Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-03-23

TIE PARTY AND THE GUEST.

ne little uuestioner saw that, eDgrossed
with his paper, papa bad not even heard
her. Presently, however, pausing to I'M (;
4bld IT, his eye fell on the little enc, and
his face liz up with q bright smile.
"Ah, little puss, how came you here
he said pleasantly.
" did not know you were reading,
papa, or | would not have come. Aud
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 miniature woman
drew herself up with the dignity of an Of
Tended queen.
Excuse me, Miss Carrie. | bad really
forgotten you were so old. Pray to what >
am I 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, l
. might have a party, and invite all the lit
tie boys and girls, and after supper we
might have a play in the parlor, If we
would be very careful not to break or hurt
anything. Oh, it will be so NICE" and
the blue eyes grew brighter at the thought,
and . host Of little dimples came dan-
cling around the red lips Of the little petit
TONER.
Very sweet and winning she looked, as
> she stood waiting with childish impatience
for q reply, and SO thought her father !; SO
he kissed her fondly, and said, " Well.
Carrie, you may have the party, and now,
whom does my little girl propose to honor
with an invitation :"
"Oh, there's Alice Reed, aud Susie
Day, and Hattie Sumner, and Charlie, and
Willie Harwood, and-oh, there's e0er
SO many of them"
and Ella May--yOu have not men
."Why, you wouldn't have me ask her,
would you, papa?
"Why not? Isn't she a good little
girl? She is lame, to be sure, and can
not run and play like my little Carrie, but
we should pity her for her misfortune"
We'll, papa, l don't know but she is
good enough, but you know her mother
has to take in sewing, and Anna Carver
says they live il a dreadful old, tumble
down house. Are you angry with me,
papaT
mo, Carrie, l am not angry, but | am
grieved to see you manifest such an IN
lovely spirit. Come here, and | will tell
you a story ola boy whom | used to know,
Twenty-Five years ago, a poor boy was
city, in search of work. He had just bu-
ried his mother-his father died before ht
could remember him, and he had comc
from the country to this great city, wher,
he knew not a single person alone-be-
cause sou,e one had told him that here b,
would be sure to fnd plenty of work
But no one would employ him, for the,
said that he was a stranger, and some o
those to whom he applied, limited that b
might not be honest. 4
"The poor boy was nearly crazcd wit
the din, and hurry, and hustle, SO new t
him, and night was coming on, and b
knew MT where to go. Hungry, tired, an
hopeless, he sat down at one of the street
corners, and laying down beside him tn
little bundle that contained every thin
that he had in the world, he burst int
tears. Presently he heard footsteps be
side him, but he did not look up until
pleasant voice said kindly, What is th
matter with You, my little man Tt
kind voice and face of the stranger VIC
the confidence of the boy, and he told BIZ
his story. Tears, bright sparkling tear
stood in the strangers eyes when he fu
ished his simple story. Come home vii
me tonight he said-'to morrow '
will see what can be done for you
"He went. The next day the kir
stranger gave him employment in his stor
as an errand boy. More than that,
gave him a home beneath his own roc
aud surrounded him with comforts and lu
uries, which he had never before known.
Years passed on, and the poor be
who sat at the street corner, without hor
or friends, rose from the position ofae
rand-boy to that of a partner in the fir
and son-in- law to the kind gentleman W
had befriended him. And yet bis lit
daughter refuses TO invite an uufortuns
little girl, who has very few of the plea
ures of childhood, to her birth-da par
because her mother is poor, and takes
sewing"
Little Carrie sat very quietly for a M
ment, then putting her arms around |
fathers neck, while the tears Tell from |
eyes and glittered on her golden curls,
whispered,
Papa, ] wiu ask Ella"
Very slowly to little Carrie passed
week, but time, needing neither wis
-