River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-02-09

tons of paper lace and bright color so
fascinating to the heart of youth and,
ah, mel to the memory of age, perhaps
and as they lifted the fiImy overays 10
read the cuuningly hid verses beneath
they did not notice that standing IN the
door was a feeble old man leaning on a
cane and watching them. His hair was
rather long and silver white. His face
was clearly shaven, and he had a large
nose, a rather childish mouth and
clear blue eyes. As he moved away the
two girls heard his step and turned.
"Ohw exclaimed Clare, whispering
there is old Mr.. Fessenden! lie lives
next door to us and is a cranky old
bachelor. Let's seEd him a valentine
The other girl nodded. Then they
watched him a moment through the
window as be paused 10 look in.
HE comes every year to look at the
valentines" said the shopwoman.
"Show us some funny ones" said
Glare. Some about old bachelors"
The girls were not cruel; they were
thoughtless. They picked out a high
Iy colored picture u a fierce-loollng OLD
man in a house that was in wretched or
der. and under which were the follow
ing lines:
AN OLD BACHELOR.
'You think yourself extremely wise,
Since all your worthless life
You've lived alone without the care
And love Of a tender wife.
Perhaps. indeed, you've Vainly tried
TO wed, your whole life through,
And were so glum and crusty mat
30 wife would live with you
They did not like the word worth
loss" because Clare said She had never
heard that he dissipated in any way
INIT Katie said it did not mean that
NM ouIy meant that his life had been
worthless because he hadn't married
Nv and by they went across the street
10 a bright red letter box and dropped
in all their purchases.
As they recrossed they were talking
busily and did not notice that cable
car was changing its bell wildly and
that the gripman was making frantic
efYort to stopit. But suddeaIy each felt
herself pulled hastily backward, and
realized that they had been drawn from
IN front Of the deadly cable car just in
time. Each gave a little scream and
,,rued TO thank her rescuer. 1t was the
old gentleman Mr. Fessenden. He had
dropped his cane and leaned on them
trembling from the effort. The girls
were abashed. and blushed and STAN
mered. Clare hastily picked up mis-
cane, and he thanked her courteously
They crossed the street together in the
direction of the little shop.
Il suppose you were so taken up with
the valentines you are sending that you
did not notice the car" sa Id the old gen
tleman, gently. Il used t. be very fond
of them myself Suppose we all go in
and look al them little"
The girls could not refuse and shame.
facedly entered. The shopwomau
smiled at them knowingly, but they
only smiled back in feeble and sickly
way. The old gentleman selected TIVE
valentines that the girlshad not felt able
10 buy.
Il want you to have these" he said
"to remember me by and to make you
think to be always very careful wher
you cross the street"
The girls thanked him family with
downcast eyes, Then he babe them {
courtly adieu. They noticed how feeble
he was as he limped away and won
dered how he could have had strength
enough to save them from the car
Then as they went out each holding
prettily ornamented envelope, they
looked at each other in shame and re
Gret. Clare was the first to speak.
Lets send him another" she said
"Tbey have some beautiful ones dowr
the street further. Let's go dowi
there"
They counted their money as thel
went along and put it all together. By