The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10

chamber up stairs to lay aside their
wraps. When they went below they
found the parior only dimly lighted by
a few shaded candles. curtain
stretched across one corner of the room
denoted that there was to be an unusual
feature of entertainment of some kind.
When the young guests eyes accustomed
themselves TO the very dim light of the
room they read on a placard, which was
hung on the curtain. these words: est
Valentines Pond"
Bricltop, representing st. Valentine,
was everywhere at once, putting every
one at ease and creating laughs at his
impromptu jokes and merry witticisms-
The Twins were also doing their part
as hostesses, and never gathered a hap
pier crowd of youngsters than graced
the parlors of the Perkins home on that
st. Valentines night.
After half an hour was passed in
laughter and gay conversation Mrs. Per
kins entered the parlor with a basket
of white paper cut into 10-ineh squares
and lead pencils enough to supply each
guest with one. A sheet of paper and
pencil were given to each boy and girl,
the boys being hidden to write valen-
tine verses, while the girls were told to
draw humorous valentine pictures. The
work began amidst laughter and joking.
but as 1t proceeded the gayety subsidized.
for the guests became deeply In earnest
in their work, and each We'd with the
other In originality of diction and form.
When at last each guest had finished
his task st. Valentine stepped behind the
curtain which hid his pond" from view.
Then Lettie and Bette gathered up the
sheets of paper on which the guests
had tried their talents at drawing and
versifying, and. In turn. disappeared be-
hind the curtain. Then Mrs. Perkins
took from another corner of the room
as many slender fishing rods and lines
hooked with bent pins as there were
guests, distributed them among the eager
boys and girls, who now knew that they
were 70 fish from the pond Of st. Val
emit =" As Mrs Perkins pronounced
tn names of the girls, In alphabetical
order, each went in her turn to the pond
and threw the line over the top Of the
curtain. Out would come one of the
valentine verses, fresh from the pencils
of the boys, fastened to the hook. When
the last girl had drawn her valentine"
Mrs. Perkins announced that the fisher
maldens' would, In turn. read aloud
their verses, and the author of a verse
was invited to rise to his fee. at once
on hearing his own lines. Thus would
the partners be chosen for the supper
which was awaiting them IN the dining
room. But before the pairing-on for
supper began the boys were hidden to
the pond to try their luck with hook
and line. or course, they fshed out the
caricatu lures so cleveriy done by the girls.
Then each boy was told that he should
find the artist of his prize. st. Valentine
and the Misses Valentine" coming from
the pond to assist in the identification.
Bun reigned supreme as the giris-one
at a time-read aloud the verses. some
of which had little rhyme, but much wit,
while others were good rhymers, but
senseiess as to point. The poets" rose
without urging at the reading of their
verses. and soon the couples we're paired
for the hanouet board. But before going