Valentines in the Classroom ~ February 1915

It was February 1915, and all week long, the students at North Street School prepared for Valentine's Day. Little hands were kept busy cutting out hearts from red and pink construction paper. As they worked, their teacher, Miss McCherry, recited the following poem by Mary Catherine Parsons for inspiration:

Forget-me-nots are round the edge,
And tiny roses, too;
And such a lovely piece of lace-
The very palest blue.

And in the center there’s a heart,
As red as red can be!
And on it’s written all in gold,
“To You, with Love from Me.”

Then, when they were finished, like good little children everywhere, they put away the unused sheets of colored paper, pots of paste and scissors. It was time to rehearse their Valentine's Day play. The celebration is memorialized in the above photograph. The class poses, wearing hearts and holding American flags. A few tiny cupids with paper wings aim bows and arrows at heart-shaped targets. In the center, reigning over it all, are the youthful King and Queen of Hearts, in crepe paper crowns. The teacher stands proudly in the the center back row.

I too, have been busy. I've been digging through my collection of antique Valentines, and searching for a special one to send to you. As much as I am attracted to antique paper lace Valentines, I chose instead this sweet handmade card. It was lovingly crafted long ago, by some unknown child. I think it is perfect!

Wearing my heart on my sleeve,
Marjorie

P.S. You might be interested to know that most of the antique paper used in my blog postings comes from The Parrott Collection, my archive of antiquarian books, prints and ephemera.