Mr Pepys His Valentine

: SAINT VALENTINE'S DAY
: Good Stories For Great Holidays

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.



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