One favorite kind, the “window” valentine, was made by taking a square of paper, doubling it and cutting one straight slit half-way across from centre to the outside; then folding it once the other way—into quarters—and cutting off the corner so as, when unfolded, to make a square opening in the centre, with its corners opposite the sides of the larger square. While the paper was folded in quarters, a third slit was cut, parallel with the last one. When unfolded, this brought strips each side, which were folded back on the outside of the valentine; a picture was pasted back of the opening, and the valentine looked like this:
WINDOW VALENTINE
Another was made to represent the front of a house, with a “Welcome” door-mat and a door that opened and disclosed a photograph of the giver. On the door was inscribed,
“Open this door, and you will find
One who would be your valentine.”
Still another represented a dainty lady on horseback just ready to jump through a paper hoop held by a clown. Underneath was the verse,
“Jump through this paper hoop of mine,
And find your own true valentine.”
The paper in the hoop concealed a photograph. Of course it should be explained to the children that valentines containing photographs are supposed to be for relatives.
One of the prettiest surprises of all on the occasion of which I am speaking, was a wonder-box, made from a piece of heavy paper six inches across. Fastened securely in a most mysterious way, and with bits of candy rattling tantalizingly inside, it was a delightful, but not an easy, task, to open it, even to those who knew how.