The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-04-14
THE PARTY AND THE GUEST.

THE PARTY AND THE GUEST So
"pana next week is my birthd and mamma
said. if YOU were willing, might have party,
"a invite al the little boys and girls, and after
su,per VIC might have play in the parlor, Il We
yinJ5 he very careful not to break or hurt any
th;nr Oh it will be SO nice, and the blue eyes
Grew brighter at the thought, and host of little
d;mples came dancing around the red lips OF the
6,,la petitioner who was named Carrie and only {
years old.
Very sweet and winning she looked, as she
stood waiting with childish impatience for reply,
and so thought her father; so he kissed her fond
y, and said well, Carrie, you may have the par
Is, aud now, whom does my little gtrl propose 10
IhoLor with an invitation ~
ooh, there's Alice Reed, Susie Day, aud Hat,
tie Sumner, and Charlie, aud Willie HarWood, and
-ioh there's ever SO many OF them
And Ella May-you have not mentiooed her,
Corrie"
"Why, you wouldn't have me ask her, would
y0u, papa" , =. g.,
ia lame, to be sure, and cannot run and play Ike
. NV little Carrie, but should pity her for her
misfortune"
"Wen, papa, I 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 a dread
full old, tumble-down house. Are you angry with
me, papa" -. -u;ouoa
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, a
p poor boy was wandering through the streets of
this very city, in search of work. He had just
buried bis notherx-his father died before he could
remember him, and he had come from the coun-
try to this great city, where he knew not single
person; al0ne-because some one had told hun
that here he would be to find plenty OF work.
But 10 one would employ him, for they said be
was stranger and some Of those to whom he ap-
piled limited that he might not be honest.
'Tbe poor boy nearly crazed with the din,
and hurry, and hustle, so new to him, and night
was coming on, and he keew not where to go.
Hungry tired and hopeless, he sat down at one Of
the stree-corners, and laying down beside him the
little bundle that contained every thing that he
Lad in the world he burst into tears. Presently
he heard footsteps beside him. but ae did not look
up until pleasant voice said kindly, what is the
matter with you my little man.? The kind voice
and face of the stranger the confidence Of the
bow, and he told him his story. Tears, bright
sparkling tears, stood in the strangers eyes when
be finished his simple story. Come home with
. pru night; he said-'to morrow we will see what
can ! done for you
"He went Tie next day the kind stranger
gave employment in his store, errand boy.
More than that, he gave him home beneath his
own roof, and surrounded him with comforts and
Iuxuries, which he had never before known.
Years passed on, and the poor boy, who sat at
the street corner, without home friends, rose
from the position of errandboy to that of part
ner in the firm, and sonn law TO the kind gentle
man who had beiriended him. And yet his little
daughter refuses to invite an unfortunate little
girl, who has very few of the pleasures of child
hood, to her birthday party, because her mother
is poor, and takes in sewing"
g.,
then putting her arms around her fathers neck,
while the tears fell from her eyes and gttered
her golden curls, she whispered,
"Papa, will ask Ella
Very slowly to little Carrie passed the week,
but time, needing neither wishes prayers,
brought at last the birthday. Little Ella had
been sent for in the morning, and as she wander
cd, with Carie holding fast by opa hand Through
the pleasant rooms that seemed 50 luxurious to her
eyes, accustomed only to the bare walls and un-
oarpeted floors of her own home, it would have |
been hard 10 tell which was happiest /
"Come up horc, Ella" said Carrie at last; cit
Is almost time for the girls aud boys to come, and
have something to show You Here, and she
heid up pretty crimson merino frock, "this is
for you and you must put it right on, Cor can
hear ring at the door bell now. And see here !
too, what ! coaxed brother Hal 70 make for you
end she drew away the awkward, implanted crutch
on which Ella leaned for support, and replaced it
with light, graceful one, with cushion of silk
at the top. "lput that cushion myself-mam-
ma told me low to do it, end, why Ella, if you
are not crying! l thought you would be pleased
81 am pleased, bat you kind that can
help crying" and Ella wept again. Tears gather
ed in Carries blue eyes, but she wiped them
bravely away, for who ever heard of little girls
crying on her birthday land kissing Ella she
hurried her down stairs. Little Carrie never for
got the lesson she learned that night-a lesson
that very many ''grown-up people" would do well
20 learn also.
AFTER THE SPECULATORs.-At the cargo sale
at Wilmington, last week, things went on swim,
mingly until the sale vas about to close. when
Snnad of men with nnska ats annoaroa d. A. l.