AS RELATED BY HIMSELF IN 1666

(ADAPTED)

This morning, came up to my wife's bedside, I being up dressing myself,
little Will Mercer, to be her valentine; and brought her name writ upon
blue paper in gold letters, done by himself, very pretty; and we were
both well pleased with it.

But I am also this year my wife's valentine; and it will cost me five
pounds; but that I must have laid out if we had not been valentines.

I find also that Mrs. Pierce's little girl is my valentine, she having
drawn me; which I am not sorry for, it easing me of something more that
I must have given to others.

But here I do first observe the fashion of drawing of mottoes as well as
names; so that Pierce, who drew my wife, did draw also a motto, and this
girl drew another for me. What mine was I have forgot, but my wife's
was: "Most virtuous and most fair," which, as it may be used, or an
anagram made upon each name, might be; very pretty.

CUPID AND PSYCHE

BY JOSEPHINE PRESTON PEABODY

THE ENCHANTED PALACE

Once upon a time, through that Destiny that overrules the gods, Love
himself gave up his immortal heart to a mortal maiden. And thus it came
to pass:--

There was a certain king who had three beautiful daughters. The two
elder married princes of great renown; but Psyche, the youngest, was so
radiantly fair that no suitor seemed worthy of her. People thronged
to see her pass through the city, and sang hymns in her praise, while
strangers took her for the very goddess of beauty herself.

This angered Venus, and she resolved to cast down her earthly rival. One
day, therefore, she called hither her son, Love (Cupid, some name him),
and bade him sharpen his weapons. He is an archer more to be dreaded
than Apollo, for Apollo's arrows take life, but Love's bring joy or
sorrow for a whole life long.

"Come, Love," said Venus. "There is a mortal maid who robs me of my
honors in yonder city. Avenge your mother. Wound this precious Psyche,
and let her fall in love with some churlish creature mean in the eyes of
all men."

Cupid made ready his weapons, and flew down to earth invisibly. At that
moment Psyche was asleep in her chamber; but he touched her heart with
his golden arrow of love, and she opened her eyes so suddenly that he
started (forgetting that he was invisible), and wounded himself with
his own shaft. Heedless of the hurt, moved only by the loveliness of the
maiden, he hastened to pour over her locks the healing