Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-08-21

pair OF span-new Houdin fowls on
this your birthday; firstly, because
you are our little sister, and secondly,
there being nothing mean about us,
we wish to start you in the business!"
Lifting the basket from the cart, he
gave a sudden toss to the lid and
landed two startled. noisy fowls in
Marie's lap! She gave cry of min
gled fear and delight, and then
thanked her brothers most heartily
for this unexpected pleasure. The
stripe of dark feathers which adorned
their backs, with light ones on either
eide, was so strange; while the hap
py way in which she caressed the
beauties showed her pleasure at the
gift. At last. when the time came
for chickens to 60 to roost, she would
not leave them until she saw them
safely perched for the night.
Soon the family were gathered
around the tes.table, and there was
the surprise Of which Helen had new
or spoken. In front of Marie's plate
was beautiful birthday cake, COW
cred with icing and bright with elev.
en- red and blue and yellow candles
burning around it.
ooh, how lovely!" abe exclaimed,
as she looked at il with delight. In
moment she saw a small white box
in the centre OF the blazing circle.
Opening it hurriedly. she found a
beautiful ivory portmonnaie from her
mamma, which held bright FIVE.
dollar gold piece OF this very year,
from her papa.
Oh, how rich and happy aud CRATE
full was Marie! The words would
not come to tell all her feelings, 80
she busted herself in cutting great
slices and sending them around the
table, and burning candle on each
piece, while she said, "Thank you
| very much," over and over again.
Truly she bad had happy birth
day. but the end was yet to come,
and when her mamma called her,
with Helen. to say "Good night" she
did not wish to 90. Helen obeyed,
bat Marie did not stir. She wanted
to read little longer, aud although
her conscience said, "You ought to
60 at once" she still visited, hoping
that her mamma would forget about
her. She did forget for short time,
and Marie. in spite of her conscience,
kept on reading. Suddenly Mrs.
Manning turned aud said with sur.
prise "Why, Marie, I told you to
60 to bed"
eyes, mamma, but l wanted so to
read"
"You have done very wrong, and
after such birthday too. l am as.
tonished. Now 60 at once" said
Mrs. Manning, seriously.
Slowly she got up and walked out
of the room with very sullen face,
not at all as a little girl should tor
whom everybody had been doing
kind things that dav.
Upstairs conscience began again,
and Marie had to listen. It said she
did very wrong to try and deceive
her mamma and to be so disobedient
after so much pleasure, showing her
ingratitude. Marie began to grow
more and more ashamed of herself,
and running to the head of the
stairs she called, "Mamma, mammal"
"What is il? ?" Mrs. Manning an.
swered.
"DeAr mamma, you are too good to
me. Thank you and everybody for
my lovely birthday. am very sorry
did not go to bed right away"
The tone and the words gave
proof that the face was no longer
sullen, and Mrs. Manning answered
pleasantly "Nothing is too good for
my good little girl. Good night, my
dear"
"Good night, mamma" and the
little feet ran back more happily than
before: for Marie had gained on her
birthday victory more valuable than
all her gifts.