counter. talking very earnestly 10 the
clerk. swect-faced. hrown-haired girl
whose voice was very gentle as she asked
him what he wanted
There was none Of the swagger OF the
streets about this hoy as he took of
his worn cap and asked 10 see the val
entine
Il tried TO make up the fifty cents to
pay for it," he said, but try my hardest
Y conldnit raise IN all I'm two cents short