The sun., 1901-03-06
PILLS VALENTINE.
NY FANNIE DAY HURST.

Why take him, but It'll mighty hard diggin
fer us now, an when the youngster gifts old
sr an needs schoolin' an books an sight
o. clothes, thenll come the scrimpin' fer
YOU"
Mrs. Atkins had sent Phil out with his
sled, well knowing that she had not UNDER
aiken an easy task when she had decided
to urge her husband to allow her to adopt
the handsome little boy, whose mother had
died two days before. Now she answered:
"Yes, am set on takin' him, an, Jake, he
won't cost us any more than our own Phil
would, an he's just the same age"
Jake Atkins was miner, and luck had
been against him during these four years
that had passed since Phil came into his
home, but they had managed to live in a
poor fashion. During the summer the gar
den yielded rich supplies, and there was
always some wild meat to be had for the
going in search of it, Then some logging,
and in the winter the sale of Christmas
trees and trimmings added a little TO the
household purse. The bare necessities they
could always have, but none of the uxuiies
came into their home, and here was the
source of Pills greatest sorrow. He cared
little that he had never in his life worn a
new pair Of trousers; those made from his
GttneT Oiu OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES UD1UtllHNt
were comfortable enough. Neither did lie
envy the city boys their skates in winter
nor their bicycles in the summer. Those
were not to be thought of any more than
were stiff collars or tailor-made suits: but
one thing he longed for and planned for
and even one day asked for.
1t was the week before Christmas, and
he and Jake We're taking load Of ever
IN, In, InI- M
hc had climbed off the sled and were trudg-
arms together in an effort to warm them
selves.
Presently the man spoke: Phil, boy, ef
ever we strike it rich, you an your motherll
have the greatest Christmas you ever dremp
Of. What'd you take, Phil, ef we could cele-
brate same's other folks?'
Books, daddy, stacks of 'em. tellin' bout
animals an birds. | wouldn't want another
thing but books DO you think the time'll
ever come when you can buy me few
oooks?"
at amt here now, son; there's shoes fcr
your mother an blanket fer your bed, an
| reckon some socks fer me, ter come out
o. this load O greens. But don't glt diScour-
aged. Mebbe we kin spare a dollar come
spring, fer that book you was telln' about.
What's the name you called it by?'
"Smith's Natural History, and bargain
it'll be; but likes not the man'll sell il be
fore spring"
Likes not" assented joke. "Whoa,
there" he called TO the horses, which
stopped willingly enough. The two climbed
to the seat of the sled and as the horses
started off, Jake gave Phil's shoulder an
encouraging pat.
you know my old sayin'; the first dollar
you find in horseshoe track, you kin spend
fer the book"
Pills face lost its shadow as he answered:
81 ought to be ashamed to bother you, when
you an mother could have lots more, il you
hadn't taken me-"
Jake's answer was gr,iff, but Phil knew
that it was tender, too. Don't be silly, boy.
Talk sense"
One morning in February, Jake said to his
wife. "Put up snack fer Phil an me,
I've got ter go up ter the mine an put some
props in the shaft, an Ill take the boy fer
comp'ny. It's kinder lonesome an cold,
goin' up into the mountains alone, jest about
now."
Phil did not wait to hear Mrs. Atkins an
swer. He knew that she might dread To
have them take the dangerous trip, but he
also knew that the patient look ON her face
must have come with years of anxious en-
durance that she had known since she be
came the miners wife, and he scrambled NJ
to the loft of the cabin and began to hunt
out the thick gloves and leggings, made
from the good parts OF an old blanket, and
to get guns and ammunition ready, for bears
and wild cats were plentiful in the noun
tains.
The trip to the mine was made in safety.
the props were put in and On the morning Of
| the next day the two were at the foot OF the
mountain, ready to start home, only to find
| that the horses had broken loose and had
| probably started for home, ahead Of them,
| Nothing was left for them to do but tc
walk the ID miles to the cabin, and they
started out. The snow had been well
| packed when they came over the road on the
previous day, but during the night an inch
of new snow had fallen, and so it was easy
to track the horses through the canyon. 1t
was nearing noon when they came out ol
the canyon into the open valley, and the
road began to show signs of travel, so that
il was impossible to track them further
| They felt no uneasiness about the animals
however, being sure that they had gone
home
| 'This is Valentines day, daddy, an
wrote valentine on piece Of pink papel
an left il where motherll find il, so she'd
not be SO lonesome with us gone. Did you
ever write her one, before you were mar.
ried?"
That's what / did, er leastWays nevcl
was no hand with the pencil, but got the
teacher ter write it. II said suthin like
this:
"'On the fourteenth OF February
Twas our lot ter be merry.
Lots was cast and tickets drew:
| Kind Fortune said 1t should be you!
Ef you love me as / Love you
No knife kin cut our love in two.
Round is this ring. It's got no end;
So is my love fer you, my friend.
Eff these few lines you do refuse,
| / shall expect that me- you'll choose.
lIf these few lines you do reject.
That me you'll choose, | shall expect
II got her either way, you sec"
Phil did not hear the last words Ahead
of them something glstened, and he WA,
sure it was not the sun shining on the
snow. He hurried forward step and
STOPPING down, turned the object over witt
his finger. Then he raised his beamng face
to Jake and exclaimed:
"See, daddy, dollar, an found it in t
horseshoe track!"
BLESSED ef you amt right" the man an
swered. "An' Bill Stones gon' ter the city
termorror, so you kin send by him an gil
that book tellin' about animals"
Phil is professor Of natural history in q
large western college now, and Jake and
his wife live comfortably in his pleasant
is, lem, IL, ltnu