Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-02-06


In to see Annie Upper as matter OF
course. Annie was cripple and de-
pendent for home upon her married
brother, a handwriting mechanic;
and though her good friends. busy folk
all called as often as they could to
make sure that comforts were not
lacking, she spent many hours alone.
When Annie saw who was at the door
her face frightened with pleasure,
for the bluff, kindly old surgeon had
been her friend and confdant for
many years.
What's all this, Annie?' he asked
with interest; been playing paper
dolls all by yourself?"
She laughed in some embarrass ment
There, now! was hoping you didn't
notice; but if you won't tell I'll let
you into the secret. Well, doctor, I'm
making valentines"
Valentines! There was wonder
ment in his tone.
Sounds foolish, don't it? But it's
like this: Sitting here alone, guess
l think more about the holidays than
If was up and doing; and sometimes
l get low-spirited, thinking how much
more they used to mean than they do
now. Wicked, amt it, and me so well
fixed? The other day, when I saw
how near the 18th was, I began think
ing about the days when I was young
and straight and pretty and used to
get peck of valentines every year.
| was getting real sorry for myself,
when all of a sudden, thinks l. Annie
upper, do you s'pose your plain, mid
1le-aged face is the only one st. Val
'ntine don't notice nodadays? How
many of your friends that's over fifty
ever see valentine any more? To
be sure, their lives are fuller'n mine,
so maybe they don't miss such things
muchi but all the same | bet they
like it when some one remembers. So
| made a list Of the getting middle-
aged ladies with no beaux or hus-
bands, and the married ones with hus-
bands that look too busy or matter
of-fact to remember birthdays and
Valentine days and such things, and
made up my mind I'd send EN- each
a little remembrance my own self
even if it wasn't much.
81 think it's a beautiful idea" said
the doctor, heartily. He was deeply
touched by the thought of those pa
tient hands undertaking such labor
of love; he wondered, too, whether his
own quiet, gray-haired wife was on
the list, and counted remorsefully the
years since he had remembered her
vio1ets on the good saints anniver-
sary. you're a good little soul, An
MET" he added, impulsively.
Not such a saint as l might be"
Annie confessed, with a twinkle of
fun in the brown eyes; sometimes.
looking through the list, l can't help
being tickled, thinking what good
subjects for comics some of 'em
would make. There's Mrs. Adams
slack housekeeping, and her bonnet
over one eye; and the way Mrs. Wood
gossips; and Mary Trask, with her big
hats and short dresses and high heels,
trying to look like a spring chicken;
and-oh! lots Of funny little ways that
folks have. But when such things
come to me, I remember how Mrs.
Adams wore herself out nursing me
when | had fever, and how generous
Mrs. Wood is; and as for Mary, she's
perfect angel to her grumpy old
father, and a master hand at cooking,
as I've reason to know. Every one of
ems been good to me, and I only
wish l had something better to give
than my little paper f1xings.'
A few moments later Doctor March
took his leave, with thoughtful look
in his eyes and smile lurking about
the corners of his mouth. He made
great many calls that day, and tele-
phoned to a number OF patients whom
he did not visit, and when at last he
started home he was chuckling to him
self, as though well pleased with his
day. Armies right; thereN be a lot
of surprised elderly folks in town next
week." he unused; 'but if I'm not mis-
taken, she'll be the most surprised
one OF the lot, and all without my Civ
ing away word Of her little secret.
Beats all how little it takes to set peo-
pie doing nice things for each other"
Valentines day arrived, bright and
cold. Toward evening Doctor March
could not resist dropping in to see
Annie for few moments. The in
valid sat in her chair by the window,
her face flushed with excitement and
happiness. IN her lap, caressed by
her thin fingers, was heap Of bright
cards and dainty trff1es, while more
substantial reminders of the day were
in evidence.
Annie looked at him with radiant
eyes, ooh, Doctor March, what a good
time I've had" she sighed, blissfully.
why, all day long the doorbells been
ringing and valentines just pouring
in-some OF 'em so funny and cute
they made me laugh, and some so
sweet I most cried. And even nv
pussy cat got one-didn't you, Topsy?
See the dear little bundle of catnip
some one sent her! Folks have been
good to me before, but it just seems
as though these lovely. friily, not-use-
full things make 'em seem more friend
" than ever. Doctor" her face cloud
ed with sudden anxiety, you didn't
tell on me, did you? I'm afraid it
wouldn't be quite 500 perfect, if
people knew l was going to send to
them, and wanted to sort of even up,
you know"
Don't you worry" Doctor March re-
assured her, glad. as the smiles came
to her face, that he could speak truth
fully: 81 didn't tell a soul"
Scott's Tribute to the Day.