You should have seen, dear reader, with what exuberance of glee Katie Wilmot received her Valentine, which is the one we are now about to unfold. You should have caught the sound of her merry, ringing laughter, and the gayly triumphant tone in which, holding her newly-gained treasure to view, she exclaimed, “Sister Mabel—Cousin Fanny, can you guess who this is for? Ah, you can’t guess—you wouldn’t dream of such a thing? It’s for me—for me!” Then you should have witnessed how joyously the little fairy clapped her tiny hands together, and the impromptu polka which she accomplished round the apartment after the following all-important little missive was read to her.
TO KATIE.
Within my heart, you darling elf!
I’ve caged your little frolic self,
There will I hold you tight and fast—
And so you see you’re caught at last;
While this resolve I’ve made sincerely,
To kiss and pet and love you dearly;
You need not struggle to get free,
You’re snugly locked—Love has the key;