River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-04-05
To Carrie.

To Carrie.
I'd send thee as my valentine
My heart, oh dearest Caroline,
With love as fragrant as red wine;
But then, you know, you have it dear.
I'd give thee all the gems divine
That Mother Nature doth entwine
| Within her bosom, laces fine
Tom stops II can't get the next
line. You see, it must rhyme with
dear"
Had / million dollars clear"
laughingly she replies.
NO, that isn't quite what | want.
Think of something with little
pathos."
Read it again." and leaning her
chin on her hand, she listens with a
pretty meditatiye air, wrinkling her
forehead as she cudgelS her brain for
an idea
Tom watches her anxiously, with
pencil ready.
"Had l diamond for each tear" she
repeats trlumpnantly.
You're a trump-the very thing!
See how nicely it comes in, and he
reads aloud
Now for the second verse" His
ideas evidently are coming faster for
the pencil moves rapidly. She watches
him with an amused, tender express
sion She pictures him, with head on
one side, writing his first valentine to
her. Presently he pauses.
I'm stuck again. I agree with Gift
ed Hopkins, the English language is
abominabIe Here Pm held in check in
my poetical effusion all on account of a
paltry word to rhyme with gap"
LET me see if can't help you" and
leaning over his chair she reads aloud.
castle off in Sunny Spain;
A kingdom fair for thee to reign.
I'd gladly give if they were mine.
Had | a purse that wide did gap
There's where the rub comes in and
the rhyme doesn't"
well, I'd change it somewhat" and
then, trying very hard to be serious,
she recites:
I'D quickly buy big knapsack
My gold to hold"
NOW, Carrie, that's mean"
well, dear, to be serious" She
thinks for a moment. How would
this dor
Had | purse that wide did gap
With yellow coin, within thy lap
I'd gladly pour my golden store"
Finely Now don't say word"
he exclaims, as she is about TO speak.
1--WE got the ending in my head. She
looks on it and in moment he fin
ishes
Now, here are the last lines:
"The only thing I have to send
Is love-a love that knows no end"
That's awfully pretty!" she cries.
clapping her hands. why, don't you
take it around to paper now?''
II believe / will"
"And Tom" she calls out, as he Is
| pulling on his coat in the hall, IF it
isn't accepted, don't be discouraged
Well have it framed"
She stands and mods to him from the
window Dear Tom" she says, and
then adds, foolish fellow, to write me
! a valentine!"
Tom presents himself at the office or
the Epoch, and is duly ushered into
the editors room. AS he enters the
,loor, he sees that the editor is still
looking at his card
What can do for you, Mr.. Trav-
ers?" looking up keenly a Tom.
Tom hesitates. Il have poem-a
ST. Valentines poem | would like to
show you
Did you write that to your lady,
love?" says the editor quickly.
"N-o-well-yes, Tom bushes a
little. 1.-THE fact is, wrote it to my
wife"
"You did. chi" exclaims the editor,
rather brusquely, tho Tom thinks he
sees something glistening in the edi-
tors eye. well, it isn't bad. Say, I'll
give you five dollars for it." Tom is
oyerjoyed.
You must have a sweet wife, eh?"
says the editor, looking up at Tom
while writing out the check.
BEST in the world"
well, take good care Of her." and
he hands over the check. "And-give
her my love. Good-day."
The editor has been sitting thinking,
with his head resting on his hand, for
a long time. A tear trickles through
his fingers. 81 knew the name as soon
as / saw it. And so that's the fellow
she married Well, and he's writing
her valentines, and they've been mar
ried, let's see, yes, six years. I can't
publish it, taking up Toms valentine,
but I'll keep it, and he places it in
his desk; and another tear falls from
the editors eye.
- The aim of drawing