6 THE ACORN this meeting:. But Jack told them to sit down, and then startled them by saying-," Boys we won't send one ugly valentine to Crooked Legged Tim; if we send any at all, it will be the best we can buy." "Why!" "Why!" shouted every boy, and then Jack told them. He said he told his father about the valentines they were going to send Tim. But, instead of showing his approval, his father took him aside and told him of Tim's life. He said that Tim could once walk and play as they could now; but one day, seeing a little boy slip down, in front of a coming team, at a risk of his own life, he ran and dragged the boy from under the wheels; but in doing so he fell and the wheels of the heavy wagon passed over his legs, thus crippling him for life. The boy whose life Tim had saved was as poor as Tim, so his heroic act was soon forgotten. When Jack was through he asked them what they should do. They all wanted to do many impossible things, but Jack said that he had a good plan. He said for each boy to work hard until St. Valentine's day, which was two weeks distant, and to save every cent he earned, then put it all together and buy a ton of coal for Tim and his mother. Coal was very scarce and high priced, so this might mean a great deal to them. The boys all shouted their approval and went home. The day before Valentine's Eve they were all assembled again, each jingling a handful of coins. When their money was put together, they found that they had more than enough to buy the coal, so Jack said that with the money left over they should buy a real pretty valentine for Tim. The next day all was in readiness; a ton of coal had been sacked and delivered a few doors below Tim's, a beautiful valentine had been bought, and as night came on the boys gathered near. How eager they all seemed and how much more pleasure they found tonight than they had experienced before! Tim had been teased so much with the ugly valentines, that of late years he wouldn't go to the door when the boys knocked. And knowing this, the boys pounded and shouted as they put down each sack of coal. For nearly an hour they trudged up the long flights of narrow stairs with coal, but they didn't even notice the exertion in their excitement. At last every sack was deposited in front of the door and having pinned a note on one of the sacks, they placed the valentine on the top of them and left. After all was quiet, Tim hobbled to the door and cautiously opened it. Upon seeing the sacks all around the door, he thought it was one of the boys' jokes and frowned in anger. But his mother was more observant. She saw a piece of coal lying on the floor and at the same moment caught sight of the note. Upon reading it she found that the coal was for her and Tim. If the THE ACORN 7 boys could have seen her face, they would have been repayed ten times over. Even at that moment Tim's mother needed coal and she started to pull one the sacks into the room. In doing so she dislodged the valentine, and it fell at her feet. She picked it up, and upon seeing that it was for Tim, forgot all about the coal, and ran to his side. Together they hastily opened it. Tim almost dropped it in astonishment. Was it really for him? It was too beautiful too good for him to touch. Then overcome with joy he burst into tears. The boys did not realize the good they had done. They knew that the valentine would please Tim and his mother, but the extent of their good act was never known. That night after the town was wrapped in slumber, one might have seen a light coming from a window high up in a tenement house, and could one have looked into the window, one would have seen Crippled Tim sittng up in bed, admiring his first real valentine. Clix '08. The Snow Flake The snow flake falls from the hazy tower, And covers the crimson vine; And laughs with glee as it boasts of power By virtue of right divine. I am King of the forest and fields and hills, And I hide the rivers as well; I hang from eaves bright diamond drills And signal the Christmas bell. My power extends to the summer so hot. And lends a helping hand; For I furnish water for the farmer's lot. And moisten the parching sand. And now I declare to foe and friend, That my power will ever be; For the little particles I'll always blend, And sprinkle the earth with glee. Austin Wintle.