The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1900-02-10
A Valentine Story, written for the TIMES.
BY MRS. w. e. RODWELL.

+ about. Aunt Ellen, you promi
k ed to tell us a story, tonight"
t "When | made the promise
Q didn't know that Minnie was %
1 ing to be SO thoughtful as to brin
lis the 'Womrn's Edition OF tn
Commercial-Appeal.'
"Wouldn't you rather light tn
lamp and read it n
"No, Aunt Ellen. We will
have all day tomorrow to read
Miss Newells dress is finished ant
there will be no other sewing tc
do. The fre-light is so much
softer and less trying on the eyes
and will throw a tinge of romance
over the story. Don't you think
SO, Minnie 70
eyes, indeed. | would rather
hear Aunt Ellen tell u story, any
time, than to read one, myself,
and would much prefer the fire.
light"
swell, girls, 1t is not SO full of
romance as some you may read in
that paper, but 1t is u true story."
''ls 1T about St. Valentine, Aunt
Ellen 2" asked Minnie.
"Parely, dear; but mainly 1t is a
brief review of my life.
II was born on farm in War
'en county, ten miles from Vicks-
'urg. When | was seven years
'ld my parents moved to that place
o send my two sisters and myself
0 school. My mother, who was
graduate, had been teaching us
t home so thatmy olddest sister,
florence, and your mother were
9th we'll advanced.
"My father, who was compelled
} be away from home great
cal attending to the farm, securcd
'oms tor us in o tenement house !
hlch was occupied by several
lmilies and convenient to the
hool we attended. My mother 1
rs a consumptive and in very .
'or health, SO the following 4
'ring she died. 1t was great v
IS; but Sister Florence assumed r
ntrol of the household of which
9 had long been the mainstay
d filled the place of mother to "
ur mother and me. 9
''We spent vacation on the farm "
th father and September found T.
again In our Vicksburg quarters
EN- we re-entered school. Sister n
'rence was to graduate; at the a
Sc of the term and your mother M
8 we'll advanced and father w
s very proud Of them. al
The next January Sister W
'rence contracted pneumonia. Oi
had been sick week when q
her came. He was very uneasy bMo,
nut her and Iseemed to think
m the first that she would not few
over He had a sofa taken to ito
room on which he rested at III
rivals during his nightly vigils, ~pl Te
seldom slept. vea
A weary week of Watching hat
n he was stricken with the same ing
ady and had to be carried to eho oho
room, leaving Sister Florence Or,
he care of others. fail
l was so small that l could CLOS
very little towards nursing tho,
n, but your mothers time was 8
ded between the two. The Hal
es who lived in the building nep
9 very kind to sister, and there od M I.
. number of men who were ran ruS
lilly as attentive to father. Val
Just three weeks from the day was
which Sister Florence was u u Il
n sick, she died, and father trn,1 @
survived her one day. AL thos
gh delirous he knew from the wer
iual confusion that she was IN u
won't 70 h.. e., Eml
mother remained with father
N | returned l found that he -
worse. A lady who had help Iy.<
nurse sister tried to get us
} home with her for the night. 0ett
your mother wouldn't leave Pills
.r and l wouldn't 60 without Il.
1t was we'll that we stayed. 1dNe
1t nine o'clock that evening
egan to sink, and died with dvsy
lame on his lips. 0'1f
never shall forget that scene. cons
few lady frieds we had were liver
out with constant watching TIL
lftcr sisters funeral were taxi -
NnnInnh n,on.loI IN