The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-03-17

said Mary Conner: 81 hear the dishes hos
rattlin';" and hereupon they all fell !.
chuckling. A few moments after. tbev
were called into the next room. ~ ~
"Aint it jist ilegantp" whisnered
Ann Gormly to Sally Flynn. Look ut
the sugar-cookies!, and, oh nv, there
limonade. | smell it, -
Cant you behaye?' said Sally 70
Provingly. ''One 'ud think you niver
been to party before"
No more haven't said Ann. ou;to
above concealment "Oh, goody, Sanv1
there's slices OF mate atween the bread
an butterr' "'
Amt she a greedy9" whispered
Sally to Jenny. a.'r..p =,
Poor thing! they say she's most
starved at home." said kindly LITTLE
Jenny" Her fathers been ont of work
these three months"
Mary keaney, hospitable- heartedson,
| mad not been able to content herself
with the bill OF fare she at first medi-
tated. The table was bountifully spread
with sandwiches, cookies, nlolassessg
cake, rosy-cheeked apples, and. a plate
OF gay-colored candy in the center.
B;ddy's cheeks were like froses.rand
her eyes like stars, Was there ever
such IL mother, and such a ..partvp,,
The good cheer soon set all the little
tongues. going, while Mrs Keaney
watched the {" fun." well pleased. and
kept the plates and glasses filled.
In the midst of their 'festiyity Mrs. !
keaney was called down stairs, She,
came up in a few moments with some. 7;
thing wrapped up in her apron. ii 7l-1R
/ he children were too absorbed to
notice her, but when in a few moments
she appeared bearing a big earthen
platter eXultingly alot, what a shout
went up from all the little throats! ~
| : Ice-crame! ice-crame!, Even deg
mure Sally joined in the cry; and Ann.
Gormly nearly fell out of her chair IN
her joyful excitement. r
| ION, mother. mother! have YOU
given all your money for my partyP''
cried Biddy, not knowing whether to
laugh or cry, and feeling pane of self
reproach amid her transports to ss.i7
My lamb, who sent it / don't know.
but mistrust Mrs. Ray. An look at
the Elegant cake wild the dape white
frostin', an the Charlotte Russys toon
she added. setting two other dishes on
the table. The children sat a moment
dumb with admiration, then set up an
other shout. az yff,sf3f run
1.-The man said he'd horrible JOB to
find the place, anil reckon it's the first
time ice-crame an Charlotte Russys
found their way to Rid Lane!'1 said Nj x I
keaney, who scarcely knew whether to
laugh or cry herself II
'Oh, mother. wasn't it lovely in Mrs.
/ Rayp'A $50 itN5s. ass - NAssaaAA
'''Iroth it was, .darlint. It must be
Eliza tould her, and -
Scarcely were the words out of her
mouth, when loud rap at the door
made her1start. a - II. q 30
''Sakes alive! hope nobody's come
to say the ice-crame whit to the wrong
placer She opened the door; there
stood John, Mrs. Rays colored man.
'Good-evenin' Mrs. Keaney," sur
veying her with a condescending SMILE.
"Here's a package for Biddy, with Miss
Mabers love. Sorry to be so late; but
l had number of other errands. and it
was hard to find the place. Good
evenin','' and before Mrs. Keaney
could speak, he was gone, anxious to
escape reproofa from his mistress for
his delay.
With trembling fingers Mrs. Keafey
undid the strings, while the little group
looked breathlessly on. But when at
last she brought out q doll.-a- lovely
wax doll, with golden hair and large
brown eyes-a cry of admiration broke
from all but Biddy. She stood speech.
eyes, gazing up al. the doli.Q "a 81
"Och, darlin', where's your tongue%'
cried Mrs. Keaney. "Such9 a swate
doll. dressed up SO Elegant, an. she can
open an shut her eyes! Look, honey,
look! Why, what are you crying for?'
SITS too, beautiful .sobbeds littler
Biddy. Every thin's so beautiful. IL
don't know what to dop'
/ That night, as Biddy lay usher bed,
while her mother was ,tucking her in.
she said, with long sigh, "Oh, moth
er! mother! I'm so glad I've hartR1
birthday. .Il .niyer forget it as long as
L Inv! Oh, mother, wasn't it jist beau
tifulp" -s.r ..-A.s...~ -
.'Yes. dear, said Mrs. Keaney. But
little jealous, pang gnawing at her
heart made her add, II couldn't give
you ice-crame, darlin', nor awaxs doltssa
but
Biddy threw both her arms round her
mothers neck, "Oh, mother! DEAR,
darlih' mother! what you did was most
of all. oh, there niyer was al mother
like mineh'
A tear rolled down the Trnothefs
cheek. What reward could be sweeter
than those loving words, the clasp OF
those little arms about her neckf And
so ended Biddy's happy birthday
Harper's Young People,