His Valentine Card
It was pert near close to Valentine’s Day when Ma had her bakin’ done.
She had frosted the many cut-out cookies ‘n they lay dryin’ in the sun.
This for her was a tradition ‘n one she’d done for so many years past
but then she had Granny ‘n Liza to help her, which made time go fast.
But many days now alone she sat at the big round oak dining room table,
helping Cookie go through all those boxes of old papers as she was able.
Amazed she was at what things Grandpa ‘n Granny ‘n Pa had saved.
Memories, Ma was sure, upon their own hearts they had truly engraved.
While Ma sat sortin’, she’d often look up and around at the empty places;
in her own mind’s eye she could recall Grandpa’s, Granny’s ‘n Pa’s faces.
Still she knew she had much to do to complete her special task at hand;
she was into scrapbookin’ ‘n she was now findin’ treasures most grand.
Takin’ a break, Ma went ‘n gathered the cookies ‘n put ‘em in their box.
She placed ‘em in the larder, tucked ‘n hidden away behind the crocks.
Come Valentine’s Day, she’d set ‘em on trays with pots of coffee ‘n tea
for the bachelor ranch hands! What a party there truly would be!
Ma heaved a sigh! She poured a cup of tea ‘n she went back to her task.
When she opened up the one box, she’d found that one treasure at last.
Ma opened an envelope ‘n laid each of ‘em out on that table with care
‘n then she reached for a tissue as she gently wiped away her tears.
It was back in the days, she recalled, when Cookie was in fourth grade
That she sat with him hours as special Valentine’s they carefully made.
Teacher had sent home a list of those students in that one-room class.
The names of the children—yes, Ma recalled, every lad ‘n every lass.
Now Cookie, being in a hurry ‘n not wanting to make such a great fuss,
had only picked out two or three names ‘n in his way he began to cuss.
Still Ma insisted in her knowin’ way he make a card for each girl ‘n boy.
Cookie fulfilled Ma’s demand for he knew he wanted not to be a killjoy.
Valentine’s Day came. Ma had watched as Cookie rushed in from school
‘n spurted out these words, “Thanks, Ma! For lettin’ me not be a fool!
On the table Cookie placed his valentine’s, each signed for her to see.
He quietly said, “Robert only got one! Ma, it was the one from me.”
Ma remembered that day the lesson that her Cookie had learned
‘n that one card had showed Cookie the price his friendship earned.
Ma knew she had to complete her task so she moved onward.
Into a scrapbook she endearingly placed Cookie’s valentine cards.
Come Valentine’s Day Ma had everythin’ laid out in a great feast
Oh, the ranch hands just hugged her so warmly when Ma they did greet.
After all had gone home, it was then that Cookie did open Ma’s gift.
After slowly perusing each scrapbook page, his inner spirits did lift.
From birth to graduation, Ma had most carefully on each page placed
cards ‘n remembrances, stirrin’ memories that Cookie embraced.
In reminiscin’ about the fourth grade valentines, they both agreed
‘Twas the bestest lesson Ma could have taught Cookie, indeed.
Note: The pictures of Valentines below are some from my own 4th grade Valentine Party back in 1952.....hmmmm a long time ago now! From the author's book, Tales 'Round the Campfire
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