The Portland daily press., 1862-07-09
MISCELLANY.
The Party and the Guest.

apa. anu the SOIL Diut eyes were ralSeQ,
full of eagerness and expectation, but the gold
en- lashes dropped again as the little questioner
saw that, engrossed with his paper, papa had
not even heard her. Presently, however,
pausing to unfold it, his eye fell on the little
one, and his face lit up with bright smile.
"Ah, little puss, how came you here? ?" he
said pleasantly.
Il did not know you were reading, papa, or
would not have come. And please. papa,
wish you would not call me little puss'
shall be seven years old next week" and the
sunny curls were tossed back, and the mina-
ture woman drew herself up with the dignity
of an offended queen.
Excuse me, Miss Carrie. had really for
gotten you were so old. Pray to what am
indebted for the great honor of your ladyship's
unexpected visit?"
Now. papa, you are laughing at me, | know
But next week is my birthday and mamma
said, If you were willing, / might have a party,
and invite all the little boys and girls, and al
ter supper we might have play in the parlor
if we would be very careful not to break or
hurt anything. Oh ii will be so nice,r and the
blue eyes grew brighter at the thought, and
host of little dmples came dancing around the
red lips of the little petitioner.
Very sweet and winning she looked. as she
stood waiting with childish impatienae for
reply, and so thought her father: so he kissed
her fondly and said: swell, Carrie, you may
have the party, and now, whom does my little
girl propose to honor with an invtation?'
'sOh, there's Alice Reed, and Susie Day. and
Hattie Sumner, and Charlie, and Willie Har-
wood, and oh, there's ever so many of
them"
"And Ella May-you have not mentioned
her, Carrie
"why, you would not have me ask her
would you papa?"
why not? Isn't she good little girl? She
is lame, to be sure, and cannot run and play
like my little Carrie, but we should pity her for
her misfortune
"Well, papa, don't know but she is good
enough, but you know her mother has TO take
in sewing, and Anna Carver says they live in
dreadful old, tumble-down house. Are you
angry with me papa?'
mo, Carrie, am not angry, but am grie8-
ed to see you manifest such an unlovely spirit.
Come here and will tell you story of boy
whom used TO know. Twenty-Five years ago
poor boy was wandering through the streets
of this very city in search of work. He had
just buried his mother--his father died before
he could remember him, and he had come from
the country TO this great city, where he knew
not one single person; aone-because some
one had told him that here he would be sure
to find plenty of work. But no one would
employ him, for they said that he was stran-
ger, and some of those to whom he applied
limited that he might not be honest.
''The poor boy was nearly crazed with the
din, and hurry, and hustle, so new to him. and
night was coming on. and he knew not where
to CO. Hungry, tired, and hopeless. he sat
down at one of the street corners and LAYING
down beside him the little bundle that contain
ed everything that he had in the world. he
burst into tears. Presently he heard footsteps
beside him, but he did not look up until a
pleasant voice said kindly, What is the matter
with you, my little man?' The kind voice and
face of the stranger won the confidence of the
boy, and he told him his story. Come home
with me tonight he sad-.to-morrow we will
see what can be done for you
"He went. The next day the kind stranger
gave him employment in his store. as errand
boy. More than that, he gave him home be-
meath his own root, and surrounded him with
comforts and luxuries, which he had never be-
fore known.
Years passed on, and the poor boy who sat
at the street corner without home or friends
rose from the position of errand boy to that of
partner in the firm, and son-in-law to the
kind gentleman who had befriended him. And
yet his little daughter refuses to invite an I'M
fortunate little girl, who has very few of the
pleasures of childhood, to her birthday party,
because her mother is poor, and takes in sew
ing
Little Carrie sat very quietly for moment
bhSu putting dftllS dTDuUu neT neck.
while the tears fell from her eyes and glittered
on her golden curls, as she whispered,
Papa, tuiu ask Ella
Very slowly to little Carrie passed the week
but time, needing neither wishes nor PRAYERS
brought at last the birthday. Little Ella had
been sent for in the morning. and as she wan
dered, with Carrie, holding fast by one hand
through the pleasant rooms that seemed so lux
urious to her eyes, accustomed only to the bare
walls and unexpected floors of her own home
1t would have been hard to tell which was the
happiest.
Come up here. Ella said Carrie at last:
it is almost time for the girls and boys to come
and l have something to show you. Here"
and she held up pretty crimson frock "this
Is for you, and you must put it right OH for |
can hear ring ut the door bell now. And see
here, too, what / coaxed brother Hall to make
for you,' and she drew away the awkward UNI
painted cruteh on which Ella leaned for sup
port, and replaced it with a light, graceful one
with pretty cushion of silk at the top. Z"
pnt the cushion on myself-mamma told me
how to do it, and--why. Ella, you are not
crying. thought you would be pleased
am pleased but you are so kind that
cannot help crying" and Ella wept again.
Tears gathered in Carries blue eyes, but she
wiped them bravely away, for who ever heard
OF a little girls crying on her birthday ?-and
kissing Ella she hurried her down stairs Lit
tie Carrie never forgot the lesson she learned
that night-a lesson that very many grown
up people would do well to learn also.