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valentine's eve -in Norwich. 399
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
- V "The Stranger Who Visits Norwich, Do...
click , and she had fancied a bright picture of the delight of the widow and her son when the fruits of her labor should be worn
and admired . . ¦ " . Okand since you left there has come such a valentine for
baby ! , I am quite sorry he cannot appreciate such presents yet !" and from a cardboard box she drew forth such a knowing little
white felt hat and feather as would have made any young mother ' s heart bound ! She could not imagine who . had invested so largely
to make the darling look superb . ( She has not found it out yet , for her husband dares not confess the extravagance . )
" Are there anymore to take out ? " says the curate , when he has done justice to the merits of the white hat .
" Yes , the Fishers have not had the cake ; it is all directed read And y . " off trudthe willing Mercury with a parcel which will
certainly rejoice ges the eyes and mouth and nose of the hungry little Fishers . They live a fliht of stairs in a narrow courtso that
it is not so easy to manage up this g one , especially as the curate , is somewhat heavy of foot and ungainly of movement . Up he stepsas if
, the stairs were egg-shells . It is quite dark and he is fumbling for the door , when he finds himself suddenly grasped tight by the legs
and a rough voice shouts out , _"Ah , I ' ve caught you at last , you villainmeddling with my coal-bin . "
The , curate resolves to carry on the game . " Now , don't ye be hard upon a poor man ! " he cries , disguising his voice , - "I ain't
taken a rap yet . " " Nobut meant to ; and ye have afore . I knows ye ! You ' re
Hobert , Smith , that ' s who ye are . I knows yer voice !" The curate makes a note of this as showing the force of
imagination under excitement , as also to have a special chat with _ftobert Smith and find out if possible if his morality be really
so lax as suspected . But the family within have heard the noise . Mrs . Fisher opens the door with a light ; there is nothing
to _prevent discovery but some rapid movement . The candle is blown out and a heavy parcel thrust into the doorway quicker
than I can speak it , and the curate rushes helter-skelter down the _stairs . Fortunately , liis legs are good for running if not for secret
movements , and he is soon clear of the confused voices— " Stop him ; I'll be after him ! " and the "Nonoit ' s a valentineTimj feyther
it ' s a valentine ! " of wife and children , , . After a few , minutes the , _isupposed thief slackens his pace and lingers occasionally to watch
the furtive movements of St . Valentine ' s votaries and to listen to the ¦ uproarious merriment attending his retiring footsteps . And if on
ithis joyous night a few of the pampered children of fortune have a lethora of good thingsif a few grow so blasts with variety of toys
that p they early acquire , the knowledge of Solomon that " all is vanity , " and " there is nothing new under the sun , " what is that
'Compared with the bursts of jollity which enliven more sober hearths ,
Valentine's Eve -In Norwich. 399
valentine ' s eve -in Norwich . 399
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), Feb. 1, 1862, page 399, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01021862/page/39/
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