The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-03-29
Bobby's Birthday.

Tomorrow Is my birthday" said
Robby to Bobby"
"What is your birthdayp' said Bob
by to Robby.
"Why, tomorrow, sillyr' said Rob-
by.
Now Robby was nearly six years old,
and a person Of great Importance.
II don't mean Mdtn said little Rob-
by, who was not yet four II mean,
what is our birfdayp isit good to eatp''
why! whye-eel Bobby Bell! don't
you have birthdays~ cried Robby.
opening his eyes.
MOI said Bobby opening his
mouth. II neber saw one"
"You don't see them!'' said Robby,
in o pa.ronizing tone. .You hare
them! 1t is the day you were born, and
you have party, and presents, and
birthday cake with frosting, 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 really MEAN that you never had
one, Bobby BellP"
Little Bobby looked very grave.
| perhaps wasn't born!'' he said. ais
| going TO ask mamma. So he trotted
in to his mother.
Mamma" he said, ''was bornp'
Mamma looked at him moment In
mute surprise. Were you born, dearp'
she repeated Eyes, certainly you were
born. Why do you ask me that, little
boyP''
| Bobby's lip began to culver, and his
blue eyes filed with tears. "Den why
why don't I have birfdaysP' he
asked.
Mamma looked very sorry. 'Dearl
dear!" she said. Nov who has been
telling my leap-year boy about birth
dayp Come and sit in mammals lap
and tell me all about it, and then l will
tell you all about it.
So Bobby climbed up into mamma $
lap and hid his face in her dress, and
sobbed out his little story about frosted
cake and pink letters, and gold dollars
with grandmamma's love to her dear
little boy. "And neber-I neber had
anyr' he said, piteously.
Then mamma told Bobby 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-hundrcd-an sixty-hsel
S0many days I've been alive.
Storm and shine and sorrow ana 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 dav more, and he is very proud of
it, and holds his head very high, and
says:
Threc-hundred--a sixty-sfrf
One more day for frolicsome tricks.
One day more for mirth and for play. Z.
Look at me look at mel One MORE DAY. y
| And SO four years ago." said mann
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 thatv'
| Bobby laughed and clapped his little
fat hands.
..And So" continued mamma, s'oi
course my Bobby couldn't have another
birthday till another long year came
around, with another extra day. And
now whisper, Bobby! now the long
year has come; and next Friday Is your
birthday, dear; and you are going te
have --oh! but mustn't tellp'
i Mamma laughed and shook her
head, and didn't tell any more. but hel
eyes told great deal; and that was al
Bobby wanted, for he was very fond Of
Il surprises and secrets.
i He Rugged mamma, and then h
Rugged himself, and then he went ant
Rugged the kitten, and told her 81
about it and what he thought he was 60
ing to have.
3VaIl and n all csno tr,,a and q oraa