The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-02-03

SAN WELLER'S VALENTINE.


oircumsoribed in . dressin' Of you. for you
are a nice gal and nothin' but IT,"
That's a very pretty sentiment" said
the elder Mr.. Weller. removing his pipe to
make way for the remark.
Yes. I think It's rayther good" observed
Sam. highly fiattered.
"Wot I like In that ere style of writin'.'
said tho elder Mr.. Weller. 'rs. that there
Amt no calm names In it.-no wenuses.
nor nothin' o. that kind: wot's the good o.
calm a young CONAN q Venus or q angel.
|, Sammy?'
"Ah! what indeedr" replied Sam.
You might Just AZ veil call her q grimm,
or a unicorn, or a kings arms at once.
which is very veil known to BE- q collection
o. fabulous animals added Mr.. Weller.
Just as WELL" replied Sam.
Drive on. Sammy" said Mr.. Weller.
Sam complied with the request. and pro-
ceeded as follows: his father continuing to
smoke with . mixed expression Of wisdom
and complacency. which was particularly
edifying.
".Afore 4 zee you I thought al women
was alike"
so they are" observed the elder Mr..
Weller. parenthstically.
but now" continued Sam, now 1
find what q regular soft-headed. ink-red'ious
turnip 1 must ha' been, for there amt no
body like you. though 1 like you better than
nothin' At all I thought It best to make
that raythsr strong" said SAM. looking
up
Mr.. Weller nodded ~approvingiy. and Sam
resumed.
IS take the privilege Of the day.
Mary. my dear,-as the gen'lem'n in dificul-
ties did. ven he walked out Of a Sunday
to tell you that the first and only time 1
see you your likeness wos took on my hart
In much quicker time and brighter colors
than ever a likeness was taken by the
protect macheen (Which p'rhaps you may
have heerd on Mary my DEAR. altho' 1t does
finish a portrait and put the frame and
glass on complete with q hook at the end
to hang 1t up by, and all In two minutes
and . quarter"
II am afeerd that werges or the poetical,
Sammy" said Mr.. Weller. obviously.
INC II don't" replied Sam, reading on
very quickly to avoid contestins the point.
Except Of me Mary my dear a. your
valentine. and think over what I've said.
My dear Mary I VIII now conclude That's
all" said Sam.
That's rayther . sudden pull NJ. amt II.
Sammy inquired Mr.. Weller.
mot q bit on IT," said Sam, 'she'n wish
there wos more. and that's the great art O
letter writin'."
"well.' said Mr.. Weller. "thers's some
thin In that, and I wish your mother-in-
law 'ud only conduct her conversation ON
the same gen-teel principle. Amt o -
goin' to sign itr'
That's the d~iniculty." said Sam. II don't
know what to sign IT."
Sign it-veller," said the Oldest surviving
proprietor Of that name.
Wont do" said sam Newer sign Q |
valentine with your own name"
sign It Pickvick. then" said Mr.. Weller. |
ITS a VERY good name. and . easy one to
spell"
1.-The very thing" said Sam. Il could end |
with a verse: what do you thinkf"
II don't like It. SAM" rejoined Mr.. Wei |
Ter. II never know'd . respectable coach
as wrote poetry, 'cept ono as made an
affectin' copy O. verses the night afors he |
wos hung for . highway robbery. and he
wos only . Camberysll man. Do even that's
no rule"
But Sam was not to b dfssuaded from the
poetical idea that had occurred to him. so
he signed the letter,
"Your lovs-sick
Pickwdck."