The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1917-02-10
THE LAST SHALL
BE THE FIRST

Editors note: This little Valen-
tine day story is from the pen of Miss
Martha Gilmore, the twelve-year-old
daughter of DR.. and Mrs. R. Gilmore,
9O5 Lake Boulevard Its timliness
warrants it space for the ambitious
young miss, who naively informs the
editor of the Pioneer that her ambi-
ton is to become writer. Its title
was submitted with the article:
In large city store on the valen-
tine counter the valentines were
talking.
do you know what day. tomorrow
is?" asked the Biggest Valentine
a pround beauty.
"Why, how could we forget our
own day." timidly said the Littlest
Valentine.
The Biggest Valentine drew ner-
self up proudly.
"Some people are born to inter-
fere," she said.
The Littlest Valentines eyes filled
with tears. The Biggest Valentine
walked away disdainfully muttering,
II think that people ought to know
enough not to talk to people above
, them"
Just then beautifully gowned
lady came in.
This way, lady," said the clerk
and at once showed her the Biggest
I Valentine. After inspecting several
others she chose them as we'll as the
proud beauty. All this time the Lit
tlest Valentine watched wistfully,
but it was not until late in the day
that she was noticed at all. AS the
evening shadows we're falling a lit
tie tired, shabbily dressed woman
came to the counter. After reading
the different verses on the valentines,
she finally chose the Littlest Valen-
tine. In the meantime, the Biggest
Valentine found herself in a beau
tiful room with many other valen-
tines. For time she was the ia
! vorite but soon the little maid 10
| whom she belonged grew tired of her
| and finally she found herself in a
scrap bag, longing for the days OF
her beauty and popularity. When
she had begun to feel that life was
not worth living she heard a voice
| say, NIL you Se'A IoAS IA>
scrap bag home and you may fine
something of use to you"
| When she again saw the light OF
day, she found herself in a small
but very neat and clean room. She
could gaze about unobserved since
| she was still covered by some of the
scraps from the rich lady's scrap
bag On bed lay pale little girl
sewing and singing, and at times
talking. She saw no one else and
wondered to whom she could be talk
ing, when she heard tiny voice say
81 am sure, Alice, that none of the
other valentines found such a happy
home as IT, The voice sounded ia
miliar.
"Well, if I have made you happy
you surely made me happy, little val
entine, and 1 love you dearly" said
the little girl on the bed.
JUST then Mrs. Jones entered the
room and asked her little daughter
if she had been lonely.
"Oh. no, mother" she cried. "The
little valentine has been such good
| company
Her mother laughed and patted
her daughter and said, well, now
we'll see what's in the scrap bag. u
! The first thing she came to was the
valentine.
| "Oh!" she said, whats this thing
I guess I'll throw it in the stove. '
The Littlest Valentine gasped in
amazement and pity. "Oh, no." she
| cried. Put it up here.'
So she put the proud valentine uE
with the Littlest Valentine, but this
time the Big Valentine did not hole
her head up, but was very much hui
inflated, though a much wiser valen