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The Every-day Book and Table Book, v. 1 (of 3): or Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the AlmanacHone, William

History

The Every-day Book and Table Book, v. 1 (of 3): or Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the Almanac

Name: The Every-day Book and Table Book, v. 1 (of 3): or Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the Almanac
Author: Hone, William

Hone, William

Days; Great Britain -- Social life and customs

_St. Catherine de Ricci._ A. D. 1589. _St. Licinius_, Bishop, A. D.
  618. _St. Polyeuctus_, A. D. 257. _St. Gregory II._ Pope. _St.
  Martinianus._ _St. Modomnoc_ or _Dominick_ of Ossory, 6th Cent. _St.
  Stephen_, Abbot, 6th Cent. _Roger_, Abbot, A. D. 1175.

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FLORAL DIRECTORY.

  Polyanthus. _Primula polyantha._
  Dedicated to _St. Catherine de Ricci_.


~February 14.~

  VALENTINE’S DAY.

  _St. Valentine._ _St. Maro_, A. D. 433. _St. Abraames_, A. D. 422.
  _St. Augentius_, 5th Cent. _St. Conran_, Bishop of Orkney.


_St. Valentine._

Of this saint, so celebrated among young persons, little is known,
except that he was a priest of Rome, and martyred there about 270.

It was a custom with the ancient Roman youth to draw the names of girls
in honour of their goddess Februata-Juno on the 15th of February, in
exchange for which certain Roman catholic pastors substituted the names
of saints in billets given the day before, namely, on the 14th of
February.

[Illustration]

    Where _can_ the postman be, I say?
    He ought to _fly_--on such a day!
    Of _all_ days in the year, you know,
    It’s monstrous rude to be so _slow_:
    The fellow’s so _exceeding_ stupid--
    Hark!--_there_ he is!--oh! the _dear_ CUPID!

Two hundred thousand letters beyond the usual daily average, annually
pass through the twopenny post-office in London on St. Valentine’s Day.
“Two hundred thousand twopences,” said an old gentleman as he read this
in a March newspaper, “are four hundred thousand pence,”--and he was
going to cast up the amount--“Why, papa,” said his daughter, “that’s
just the number of young folks there must be in love with each
other--that’s the way to reckon.” “Ah, my child, that’s _not_ the way
to reckon; you have taken something into the _account_ that has no
_business_ there: all Valentine-writers are not in love, nor are all
lovers Valentine-writers; and remember, my dear girl, that as smiles on
the face sometimes conceal cruel dispositions, so there are some who
write Valentines, and trifle with hearts for the mere pleasure of
inflicting pain.” “I will show you what I mean,” said the old
gentleman, and taking a paper from a drawer, he held up this
exemplification:

[Illustration]

Just then an unmarried gentleman, “of a _certain_ age,” entered the
room. On becoming acquainted with the topic, he drew from his pocket a
small packet, and said, with a merry smile, “Here was _my_ Valentine.”
It contained a rib of some small animal completely enveloped with white
satin ribbon, ornamented by a true lover’s knot at each end, and another
in the middle. Father and daughter both had a laugh at the “old
bachelor,” and he, laughing with them, put into the young lady’s hand
the poetical address that accompanied his _rib_:

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