Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-05-07
stlonlh's Column,
FRED's BIRTHDAY PARTY,

heed TO the SABBATH service. lOr
grandpa, who was SO deaf that he
seldom went to church, was sure to
ask his little eight-year-old grandson
for the text and some words of the
sermon. The bright boy took great
satisfaction in this ''telling the ser
mon," which performance, he found,
was sure to call forth not alone the
undisguised admiration of his grand
father. but also of Mabel and John
ME. But on certain morning Fred
quite forgot to listen to the minister,
because he had, as he afterwards ex-
plaiued, something very important
to think about
For three successive years our
young friend had been given birth
day party; and on Saturday he had
reminded his mother of the approach
ing anniversary, with the hint that
''maybe it was time to think about
the party" Her reply, eyes, Fred,
we'll plan about it tomorrow" was
the important subject of the little fell
lows meditation at church. How
his mother, who wouldn't let him look
at his st. Nicholas on Sunday, should
choose the sacred day to arrange for
the coming celebration, was a mystic
~ too deep for the boy to solve.
"P'raps mamma will wait till bed
time when Shnday'll be almost gone"
was one of his many explanations;
but no it was soon decided that the
half hour which was always filled
with tender talks about the Glove of
Jesus" wouldn't be devoted to plans
for mere merry-making.
Fred next weighed the possibilities
of the Sabbath afternoon bible-read-
ing, knowing, as he did, his moth
ers wonderful faculty for finding
something in the blessed book con-
corning every act of life. But he
finally shook his head as he SAID to
himself, ''Of course the bible hasn't
anything about birthday parties y
However, when the time for the BIZ
ble-reading came, and Mrs. Griswold
had said nothing yet upon the all-ab-
sorbing topic, her eager son could
hardly wait for the announcement of
the days selection, so anxious was
he to see if it could contain any sug-
gestions for his long anticipated
feast.
1t was happy little company
gathered in the sitting-room. Papa
had class at the church, so he
wasn't there; but "sick auntie" lay
on the sofa as usual, with Mabel in
low chair beside her. grandpa was
one of the number, and Fred, also
nurse Ann with the baby; while
mamma, holding on her lap merry
four-year-old Johnnie, formed the
centre of the group. All joined in
singing "Jesus Loves Even Me"
then Mrs. Griswold and her sister
sang very gently one verse of "Scat
ter Seeds of Kindness repeating
the refrain, ''Then scatter seeds Of
kindness, Then scatter seeds Of
of kindness, For our reaping by-and
by After this all opened their bi
bles as mama said: ''Let us see i
we can learn some sweet lesson TO
to-day from the 14th chapter O
Luke" gently stroking Freddie
hair as she spoke. From the sew
enth to the twenty-seventh wer
the verses read, accompanied by
running commentary from the moth
er, so clear and simple that even Ma
bel and Johnnie were able to gras
something of the spiritual truth whic
was clothed in the parallels.
This bible service was always mad
very informal, and the children wer
encouraged to ask questions, man
of which usually suggested then
selves to Fred's active, inquirin
mind. But during this lesson h
hadn't word to say after the rea(
ing of the twelfth verse: "Whe
thou makest a dinner or a suppe
call not thy friends,' etc. He wa
eagerly attentive to every word an
evidently very thoughtful; but NJ
until his mother closed her bible, d
the little listener break silence. The
he said, "Why, mamma, do you SUI
pose Jesus meant my birthday pa
ty?" II am sure the lesson can a
ply to my boys birthday gathering,
was the reply. "If Fred would lii
to have a gospel feast, know Il
dear Lord will give the promis,
blessing"
"There's lame Jimmie who brin
our morning paper, and the little g
auntie teaches to sew, and lots
poor children. | guess they'd like
pretty we'll !''
'sThere's no doubt of that,
Think answered Mrs. Griswol
"but how would you like it, Fred
"Well, I'm thinking!' adding a
er half moments pause, II dol
suppose it would be quite so mu
.fat',, though maybe l sheuld be he
PIER
Mrs. Griswold was amused at I
fine distinction between the JOY
doing right and the pleasure of dol
ones own will but she simply sal
Eyes, my boy, feel sure you VOL
be happier; and that isn't all, y