2 THE ACORN the clock and saw that it was a quarter to nine. "Only fifteen minutes in which to put up my lunch and walk a mile to school," she said to herself, as she pulled the comb savagely through her snarled curls. "Was there ever anything so so hateful" And Allie sat down on a low stool and began to cry. It seemed that everything had gone wrong this morning. First of all she had to get breakfast for Uncle Jack, who had to go to work; then breakfast for grandma, after which the wash water had to be carried from the spring. And worst of all when she had asked Grandma for enough money to buy a valentine, Grandma had replied that girls never thought of such a thing as wasting money on valentines when she was young. "I suppose you want me to cut a picture out of uncle Jack's magazine and paste it on a piece of cardboard," Allie had replied hotly. "You are forever telling me what you did when you were young. Do you think we still live in ancient times?" "And little girls didn't talk back in a disrespectful way to older more experienced people," continued Grandma looking up calmly from her knitting, but Allie was already half way up stairs and paid no heed to this remark. "What, 'aint you gone to school yet, Alice?" exclaimed Grandma coming suddenly into the room where Allie sat, still crying. "It is nine o'clock now, and you've never been late once this year." "I'm - not - going either," exclaimed Allie between her sobs. "Lola and Nina and all - the other girls will have valentines and - and I won't." "Well you can have a valentine too," continued Grandma quietly. "I didn't know you felt that badly about it." Grandma took some money from her purse as she spoke, and handed it to the girl saying, "Here take this money and stop at the store on your way. I guess you can get to school by recess if you hurry." "You wouldn't give me the money when I wanted it, and now - I won't have it." declared Allie grabbing up her books and rushing out of the room. The crisp morning breeze somewhat cooled Allie's temper,although she still possessed a strange uncomfortabfe feeling as she neared the little red brick school-house. The recess bell sounded as she entered the gate, and by hurrying she was in time to march in with the other school children. "We are going to have the valentine box now," whispered Lola, when they were marching through the hall. "And then we'll be dismissed for the rest of the day, so we can but O Allie what have you been crying for, and why didn't you come to school sooner?" "Because I didn't want to," replied Allie very uncivilly, "Aint that a good enough reason?" THE ACORN 3 When the children were all seated, Miss Mason arose and said, "Now, pupils, inasmuch as this is St. Valentine Day, and you have voted on a holiday, we will proceed to give out the valentines, after which you may be excused. First of all I want to request that none of the envelopes containing the valentines be opened until you are out of the building, as I do not want any confusion. When I read the names, you may step to the front receive the valentine and return quietly to your seat." Here the teacher began to call off the names: "Lola Howell, Nina Blake, Tom Spencer, Carl Howell, Philip Blake etc." Allie Grey sat motionless, listening for her name. Suddenly the teacher stopped calling the names, and Allie knew, that there was no valentine for her. "Well that is the last one I suppose no here's one more." And Miss Mason held up a large white envelope and read, "Alice Grey." With a happy face, Allie stepped forward to receive her valentine, and she could hardly wait until she was outside to break the seal. "Lola, I didn't get so many valentines as you and Nina, but I know mine is prettier by the looks of the envelope," said Allie as she was walking down the steps. "Why don't you open it then?" asked Phil Blake kindly, for he felt sorry for Allie and didn't know anything about the ugly valentine. Allie carefully broke the seal and peeped inside. Imagine her surprise when she beheld the ugliest valentine she had ever seen! "O, what a fair outside falsehood I mean an ugly valentine has!" quoth Carl laughingly. "Never mind, Allie," said Lola sweetly, "You can have my two prettiest ones." "Don't give the one, Phil gave you," cautioned Carl in a loud whisper. "You can come to my valentine party tonight, and brother Philip and I will come after you," said Nina kindly. But Allie burst into tears for the second time that day, and after declaring she hated everybody and didn't want their valentines, or to come to their old parties, she ran swiftly down the street not pausing until she reached her grandma's gate. She wandered through the house, but could not find Grandma. On the dining room table, she found the following note: Dear Alice: Will you clean up the house and get supper. I am in town visiting a sick friend. Shall be home at six o'clock. Grandma Grey P. S. Don't forget to make Jack some Postum. Allie glanced around the disordered room in dismay, and her eyes happened to fall upon the ugly valentine she had dropped when she entered the room. "I really believe I got that, because I am so mean to Grandma