Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1913-02-07

DR.. March, on his rounds, dropped
in to see Annie Topper as matter OF
course. Annie was a cripple and de-
pendent for home upon her married
brother, Woodworking 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 confidant for
many years.
What's all this, Annie?' he asked
with interest; "been playing paper
dolls all by yourself?"
She laughed in some embarrassment
There, now! / was hoping you didn't
notice; but if you won't tell Ill 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
think more about the holidays than
if was up and doing; and sometimes
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 | sew
how near the 14th was, l began think
ing about the days when was young
and straight and pretty and used to
get peck of valentines every year.
was getting real sorry for myself,
when all of sudden, thinks I, Annie
Topper, do you s'pose your plain, mid
dle-aged face is the only one st. Val
entine 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
much! 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.
Il 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
violets on the good saints anniver-
sary, You're good little soul, An.
nie!" he added, impulsively
'Not such saint as might be, >
Annie confessed, with a twinkle OF
fun in the brown eyes; sometimes,
looking through the list, / 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
trying to look like spring chicken:
and-oh! lots of funny little ways that
folks have But when such things
come to me, remember how Mrs.
Adams wore herself out nursing me
when / had fever. and how generous
Mrs. Wood is; and as for Mary, she's
a 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 only
wish l had something better to give
than my little paper fixings.'
Valentines day arrived, bright and
cold. Toward evening Doctor March
could not resist dropping in to see
Annie for a 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 trifies, while more
substantial reminders of the day were
in evidence.
Annie looked at him with radiant
eyes, OH, DOCIOI All CA, Whoe q STU
time I'VE had" she sighed, blissfully
why, all day long the doorbell's been
ringing, and valentines just pouring
in-some of 'em SO funny and cuts
they made me laugh, and some 81
sweet most cried. And even ms
pussy cat got one didn't you. Topsy
See the dear little bundle of catniT
some one sent her! Folks have been
good to me before. but it just seems
as though these lovely, frilly, not-use
full things make EN- seem more friend
" than ever. Doctor" Der face cloud
ed with sudden anxiety, you didni
tell on me, did you? I'm afraid II
wouldn't be quite $3.50 perfect, il
people knew was going to send tc
49,. 80 rr,ou%o1 RI SORT ~ avon r.n