The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-06-06
Eva's Surprise Party.

Eva sat Dy the WINDOW at WORK on her
embroidery. She did not seem to accom-
plish very much, for, by the little gold
hands Of the French clock on the mantle,
an hour had passed since she had taken up
her work, and she had not yet finished
even one small eyelet.
It was too lovely day to sit bending
over ones work; but Eva's mood was not
in unison with the sunshiny morning. So
she sat swapping her thread impatiently
through the delicate cambria, till at last
it tangled itself into an ugly knot; then,
dropping her work in her lap, she rocked
to and fro, while her canaries sang loudly
from the cages in the bay window, and a
soft little breeze came through the Stats,
waving the lace curtains and tossing her
fair hair about her face.
But the little breeze could not fan away
cloud that was gathering on Eva's brow.
1t is the strangest thing" she said to
herself the very strangest thing in the
world! And to-morrow's my birthday,
too. I do think mamma might put it IF
till after my birthday, at least
The door opened just then, and in came
Eva's mother herself, with pair of shoes
in her hand.
eva" she said, "here are your walk
ing-boots with several buttons off; wish
you to- sew them on"
80 mammal and Eva turned away
distastefully; II don't need those shoes
to-day. don't know just where to find
any buttons. I have no stout needle, nor
thread"
Here are the buttons my dear, and
needles and thread in ABUNDANCE and,
putting the boots down, her mother left
the room.
How queer of mamma" growled Eva,
sewing on buttons with furious jerks of
the long, black thread, to insist about
these hateful buttons on this Identical day
My birthday she has forgotten; but she
doesn't forget to spy missing button
from my boot: However, if my birthday
IS OF so little Importance, shall not be
the one to remind her of it, And what
will all the girls say about it? Of course
they will all keep asking: well, Eva,
what did you do on this birthday?' and
all can say is: Just went down to the
boat to see mamma and Matte off, After
I've had my birthday celebrated ever
since l can remember, too! O dear! O
DEAR" and, dropping the finished boots
upon the floor, Eva moaned over her
smarting fingers, somewhat cut and red
dened by the strong, black thread, with
tears in her eyes.
The fact that her mother and Matte
were packing their trunks preparatory to
three weeks trip around the lakes, espe-
clally that they were to start on the very
morning of her birthday-which they
seemed to completely ignore-was the
grievance that gave rise to these unamia-
bic reflections of Eva's on this sustaining
summer morning.
Presently Matte entered the room.
Don't you think that is pretty shade
of blue, Eva?' she said, playfully dang
ling long ribbon before her face.
Pretty enough" answered Eva, sourlv.
scarcely giving it glance.
You may really say So" said Matte.
good-humoredly, "for 1 bought it for vol,
to tie your hair with tomorrow morn
ing
1.-THE one have on will do to wear to
the boat" said Eva, with the air of a
martyr. ..5.
"Now, don't be cross, darling" cried
Matte, gayly, " for I've little favor to
ask of you"
Eva said nothing, so Matte went on:
"l'd go myself, dear, only I'm so very
busy helping mamma pack; so I must
beg you to 60 and get the things named
on this list"
II don't feel very much like going.
but suppose I'll have to-" said Eva. tax,
ing the slip of paper in an aggrieved way.
Here's some mistake, Mattie;" she add
cd, as her eyes fell on the list of articles
enumerated. "Pair of gray kid gloves,