Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-02-14

1t happened a number of years ago,
when valentines were made more account
Of than they are now. Why, IN those
DAYS some valentines were almost as gooo
as an offer of marriage. | am sure Jointly S
was. He meant it for one, and l know
he did. Jonty-his name was Jonathan,
but we always called him Jonty-Was my
husbands youngest brother, and he had
lived with me ever since his father died,
when he wasn't much more than a BABY.
He was twenty years younger than my
husband, and we both of us, since we
didn't nave any children of our OWE, look
ed upon him as a SON., My husband just
set his eyes by his little brother, and ne
was a pretty boy, the reddest cheeks ana
the curliest light hair, and he was just
as good as he could be, always ready to
run errands, get a pail of water and bring
in kindling wood, starting the minute he
was told, and goin' laughin' as if he was
tickled to death at havin' a chanc to do
somethin' for somebody. The way he
used to wait on Grandma Page, find her
glasses for her and hold her yarn, was
really wonderful in a boy. Grandma Page
was his and Caleb's, my husbands, great
grandmother. She was pretty old when
Jointly came to live with us, and when
that happened about the valentine she
was near ninety, but one of the prettlest
old ladies you ever saw, cheeks as plnk
as a girls, and her white hair all wavy
n she wore the incest white caps, with
lavender ribbons on them. We were proud
of Grandma Page, and she was one OF
those little gentle, delicate, clinging crea-
lures that everybody loves and pets. PEG
pie used to say she didn't have much
force, and couldn't do anything but knit
and look peaceful and pretty, but she
wasn't half the care that most old peo-
pie are. When my husband died Jonty
was most twenty-five years old, and it
was the greatest comfort to me that
had him and Grandma Page. Jointly he
took hold and run the farm just as smart,
and we got along we'll, and had plenty of
everything, though l was sad enough
sometimes.
1 felt dreadful sober when Jointly came
to me that afternoon about the valentine.
It made me think of the time when Caleb
tent me a valentine for one thing, and
then I couldn't help feeling a little sad
hat Jointly should be thinkin' of SOM
pther woman beside his grandma and me,
though I knew it was for the best if he
got a good wife and helpmeet.
But I tried to look as cheerful as !
could. Jointly didn't act half as silly and
ashamed in asking me as some boys would
nave acted. He was always real honest
and simple and outspoken, and never
seemed to see any reason for being asham'
ed of anything that was right. He never
colored up a mite, though his cheeks were
always like roses, as bright as a girls
and be laughed kind of sweet and pleas
ant when he showed me the little sheet OF
gilt-edged paper with a bunch of rosebuds
in the corner, that was to go with the
handsomest valentine I ever laid my eyes
on. There was paper cut somehow sc
you could lift it up in a sort of spira
twist and see underneath a couple seated
In an arbor all covered with roses. What
Jonty wanted was a little poem writer
on that sheet of paper. H..
Cant you do it, Aunt Jane?' said he
In his coaxing way. He always called mi
law. .
why, my land, Jointly, I don't believe
] can," said I. I'm afraid I'll spoil thi.
beautiful paper"
"Oh, no, you won't" said he. "Do
Aunt Jane"
Now 1 nave really had quite a name
Tor writing poetry, and once a piece or
the death of Deacon Briggs wife was
published in the paper, but I have writ
ten mostly in albums, for people on tht
deaths Of relatives and friends, and Their
they would keep them in their family
Bibles.
81 s'pose I know who it's goin' to-
said I.