Monday, February 8, 2010

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.

14 comments:

  1. ...just so sweet....to think some small child made that..so one we don't even know...

    very touching

    thanks for sharing it with us, Marjorie

    sending love up north,
    kary
    xxx

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  2. Thanks for the PS--I was wondering

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  3. Dear Marjorie,
    I can't think of anything lovlier than a Valentine card or Moother's Day card from a child. I still have the ones that my children sent me ....I especially like them when they have spelling mistakes when they made them when they were 5 ish !!
    Thank you for telling us the wonderful story and showing us such a delightful card. XXXX

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  4. I adore that poem and oh that card is so sweet! What a terrific Valentine post!
    Julie

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  5. Marjorie, I would love to get your address, I have something I want to send to you in the mail......Julie

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  6. I absolutely love the one you have chosen for us Marjorie. Happy V. Day to you too.

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  7. it's very interesting to learn about your traditions(thanks to your blog).In France,we adopted this tradition a few years ago ,and it became "la fete des amoureux"only for one day.I can see in American and english blogs ,since the beginning of the month ,pictures and poems about love ,about universal love and frienship,and I like that...
    val

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  8. It is perfect!! What an amazing card... primitives can be so powerful!!

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  9. What a special card this is. I was going through my old Valentine box today and found one from a little girl I used to teach dance to. It was so sweet, but so long ago I couldn't remember who she was. Time sure moves on, doesn't it?

    Wishing you a very Happy Valentine's Day,
    Catherine

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  10. HI Marjorie
    Well I have been a slack blogger this last week and missed a lot of posts from my blogging friends... but so glad not to have missed this one!! Your story is so sweet.. but that darling little Valentine's Card is the best I've seen.. have a great Valentine's Day... xx Julie

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  11. Different but interesting. I too am a collecter though hoarder might be more accurate.

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  12. Marjorie my dearest Valentine and fellow dancer, thank you for coming by to dance with me! Love, live, dance and dream...you do these well, for you touch us with your heart's passion and it moves me always. Bless you dear one, Anita

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  13. This Valentine's Day card touched my heart more than words can say....so sweet, innocent and full of love!

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