The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1884-01-16
MY BIRTnpAy.

p + iAAAlAt II'Ntl y 0.Iaff1lI
NY IsIRTHDAY.
We Aaiher Baynpr taek asi Z
gsfe sitting in oOr little sitting,
room, our best room bot not PAT.
lor, for mother wouIineyer call the
little box Of a room By so dignifed
a title, and for the hundrcd!h time
they were telling me what they
knew Of my life.
"You see, Birdie" said mother
US l had always called he., "it was
a stormy night and Jack had been
detained al The store-he was cash
boy at Cotton & Co.'S tbon-but
just as he was running up the
steps about Z o'clock, ne met q wu.
man hurryihg down them. She
brushed by without speaking, and
he, when he reached the door, al.
most stumbled over a basket where
you lay all snugged up in warm
faunels. All, but you were a nice
boy, my doarp
"Pity my mother hadn't thought
50" l sarcaslicalIy observed.
"Undoubtedly you would have
Jared better than in our humble
home" said Jack, grimly,
"Wby Jack, yoa don't think l
meant that, do you, dealH" l hasti-
ly asked. ut made me feel badly
to think my own Gesh and blood
would abandon me and trust me
with strangers, that's ALL"
"That was seventeen years ago
tomorrow night" meditated moth,
er, unheeding our conversation.
"Yes," chimed in /, anxious II
clear the cloud from jacks fore.
head land you have always called
it my birthday, aud have always
made tie day 40 pleasant for me
too. Let me see!" ! ratified on,
"ybn thought / must have been
about year old, and so | am eigh-
teen tomorrow Have you made
my birthday cake yet, mother27
eyes, indeed. And that re.
minds me l must go out and see tc
The froslingof it too, tonight No
you stay right here, Watch her,
Jack, for she's no! to see the cake
until to morrow"
retreated before her laughing
command, and seeing how sour
Jack still looked delo rmined to
do my very best 70 make him be.
have like his own self again
Perching myself on the arm of his
chair leaned over, trying to catch
his eye.
"Cross, doar2' asked, very sweet.
Ily.
"No" he replied, in a tone that
said, "Yes, decidedly SO; let me
alone" But l was not to be re.
bufied.
Slipping my arm around his
neck l drew his face around tow.
ard mine.
"You're sorry you didn't send me
to the Foundling's home, aren't
you? It's enough to make any one
cross to think how he has been
troubled for seventeen years just
because he was so soft.hearted, over
a miserable little baby whose own
people didn't care about keeping
it. Are you sorry, jack"
care you, Bird?"
He suddenly straightened up, q
look in his dark eyes had never
noticed there before.
"Nhat have l to be sorry for?' |
asked. "wasn't / thrown into the
hands of the kindesl, dearest moth
er and brother a girl ever badH"
eyes, dcar-that is, we've always
meant kindness; but still, | AIN not
your brother, Bird"
81 know it, but I love you just as
well,"I began, but some way un'
der the steady look Of Jacks beau
tiful eyes | could not go on with
my usual protestations Of affection,
as | had always been in the habit
of doing, and | drew my arm away
from about his neck.
"But | don't want you to Bird
he said, slowly, and then he went
on eagerly:
"My darling, l want you to love
me just as well rs do you, dear,
l want you for my very own, fol
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