The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-02-18

eyes but he hurried another phase of the subject
| Think you'll be out by st. Valentines; that's
five days YETI"
Il don't know said Jerry, doubtfully
Cause us fellers is chipping in for feed all
together on St. Valentines and we want you"
i won't have anything to chip in" said Jerry,
cause I'm out of work just now"
That don't make no difference; they said you
was to come alice samee" responded Jim, looking
toward the nurse approaching them; Il guess she
wants me to go, Goodbye, ole Teller"
'Jim."
Yes" he answered turning back to the little
| white cot.
"You know what YOU was saving bout St. Val
| entine'sl'
Jim nodded
Il visit l could send valentine to some one !.
I've CENTS and his hand felt under his fat pillow.
"Ah, you just hold on to that" said Jim who's
! the valentine for!"
For the lady that fetchcs me violcts and or
anges every morning"
is she nice ~
You bet she is"
All" responded Jim, squirting one eye re
Heetvely, 'for ladys valentine like that the one
centers won't do. You have to have lace and flowers
and gilt and all. I'll see though 'Scuse me- here's
the nurse, and scuttlng past her with compound
of duck and bow he was gone.
When he came the next afternoon he carried a
hat package under his arm. Jerry's eyes frightened
as Jim put it in his hands and waited for him to
open it,
A bewitcbng compound of white satin. paper
lace and handpainted violets confronted jerry as
he pulled off the string.
Jim, you've hit it just rightr he exclaimed
chow much is it ~
"Oh bout right"
Yes, but it ten-cent or fifteen, orr"
Il amt going to tell"
yes, but if it's too dear, mebbe with my one leg
/ can't afford it,"
'Never you mind" said jim. "did you see the
fine envelope it's got too.'
Jerry scrutinized the embroidered envelope back
and front then turned to the inside of the valentine
"Ah, Jim!" he said in hollow voice; st amt got
poetry inside
what" cried JIM Selling it and examining it.
That's so! But, hold here's some gilt lines to
write your own poetry on. Seep
jerry stretched up his thin neck and stared at
the gtdoted lines. then laid his head back YEARLY.
Il can never make no poetry fit for them gilt
lines" he said.
Now, mebbe you can" argued jim, cheerfully.
You just think some up and I'll write it on the
valentine with ink when [ come tomorrow 'Scuse
me. if there amt that nurse coming again. Good
bye, I'm sorry 'obut this poetry business and he
was off again.
Small Jerry turned restessly on his pillow long
after Jim had gone. The unexpected demand upon
him for poetry worried him. "Wisht l was jim"
he said to himself. Jim had whole year at school
and me not a day; course he write fine enough
for valentines and me only printing. What is
pottery or poetry, anyways It's words like kingle
and jingle: and no and oh, s'pose. man got un-
der the pans the style of the thing | expect, only
that's no valentine poetry"
The doctor came up; felt Jerry's pulse and took
his temperature.
Flows the head. my little MANI" he asked.
faint much good" said Jerry.
Does it ache.'
NO. but ii won't think like | want it to-"
The doctor turned to the table, dropped a ,iny
bit of something into glass there and gave it to |
Jerry to swallow Soon after this the little patient
fell into a comfortable sleep and when he awakened
a wonderful valentine rhyme flashed into his mind.
Over and over he whispered it to himself to have
ii ready for Jim. 1t
Spring is due.
With birds of blue,
And robins, too"
At an unusually early hour the next afternoon
Jim appeared at Jerry's cot-sde with pen and ink.
Did you think of it yet :" he whispered to Jerry.
Jerry nodded, his eyes shining.
"All right; fire ahead while / black it down."
and jim placed the ink stand the table and bent /
the valentine over his knee.
Spring is due" began Jerry.
<Al right" said Jim, chats down. What next"
'With birds of blue and robins, too" completed
Jerry, glibly.
''What next"
That's ALL"
There's three lines yet to write on; can't you
tack on a bit of love or thanks for violets or some
thing ?" urged jim.
"Ought L to 2" questioned Jerry
"'Cording to the three lines that's left you
ought"
That's So" said Jerry, pulling so nervously at
the bandage on his head that the doctor who always
seemed near came up and adjusted it.
How'd this do 2" said JIM the instant the doc
tor retired: $50 my thanks is due; With these vio-
cts blue(t Chat is the vioets painted to the val
sntine)--to you, my kind, valentine"
"Ah, that's grand, jim; it's such lot of rhyme;
write it down quick fore you forget it." said jerry.
Jim's pen travelling along the gilt lines in a
oainstaking manner. He too careful to hurry.
dts done"
"Read it."
Spring is due,
With birds of blue,
And robins, too.
So my thanks is due,
With these violets blue