Mrs. St. V. (seats herself). Would you like to buy any valentines to-day? I have choice ones to sell, at low prices.
[All gather around her and take up the valentines.]
Ada. Yes, these are lovely. Have you any comic valentines?
Mrs. St. V. Yes, a few. But I never show them to young ladies. They are not suitable.
Ada. But we want one; real horrid and funny.
Mrs. St. V. How singular! Will one of these do? But I do not like to sell you such a thing.
Amanda. Here's a good one, girls. (Reads.)
Once you may have been a beauty, but your charms are faded now,
There are puckers round your eyes, dear, and wrinkles on your brow;
Once you may have been seraphic, you are not angelic now.
Mary Ann. Oh, that's too good by far! Now how is this? (Reads.)
You ugly, horrid, spiteful creature,
How distressing every feature!
Vinegar is sweet beside you,
And we cannot but deride you,