The silver star., 1900-02-09
76'S VALENTINE.
tTrom ch.o.so rnt.r-oc.ao, j,


covsaty-six was "savin' up" All her
niue set knew 1t because she quit
stickin' in" for coffee at noon she
walked to and from work-that ia
IN tneory she walked, for she often ran
ior blocks at time to ward being late
ei'ner at the store or at home. for no
ohe was supposed to know she did not
ride. She took the 10 cents her moth
or offered her every morning e,thor ~
rue Doth ways" or ride one way and
get conee. whichever seemed best
oeventy-six was a queer combination
OF child and little old woman, like most
Q! the cash girls in department stores
sne saw and heard a great deal every
DAY Of her busy life.
ana Seventy-six had an ideal. In the
person Of little Miss Magee, the cash
Ter to whom she took her checks. Miss
Magee was a slight, short, sweet, little
oooy. with a great quantity of pale
reddish hair that was the delight of
an the cash girls hearts, 1t stayed
In 30 good all day. But Seventy-six
IN particular longed for red hair and
httle hands and every charm possessed
Dy Miss Magee. So when st. Valen-
une's day came and Miss Magee got a
nice bunch Of violets delivered by a
messenger boy, Seventy-six made a
mental resolution that she would have
bunch Of violets come to herself
like that one II she lived to the next
st. Valentines day. and everyone
would think she had "a fellow" and
tnat he sent 'em like Miss Magee's
Fellow did" And after the severe
strain OF the holidays was lifted lit
tie In regard to her earnings, she Sc
cretly commenced to save up.
Poor little Seventy-six! To save up
meant to her to walk miles twice day.
though sometimes she got little
hitch" on a friendly express wagon,
but she'd be nearly home when she'd
hitch." No one would see her away
out on West Twelfth street. When
sne couldn't run or get little ride
ana came home late she glibly invent
ed excuses all very plausible. Chang
Ing stock around" was one; getting
In new goods" that had to be opened
and fixed at once. was another, and her
mother and little sisters noted her
great importance at the store.
One Sunday afternoon she canvassed
the florists stores and the combination
florist and undertaking establishments.
where prickly looking pillows made of
hard. dry flowers. with Rest" done in
purple in the center, and white satin
slippers were displayed in the win
dows. Up on one side of the street
and down the other she sought violets.
to Inquire as to prices, but she never
found even one. Next day at noon she
got permission to go out and she had
not far to seek a florist, and the wise
young man there told her violets were
from rs cents up" and that they
were scarce and would be scarcer and
she would have to order them o few
: days ahead II she wanted any. Then
she hurried back to the store. and
when she was reporting to the time
keeper. Mr.. Goldstein. head Of a depart
ment, laid his hand on her shoulder
and asked her number.
II think. Seventy-six you are getting
tall for a cash." he said, and still hold
ing her by the shoulder he half pushed,
half led her to the rear Of the store.
and word went round that Seventy
six was fired"
When they reached the wrappers and
inspectors desk he found her a place
there and told her II she was MS good
q wrapper and inspector as she had
bsen q cash she'd be all right. She
started in at her new Job at once and
when the cash girls that she had been
one Of few hours before came up with
goods she gave herself lofty airs. as is
the way Of the world.
On the Monday following her promo
ton she ordered the 95-cent bunch of
violets in the florists window, left her
name. number and the name OF the
arm she worked for. She knew the
flowers would go to the office first and