St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-06-21
Sister Euphrasia's Valentine.

perfume from the arbutus and early
yiolets, blowing it through the open
windows of the Convent, and into the
faces OF the little children.
Already the maple trees gave promise
of blossoms. For all up and down the
brown branches were little dots of scar
let, flashing gaily in the bright sunlight.
The birds fitted joyously about in the
soft, warm air, darting like CLEANS of
light, through the trees and shrubs,
chatting merrily to their little mates. 1t
was a day to decoy one into the belief
that spring had come. But February
days are as uncertain as the capricious
April. Towards evening the air grew
chill and the sky began to darken. At
first the rain fell gently then the wind
arose and blew about the house and
shook the shutters, and made moan
down the chimney.
The Reverend Mother and Sister Eu-
phrasa sat listening to the storm i'll the
quiet of the little Convent home.
This is stormy ending to our beauti-
full day."
Eyes, Mother"
Euphrasia arose and walked over to the
window trying to look out into the
darkness. The wind blew the frozen rain
against the window panes with sudden
crash that made her turn quickly away
and exclaim
This is a pitiless night. / hope Gods
poor are safely sheltered"
She had scarcely spoken when suddenly
she bent her head to listen.
Il thought l heard voice calling. Do
you suppose, dear Mother, that anyone
could be seeking shelter at our door? l
fancied heard"
1.-THE storm has unnerved you, dear
child. No, you could not hear a voice
called it ever so loudly-above the din of
this awful storm 1t was but the wind
besides, there is the BELL"
For while these two sat in perfect
silence. At last Sister Euphrasia arose
suddenly, her face was very pale, as she
turned to the Reverend Mother.
Dear Mother, permit me to go to the
door. surely hear-I feel seem to see
some one."
Very well, my child, go; you will feel
better having assured yourself"
Sister Euphrasia fastened down the
long hallway, unbarred the heavy door
and stepped out into the storm. She re-
turned bearing in her arms little be-
numbed unconscious figure, drenched
with the cold rain. The Reverend
Mother hurried to her.
rs he dead?"
II fear So"
How they worked over the little rigid
figure to restore it to consciousness.
The dear little child had almost persisted
hot etar ,uht tha,,-
doorstep, Finally they were rewarded.
He opened his eyes and tried to sit up
straight. He looked about him, then
into Sister Euphrasia's face, and asked
in sweet baby voice;
SIS my mamma here? Use lost her."
The question was so unusual, and
coming so direct from the baby lips. that
neither the Reverend Mother nor Sister
Euphrasia were able to reply. They
tried to evade the question and soothed
and Quoted him as best they could, and
gradually he fell.asleep. The cruel night,
however, had done its work, and tor
days the little child tossed and moaned,
while the fever racked his body and tor
tured his baby brain. He would whisper
IN his delrium mamma, mamma" and
stretch out the little arms, then cry out
IN sudden pain, Use lost my mamma"
Sister Euphrasia seldom left his bed
side. She would caress and soothe him,
and at the touch of her soft, cool hands
he would sometimes smile and fall asleep.
When finally he recovered and was able
to play about, and the color began to
glow in his cheeks, she would question
MIN about his name, but all that she
could ever persuade him to tell her
Use dust Baby"
So it came about that he was called by
common custom and consent "Valen-
tine" Bye and bye, when he was accus.
toned to his strange home, and grew in
strength and courage, he would, when
alone with Sister Euphrasia, prattle a
good deal about himself, and by degrees
1t became known that his mother had
died, and the neighbors, thinking, no
doubt, that he was too little to under
stand or to save trouble of consoling
him, had told him that his mother had
gone to the market. And as she failed
TO return to her baby, after a while they
told him that she went to the market
and was lost. The little child accepted
II as truth and so, went about looking
everywhere for the dear mamma that
could not answer to his calling but was
lost"
His loyal little heart was seeking her
out in the big world For the city was
a world to his baby feet and baby eyes.
And so he trudged about, until his
weary little feet halted at the Convent
gate IN the binding storm, and his heart
was throbbing with pain and terror be-
cause his mother was "lost."
1t was, no doubt, mistaken kindness
that suggested the cruel explanation to
the baby mind; and thus it often is that
yynildlsh hearts are burdened with cruel
nes that rankle and torture, thereby
I,louding the little lives, and causing end
less pain and sorrow.
VA year went by-a happy year for
valentine, but there would sometimes