The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-03-24
One Of Christ.s rea-Parties.

81. Afchotds f0r Aprtt.
One of Christ's Tea PARTIES.
"Therell be Jennie. she's one, and
Mamie and Lulu, they're two--no, four.
Oh, mamma, it mortifes me that can't
count three. And Kitty and Flo and
Grace. Mamma, are you in real truly
earnestg"
eyes, dear; you can take your choice
between birthday presents and tea
party"
"Oh, I've chose the party the mo-
ment You mentioned bout it. But am
to do all my own 'viting9 All my own
self 2"
The family were gathered in the room
for worship, and mamma only had time
to nod "yes" before the books were
given out and reading was begun.
Pinkie sat still as a mouse, thinking
who to invite to her party, until papa,
in whose lap she sat, read in his turn.
"Then sad he also to him that babe
them: When thou makest dinner or
supper, call not thy friends, nor thy
brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor thy rich
neighbors lest they also bid thee again
and a recompense be made thee but
when thou makest fest, call the poor,
the manned, the lame, the blind"
Pinkie was very attentive all the rest
of the time. AS they rose from their
knees she whispered eagerly to her
father "Who is He? The one that
said who to invite to your partyg" and
when he answered "The Lord Jesus,
darling" she said, musingly, 81 s'posed
it must have been. Nobody else would
"a thought of it, would they9" and,
without waiting for an answer, off she
ran.
The girls were all very loving in
school that day. Jennie Davis, in the
strictest confidence" Promise you'll
never tell, so longs you live, never .
had told half the girls, and they told
the other half. Pinlie May was going
to have tea-party, tomorrow, and her
mother said she could invite just whom
she pleased. Human nature in small
girls is strikingly like the same thing in
big people. Pinkie was overwhelmed
with offers of jujube-paste, hcorice-root,
popcorn, and, from a few choice spir-
its, chewing gum to say nothing of the
slate-pencils that were showered on her
when she couldn't find her own. But
she bore her popularity with good deal
of dignity. "A girl nine years old to-
morrow mustn't act like pack of chill
dren any more," she told Jennie Davis,
who admired and agreed.
Tomorrow came, bringing with it
MANY kisses and good wishes for Miss
Nine Year Old, from big Sister Maggie
down to Brother Jack.
"What time does the party begin T"
asked papa, at the breakfast table.
"Five O'clock" said mamma.
"Who have you invited, Pinkie A."
"Mamma, please don't ask till you
see 'em come in. You know you prom
iscd. And 1 haven't 'vited 'ein yet "
and she hurried off to escape from that
provoking JACK, who marched slowly
after her, singing, "Oh pink and blue,
I'm coming, too which Pinkie said
was not poetry. "'Cause blue and too
don't end with the same letter."
Three o'clock came, and no Piukie.
Half-past 3 Four Half-past Nam
ma looked grave, and Cornelia put on her
hat, and went round to the Davises' to
see if the child hadn't forgotten the
time, talking over the party with Jennie.
Back she came in great excitement.
"She hasn't been there ct all, mother.
Jennie says she hasn't invited her nor
any of the girls. Where do you sup
pose she is 2"
Mamma was very anxious, aud Sister
Maggie, who had just come in, with q
bundle that looked like books, was Of
fering to go out and make more thor
ough search when the door-bell rang.
A piercing shrek was heard from Katy
as she opened the door and then Pink
les voice rang out, loud and clear
"Come in Come right in the parlor
It's just exactly o'clock. / guess the
party's most ready. Come right straigh,
in !" And in they came, Pinkie at Their
head, serenely triumphant Maggie
echoes Katys shrek. The parlor was
full of them. Not pair of shoes among
them, though some of them had made
an attempt at clean faces. Irish anc
German, black and white-two ittl,
Italians who had been singing in tn,
street All the children from Dodd'
alley and Green court Their clothes il
tatters, their poor little faces wan an,
thin. There were two little lame boys
and, clinging close to Pinkies hand,
pale, half frightened blind child.
"Goodness !" screamed jamie
"Whose are they3 Where did the
come from p
"'Most everywhere 7" said Pinkie
"They don't b'long to any one 'cer
God. And I've brought 'em to m
party !"
Mamma laid her hand on Maggie
lips, and frowned silence at Cornelia on
John. Why didn't you ask me, dear
she said gently.
"You said, just who chosed," sal
Pinkie, somewhat aggrieved. can
the Lord Jesus told me to, out of I'll
Bible. Yes, he did, Cornelia ! An,
mamma, I've been all around and 'roun,
and isn't the party readyi"
"She's too good to live," said Kat,
"Yis, darlint, it's ready, just so soon as
lock mp the silver spoons"
BY this time mamma and the othe
had recovered their presence OF min,
and Pinkies guests were made most we
come. The very dirtiest had their fac
and hands washed, and then they We
all marched into the dining room on
aat down TO one of mammals unrivale
teas. After tea John showed them son
pictures, Pinkie told them some BIB