Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-04-21
Ny Birthday.

for the hundredth time they were tell
ing me what they knew of my life.
"You see. Birdie, said mother as
1 had always called her, ''it was a
stormy night and Jack had been de-
tanned at the store-he was cash boy
at Cotton & Co.'s then-but just
when he was running up the steps
about seven o'clock he met woman
hurrying down them. She brushed
by without speaking, and he, when
he reached the door, almost stumbled
over basket where you lay all snug
ged up in warm fannels. All, but
you were nice baby, my dear y
"Pity my mother hadn't thought
SOP l sarcastically observed.
"Undoubtedly you would have far
ed better than in our humble home"
said Jack, grimly.
"Why, Jack, you don't think |
meant that, do you?" hastily asked.
"It made me feel badly to think my
own flesh and blood would abandon
ME and trust me with strangers, that's
ALL"
"That was seventeen years ago to-
morrow night" meditated mother,
unheeding our conversation.
eyes," chimed in ], anxious to
clear the cloud from Jack forehead
"and you have always made the day
so pleasant for me, too. Let me
see '' 1 ratified on, "you thought |
must have been about year old,
and so | am eighteen tomorrow !!
Have you made my birthday cake
yet, mother?
Eyes, indeed. And that reminds
me 1 must 60 out and see to the
frosting of it, too, tonight. No, you
stay right here. Watch her, Jack,
for she's not to see the cake until to-
morrow"
/ retreated before her laughing
command, and seeing how sour Jack
still looked, l determined to do my
best to make him behave like his own
self again. Perching myself on the
arm of his chair, leaned over trying
to catch his eye.
"Cross, dear?" / asked, very
sweetly.
"Ne," he replied in tone that
said, eyes, decidedly so; let me
alone" But l was not to be rebuffed.
Slipping my arms about his neck,
l drew his face toward mine.
"You're sorry you didn't send me
to the Foundlings' Home, aren't you
It's enough to make any one cross to
think how he has been troubled fol
seventeen years just because he was
soft hearted over a miserable little
baby whose own people didn't care
about keeping it. Are you sorry
Jack p
care you, Bird?''
He suddenly straightened up, ;
look in his dark eyes had never no
ticed there before.
"What have l to be sorry for?"
asked. wasn't | thrown into tn
hands of the dearest, kindest mothe
and brother a girl ever had %
e s.Yes, dear-that is, we've Away
e meant kindness but still I'm no
your brother, Bird.
: II know it, but / love you just a
= well,' | began, but some way unde
the steady look of our Jacks beauti
full eyes could not go on with m
;, usual protestations of affection, as
. had always been in the habit of dc
ing, and l drew my arms away frol
), about his neck.
) s'But / want you to, Bird" he sal
J. slowly, and then went on eagerly
L "My darling, | want you to love N
just as well as | do you, dear.
n want you for my own, for my wifi,
= = Bird"
Y, "Clasping me close in his stron
arms, he told me how happy | coul
is make him by saying that loved hin
m And so strongly did he urge h
'' case that some way was complete
won over to his way of thinking, ar
- before the birthday cake was froste'
- Jack and 1 were engaged.
v 81 have accepted Jack as a brit
e, day gift" I whispered to mother
l ran out.
A radiant look of surprised j.
OF fairly illuminated her dear old fa
'n as she comprehended the meaning
he
be my remark.
"It has been the wish of my life
re, she whispered, kissing me softl
to "Be ready for other birthday gifts t
de morrow !" she called after me.
H. "Oh, happy birthday" whispf
= ed when tomorrow dawned, and
d waking, remembered my promise
We Jack. What better gift could ha
en- asked than the gift of dear Jacl
W. love?
- Several little tokens wele at I
" breakfast plate, some very expensiV
ia too, for since Jacks pictures had /
re- gun to sell so well and orders pour
pa in faster than he could execute the
ON he had begun to be quite extravagal
- He had gratified an oft-express
he wish of mine, by having little ca
60 earring, found in the basket
asst which they first found me, set in
ing ring for me for one of my birthd
vas presents. It was an exquisite, Gle
an, | ont oomoo and # bod q doo;do,