The listener holds his ear to a keyhole. A woman on a staircase above him throws a vase of flowers., Text: You are one of those mean, sneaking cusses, / That are always getting people into musses; / Hated by women and despised by man. / You make yourself an ass when'er you can, / You're always trying to get hear some wondrous thing, / That some one's reputation you may sting, / Any girl of sense, with feeling fine, / Would ever scorn to be your Valentine., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The valentine shows a man looking through a key hole. The text threatens the recipient with violence if he continues spying on and meddling in his neighbors' matters., Text: Poking in your nose where ere you can, / You are a mischievous meddling stupid man; / Who minds his neighbours business not his own / May one day have a broken head to moan., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A man has enlarged, bat-like ears, and he eavesdrops from behind a partially opened door. The valentine condemns the recipient's eavesdropping. "Little pitchers have big ears" is a colloquialism that means that children are listening., Text: What is it makes the people cry, / Whenever you may be near by, / And say be sure he does not hear, / For little pitchers have big ears., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The mischief maker holds an opened envelope and sticks her enlongated nose into it., Text: Sly old peeper, mischief making, / Take care now whose note you're taking; / We've found you out, and so despise you, / And send this warning to advise you., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The valentine shows a woman (possibly a landlady) holding a large key and looking through a large keyhole. A sign behind her reads: "Lodgings Cheap & nasty." The valentine criticizes those who invade privacy through spying and associates this behavior with proprietors and lodgers at cheap lodgings., Text: The key to many a tale profound / Of strange intrigues and artful dodgings, / Is in the Keyhole to be found -- / As all should know who live in lodgings., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A man has the form of a jumping-jack toy. The valentine suggests the recipient is good for little else than to watch others., Text: A Jumping-Jack upon a pole / Would be for you a fitting role: / Some one ought to take and fix you / On a rod this way, you stick, you! / Then you’d have your proper station, / One you’d fill to admiration., Provenance: Helfand, William H..
An older woman with a large nose is looking inside an envelope. The valentine warns that others have noticed her intrusions., Text: Sly old peeper, mischief making, / Take care now whose note you’re taking; / We’ve found you out, and so despise you, / And send this warning to advise you., Cf. Valentine 6.28, Provenance: Helfand, William H..
A man pulls back a curtain and holds his head. Behind him is a bureau with a mirror on it. The valentine condemns the jealous man for his incursions into privacy. "Dog's death" is slang for a terrible death, which the sender suggests the recipient deserves instead of a Valentine., Text: You selfish, vile, suspicious, jealous ape-- / You green-eyed monster in the human shape, / You fancy, things to others, thoughts unkown, / And paint all hearts as foul as is your own. / You sneak and watch, and like a fool you rave, / To all a torment, to yourself a slave; / A hangman's cord your ugly neck should twine, / And thus a dog's death be your Valentine., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
