The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-07-18
years old next Sunday"
us next Sunday my birthday ?"

"Some boys have presents when their
birthday comes. Shall have present ?"
"Dear mew exclaimed Mrs. Leonard,
impatiently, Il s'pose there'll be no peace
now"
"Shall have present, father"
Il don't know. See what good boy
Eyou can be-"
Just few words, SO easily spoken, but
forgotten the next moment by both father
and mother They loved their bow. The
very "toiling and shaving from morning
till night" that had made them old be-
fore their time, deepened the wrinkles in
their faces, and apparently driven the
softness from their hearts, was for him.
But they had no tine for fondling and
caressing, no time for a moments visit to
the bed room, to hear the sweet lips lisp
their evening prayer. No ; Tommie said
it "jUst only but to God," aud the good
night kiss, which he generally persisted
IN getting somehow was given with an
ungracious, Here be quick, or | can't
stop"
That week was long one to Tommie.
His mother, signing over her work un-
0one, wondered where the days went to,
and wished they could be twice as long
(though what would have become Of her
if they were, she hadn't time to think J
but the little fenaw, as he trotted up the
staircase every evening, rejoiced that
another day had gone. Once or twice he
said something about his present, but no
body paid any attention to him. They
were too busy. Nobody dreamed how the
one thought had taken possession of his
mind His present What would they
give him? He had one once. It was
candy horse; but he didn't want candy
horse now. No, indeed. He was too big.
Well, ne could wait,-not many more
days now. Thursday, Friday, Saturday,
and then
And then. He walked up jubilant,
sprang out of bed with a jump, danced
into his clothes and ran down stairs.
"Father, mother, Pm ready for my
present"
His mother was busy over the baked
beans and coffee. The time was impor.
tune, but when did poor Tommie ever
hit upon any other?
Little boys mustn't talk about presents
on Sunday" she said as she fastened the
obnoxious buttons
"ItS my birthday"
II know it."
Cant just look at it, mother
The eager, anxious face, moved her to
pity, and a faint sense of remorse She
paused q moment, not knowing what to
say.
Cant I, mother?"
mo, you can't"
"God wouldn't care, [ don't believe"
Run out and tell father to come into
breakfast"
Tommie ran out, across the road, to find
his father complacently surveying his
eighty acre lot Of corn. He turned pleas
antly as he heard tire little voice.
Father, breakfasts ready Father
can't just look at my present to day ?"
"Your present What present ?"
"Why, it's my birthday. Don't you
remember I'm five years old" (here the
little figure Strengthened preudly) "You
said, you know, if Id be good, and I've
been good"
81 said what, if you'd be good ?"
"You said I'd get a present. Did you
buy it at Chase's?"
pooh pooh! Little boys mustn't ex,
pect presents every year." said the father,
thoughtlessIy. "Come, let's go to break
7 fast"
But Tommie stood still, his little hands
clasped, and his large, black eyes looking
straight UP into his fathers face.
Didn't you buy me anything, father?"
'No, my SON."
"You told a lie You said you would
if I'd-be-good-,a nd-I-was," and he
threw himself down upon the ground,
crying as if his heart would break.
( TIir 70 loft him - -.
, comfortable feeling at his heart. He
really longed to take the poor, sobbing
, child into his arms and kiss away his
tears, giving him the "sure enough" prom
e Use of a present on the morrow "But how
) foolish that would be-" he thought to
himself. wouldn't he have trouble all his
lifetime to bear so the sooner he began
the better. He wished he could remem-
Der just what he said He as quite sure
it wasn't promise. He would be more
careful another time but children mustn't
think so much of every little word. Oh,
Well! Tommle would forget all about it
in an hour So he drove away the kindly
impulse, and tho little fellow, hearing his
retreating footsteps, thought his father
didn't care, and his tears came thicker
and faster, with the bitter sense ofiniustice
and injury. He had no idea of time. The
south breeze stirred the corn aud PLAYED
with his tangled hair. The meadow-lark
sang its sweet little song on the fence
near by,and pair of turtle doves alighted
upon the grass close to him. A couple of
tumble bugs deposited their burden at his
feet. They were not afraid there was no
need, for, after the first paroxysm, he was
very quiet.
! "Tommie, Tommie Come into the house
dinners ready"
DINNER" They'd been to church, then,
and never told him Well he cnnldn,t