Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-08
ST. valentine AND A BOY.

I am going to have perfectly miswable
Valentine day. mamma. All my valentines
were burned up last year cause I had
scarlet fever and now 1 s'pose these
will be burned up. too?''
Yes. dear, the doctor said it would be
best"
Then I don't want to work on them
any more. It's just foolish waste of
time"
Mamma smiled at Nathaniel, her six
year-old son. whose time was so valu-
able while recovering from a mild at
tack Of the measles. Yet she sympa-
thixed with him when she looked at the
heap Of finished and unfinished valen-
tines on. dis bed. Mamma, as little brother
Charles called him, had enjoyed making
them during the days when he had been
separated from the rest OF the family
with mamma as nurse and companion
He wasn't q bit of "cry-boy." but two
big tears hung on his eyelids as he looked
at . blue valentine with gilt heart.
which was to have been sent to Helen
Raymond; and a red one. with verse OF
mammals poetry, which was intended for
Gladys whitefield. Now these beautiful
valentines were to share the same fate
as those Of last year. and tomorrow would
be Valentines day.
boy who climbed upon the bed. thrust the
bright-colored papers aside and lay back
among the pillows. still holding the blue
and red valentines in his hand. He stud
led them in silence for a time. then broke
oW with: what are girls so 'fraid OF
measles for? It's nothing to be red and
see the doctor. and take pills. and get a
new skin. Mines ever SO much winter
than my old one.
He pulled I'D the sleeve Of his Russian
blouse and looked at his arm. Then he
continued: II think the girls would ike
these valentines. even If the measles
should 60. too, mamma.
IT should have to run away from their
parents IL sent the measles to those
children. But don't get gloomy. Mamma
boy. over these valentines. There's lots Of
fun I'm them yet"
ct don't see a bit, mamma"
pass them to me. one by one. I'm
going to decorate the windows with them
before the children come home from
school"
oh" said Nathaniel. more cheerfully.
'"Then Helen and Gladys will know I've
heard of ST. Valentines day. even If did
at grandmamma's 1 was afraid the boys
and girls would think / didn't know how
to-to-play the game.
He watched mamma with growing inter
est while she fastened a fringe OF valen-
tines to the window shades with thumb
tacks Then she pinned one against each
of the six panes in the lower half OF the
windows.
AS she nnlSDSO Ndtuduiel JuIIlpcQ Afohi
the bed shouting: Here are Helen and
Gladys. See them look,'
He knocked on the window and waved
two eager hands at his playmateS. They
returned his greetings and stood on the
sidewalk a long time admiring the gay
display.
At 8 o'clock Mamma lay down to rest.
After a half hours nap he awoke to find
a wood fire blazing on the hearth, the
window shades drawn and not valentine
in sight.
rs the fun over?" asked a resigned
little voice.
mot half" mamma replied. But sup
Der first."
When the last spoonful of bread and
milk had gone mamma passed him a
fancy box, In which the valentines were
neatly packed.
'St. Valentine has a message for you
written on these valentines. You can't
see anything? Wait! Hold this one near
the IRE. There! Do you see tho writing
now? What letter Is it,?
why, mamma! 1t looks like a Y.
written with violet ink"
That's right laddie. Now throw that