The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-03-29
"Why, Tomorrow, SilIy!'' said Rob

"Why, tomorrow, Silly!' said Rob
by.
Now Robby was nearly six years old,
and person of great importance.
Il don't mean Matr' said little Rob-
by, who was not yet four. II mean,
what is our birthday? IS it good to eat?''
why! whye-ee! Bobby Bell! dom.
you have b.rthdays9'' cried Robby,
opening his eyes.
No" said Bobby opening his
mouth 81 neber saw one"
"You don't see them" said Robby,
in a patronizing tone. "You hare
them! 1t is the day you were born and
you have party, and presents. and
birthday cake with trosting, and your
name on it in pink letters, and candy
and oranges, and gold dollar with
grandmas love to her dear little boy.
Do you realty MEAN that you never had
one, Bobby Bell?"
Little Bobby looked very grave.
'Perhaps | wasn't born!'' he said. ''rs
going to ask mamma" So he trotted
in to his mother.
Mamma he said, ''was born?''
Mamma looked at him moment in
mute surprise. ''Were you born, dear?"
she repeated. Eyes, certainly YOU were
born. Why do you ask me that, little
boy?"
Bobby's lip began to CULVER, and his
blue eyes filled with tears ''Den why
why don't L have birfdays?" he
asked
Mamma looked very sorry, Dear!
dear" she said. "Now who has been
telling my leap-year boy about birth
day? Come and sit in mammals lap
and tell me all about it, and then L will
tell yo@ all about it.
So Bobby climbed up into mammals
lap and hid his face in her dress. and
sobbed out his little story about frosted
cake and pink letters, and gold dollars
with grandmammas love to her dear
little boy. "And neber-I neber had
any" he said, piteously.
Then mamma told Bobby q funny
little story. twas about the years, and
it told how they came along, one after
another, and how each year had Just
the same number of days in it.
" Three-hundred-and SiXty-fi,e!
So many days I've been alive.
storm and shine; and sorrow and cheer,
Really, there never lCdS such year,
That is what each one says before it
puts on its nightcap and goes to sleep
But every fourth year there comes one
who is bigger than the rest. He has
one day more, and he is very proud of
it, and holds his head very high, and
says:
Three-hundred-and sixty-siri
One more day for frOlicsome tricks.
One day more for mirth and for play.
Look atme! look at me! one MORE DAY! y
And so four years ago. said NAM
ma, "there came one of these extra
days, and it was the very best day that
any year ever brought, for on that day
my Bobby was born! Think of thatr'
Bobby laughed and clapped his little
fat hands
''And so,' continued mamma, ''of
course my Bobby couldn't have another
birthday till another long year came
around, with another extra day And
whisper, Bobby! now the long
year has come; and next Friday is your
birthday, dear; and you are going to
have-oh! but mustn't tellr'
Mamma laughed and shook her
head, and didn't tell any more, but her
eyes told great deal; and that was all
Bobby wanted, for he was very fond of
surprises and secrets.
He Rugged mamma, and then he
Rugged himself, and then he went and
Rugged the kitten, and told her all
about it and what he thought he was 90
ing to have.
Well, and it all came true, and great
deal more; for Bobby had the finest
birthday that ever any little boy had, or
any little girl either In fact. it was so
Uer,y fine that 1 couldn't possibly write
about it in common black ink on white
paper | should have to take silver
paper and gold ink, and the Companion
says 1 can not do that, so | shall have
to stop now. Isn't that too bad?-
Laura 3. Richards in Youth'S C0mpa7s-
ion