The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-07
@UR YOUNG $s Il
W Il PEOPLES DEPARTMENT.
Poetry Prose and Puzzles For the Jolly Junors-Guess You
Can, What the March Prizes Will Be.

, entine day, through which the whole
school may send its valentines. what DO
"Splendidi" exclaimed Belle, jumping up
from her seat Now that the great obsta-
Gle was surmourted she was the first 10
take hold with Will
But the boys would be sure 10 send
comic ones" put I'm doubling Kate.
There. Sterling again." said Miss An
say, shaking finger at Dorothy. we re
going to stir up the boys. too.
Ii was dark before Miss Ansey and the
girls left the schoolhouse. and they were
all so enthusiastic over the new scheme
that they could hardly wait 70 get home
to tell about 81. The next day three boys
were appointed for postmasters, ana then
the excitement OF getting the rest OF the
school worked up TO the plan was be-
gun. 80
At first some OF the boys said Pooh"
at the idea Of friendship valentines, put
Miss Ansey took Tom Greene and Nat
Bishop aside and explained the whole
rcheme to them in her most winning way
and after that the boys came around, one
by one quite as much Interested In the
scheme as were the girls. Each pupil In
school had a great secret. There were
hidden manuscripts in poetry ana prose.
much thumbed and penciled and interim
ed. and all the school was thinking up
making valentines. Some Of the girls
even went so far as to buy real valen-
tines, take out the verses Inside OF them
and substitute their own verses about
some of their friends. Others made their
valentines out OF picture cards and en-
broidery paper. And they all reported
progress daily to Miss Ansey. telling her
their secrets and receiving suggestions.
Belle was the acknowledged poetess OF
the school, and her desk during inter
mis- ST nDef-
~. When Dorothy Brooks had puzzled
long and bravely over q valentine for
her best friend, Katie Cook, she finally
went to Belle.
this far and / can't get any farther
ION my, you ought TO look
At little Katie Cook
Katie isn't really little you know. only
little was such good word for the
place"
It's poetic license. suppose" inter
rupted Belle, gravely. "Kaie'n under
stand"
The next line / made longer" said
Dorothy. Il couldn't get all l wanted to
say in a short one
How very nice and pheasant she has
grown.
She gets her lessons well
And tales she doesn't tell
And now, how'm 1 going to get the last
line?"
Then a black head and gold head bent
close over the desk and studied and stu
died.
1T must rhyme with grown" said
Belle, positively. How would lone do?
When I'm around she's never lone'-Dut
you don't want her to know who sent II,
do your OF course, she'd know II you put
Il In"
Dorothy Strengthened up suddenly with
an idea.
Here it is" she said; land nobody
can catch her when she's gOing'-yOu
know she's a swift runner. Belle. or
course, you'd have 10 pronounce II 'gou
10 rhyme with grown, but poetic IL
Belle shook her head and muttered TO
herself Bone, zone, moan, RhOne, tone,
phone-I've got il. DOrothy-'own.'
And minds nobodys business but her
own" and Belle tipped off the Ieet on
Splendid" said Dorothy, and then.
dot btfully. Katie never meddled in other
peoples business. but
ION, never mind, said Belle, she
understand; We mad TO have rhyme.
Not within the memory of even the old
or pupils had there been so much interest
in room 2. Everybody tried 10 find out
something good about every one else IN
order 10 put it in valentine, and in
telling of these nice things Of course
they thought them, and in twinkling
the old habit OF fault-fnding almost dis
appeared. They were all surprised TO find
out so many good things about their
friends Nor could room keep all OF
this fun for itself. Rooms l and and
began TO hear echoes of the excitement,
and it wasn't long before some OF the
girls came to Miss Ansey and wanted
TO be allowed to take q part in the
friendship valentine exchange. OF course
Miss Ansey said yes, and before Nalen-
tine day the whole school was Interested.
On Valentine morning everything was
buzzing with excitement. Some OF the
pupils carried as many as twelve val
entimes. nearly all homemade, and ad-
dressed in disguised handwriting. on
reaching the schOOlhouse the boys and
girls found that a corner Of Miss An
seys room had been curtained off with
neat calico curtain, on the outside or
which were seWed the letters, Valentine
Postofiice." Two windows were cut
through it, one of which was labelled
Letter Drop" ana the other Delivery
AS the pupils came in they handed their
valentines through tho drop window 10
the postmasters. This continued nearly
all day, the pupils from the other rooms
coming in at noon and at recess 10 deliver
their mail
The principal, who was also much in
terested in Miss Anseys plan, dismissed
the whole school half an hour earlier that
day, and the pupils all crowded into Miss
Anseys room. until every seat and all
the aisles were choking full.
The postmasters, by working very hard,
had got all of the valentines distributed.
There were heaps OF them, too Besides
those personally delivered. the postman
had brought a good many, some of tie
boys and girls evidently wishing 10 hide
their identity very carefully.
Gertrude Atwood called voice from
the curtain.
Gertrude stepped up, blushing. and re-
ceived q pack of letters in which there
must have been at least thirty valentines
enough 10 make her happy for week.
Following her came the boys and girls
of the school. one by one until every val
entine had been delivered. The last name
called was Miss Ansey.
Now, this was a very great surprise 10
the dear little schoOlma am, and as she
walked up she blushed and smiled. and
Tom Cook had to come out and help her
carry her valentines, there were SO many
of them.
Until it was dark in the school-room
the pupils OF Sterling remained TO read
their valentines. and II was the happiest
time that the cid schoolhouse had ever
known. They laughed and shouted and
read one another the verses.
and showed one another the pictures. and
tried TO guess who sent each missive.
Some of the valentines were very clever
for boys and girls. Matilda Strong sent
this one TO Josie Barnard:
Josie Barnard yesterday
Made it all up with Edith Strong
Although she knew we heard her say
She never would, though in the wrong
And that is why she lost her pout
And learned a thing worth finding out.
But the great triumph of the whole
valentine celebration was the tribute or
the school TO Miss Ansey. or course II
was written by Belle Bailey, although the
other girls helped her. 1t was inclosed
in a beautifully decorated cover made
nv Georgia Webb and Ella COnOVcr: