English poem
Tips Of His Ears.”]
by Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards (1850–1943)
“Please let me out!” said Little Dog; but she thought he said “Yap!”
“This is Valentine’s Day, Little Dog,” Little Girl went on. “You ought to send a valentine to Little Cat.
“‘If your heart is true as mine, Come and be my valentine.’
Why, Little Dog, you shall be her valentine. Come here, sir!”
Little Girl took a sheet of lace paper, crimped it into a frill, and tucked it into Little Dog’s collar. It tickled him woefully, but he said not a word, for he loved Little Girl almost next to Little Cat.
“You are lovely, Little Dog!” said Little Girl. “You are the best valentine I have made yet. Wait now!” She made a big star of gold paper and pinned it to his collar; then she made two little stars and pasted them on the tips of his ears.
“You are a lovely valentine!” she cried, clapping her hands. “And there is Little Cat mewing to be let in this minute. Now when I open the door, Little Dog, go straight up to her and say:
“‘If your heart is true as mine, Let me be your valentine!’”
She opened the door and Little Cat started to come in, but when she saw Little Dog she stopped and looked shy.
Little Dog went up to her and said:
“If your heart is true as mine, Little Cat, I am sorry I was horrid about the bone; let me be your valentine and I want to make up.”
“Oh! Little Dog,” said Little Cat, “I was horrid first, and I was just coming to say I was sorry. Let’s never quarrel again, Little Dog; it is so lonely!”
“Dear little things!” said Little Girl. “They are rubbing noses and telling each other something. Oh, dear! and I was cross to Brother this morning; I’m going to find him this minute and say I am sorry and ask him to be my valentine.”