Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-06-02
AN.w re.,amen, Tea.Party.

three. And Kitty and Flo and Grace.
Mamma, are you in real, truly earnestf"
"Yus, dear you can take your choice be-
tween birthday presents and tea-party."
"Oh, I've chose the party the moment
you mentioned bout 1t. But am TO do all
my own 'viting2 All my own sclf?"
The family were gathered In the room
for worship, and mamma only had time TO
nod "yes" before the books were given out
aud The reading was begun. Pinkie sat
still as a mouse, thinking who to invite 10
her party, until papa, in whose lap she sat,
read in his turn. "Then said he also TO
him that bade them: When thou makest a
dinner or a supper call not thy friends, nor
thy brethren, nor thy rich neighbors; lest
they also bid thee again and recompense
be made thee but when thou makest a
feast, call the poor, the manned, the lame,
the blind"
Pinkie was very attentive all the rest OF
the time. AS they rose from their kuees
she whispered eagerly TO her father: "Wbo
is HeF The one that said who to invite 10
your party?" And when he answered:
"The Lord Jesus, darling" she said mus
ingly, ~ s'posed it must have been. No
body else would "a thought of 1t, would
they ?" and without waiting for an answer,
Off she ran.
The girls were all very loving in school
that day. Jennie Davis, in the strictest con-
tidence-"Promise you'll never tell, so
longs you live, never''-had told half the
girls, and they told the other half Pinkie
upinn n haya a ri V
row, 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, licorice-root,
popcorn, and, fIom few choice spirits,
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 tomorrow mustn't
act like pack Of children 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? ?" ask
ed papa, at the break fast table.
give O'clock" said mamma.
"Whom have you invited, Pinkie?"
Mamma, please don't ask till you see
'em come in. You know you promised.
And 1 haven't 'vited 'em YETI" and she
hurried of TO escape from that provoking
Jack, who marched slowly after her, sing
ing, ooh! 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 Pinkie.
Half-past three! Four! Half past four!
Mamma looked grave, and Cornelia put on
her hat and went round to the Davises' to
see II 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 suppose she
is?"
Mamma WAS very anxious, and sister
Maggie, who had just come in with bun
die that looked like books, was offering TO
go out and make more thorough search,
when the door-bell rang. A piercing
shrek was heard from Katy as she opened
the door and then Pinkie's voice rang out,
loud and clear "Come in! Come right in
the parlor! It's just 'zactly FIVE o'clock.
l guess the party's most ready. Come
right straight inr And in they came,
Pinkie at their head, serenely triumphant.
Maggie echoed Katy's shrek. The parlor
was full of them. Not a pair of shoes
among them, though some Of them had
made an attempt at clean faces. Irish aud
German, black and white-two little Ital-
ians who had been singing in the street.
All the children from Dodd's alley and
Green court. Their clothes in tatters, their
poor little faces wan and thin. There were
two little lame boys; and, clinging close
to Pinkie's hand, a pale, half-frishtened
blind child.
Goodness ~ screamed jamie. "Whose
are they? Where did they come from7'
"'Most everywhere! said Pinke.
"They don't bIong to hardly any one,
'cept God, and I've brought 'em to my par
ty."
Mamma laid her hand on Maggie's lips,
and frowned silence at Cornelia and John.
"Why didn't you ask me, dear ?" she said,
gently"
"You said just who 1 choosed," said
Pinkie, somewhat aggrleved. "And the
Lord Jesus told me, too, out of the Bible.
Yes, He did, Cornelia! And mamma, I've
been all around and round, and isn't the
party readyf"
"She's too good TO live" said Katy. "Yis,
darlint, it's ready, just as soon as 1 lock up
the silver spoons"
By this time mamma and the others had
recovered their presence of mind, and
Pinkle's guests were made most welcome.
The very dirtiest had their faces and hands
washed, and then they were all marched
into the dlning-room, and sat down TO one
of mammals unrivalled teas. Amer tea,
John showed them some pictures, Pinkie
told them some Bible stories, and Maggie
won all their hearts by playing ON the pi-
ano and singing. Mammals full eyes
brimmed over when little Ellen, the blind
child, after listening breathlessly TO "The
Master has come over Jordan" whispered
eagerly, "Is 1t far lady2 Could 1 get there
Maybe He'd make me SOS could see."
"And after all, they didn't behave bit
worse than other childrenp said jamie,
when they had all gone away, well-fed,
warm and very happy; and Pinkie was
deep buried in Maggle's gift, dear, delight
full old Grimm.
"Here's de spoons, mum and not one
missing, praised be Providencep' r. said Ka-
ty.
llIIIl nnrnr ANAL, IN unn annin nauar nna