The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-06-11
A Child's Stories.
WRITTEN BY A LITTLE GIRL NOT YET IN HER
TEENS.
THE SURPRISE PARTY.

1EE SURPRISE PARI1.
1t was pleasant day in June. The sun was
shining bright and warm, the birds were sing
ing, and the scent of the apple blossoms was
enough to do any one good, they were so sweet !;
but they seemed a good deal sweeter, a little
girl thought to her, than to anyone else, be-
cause she was doing good to some one else. She
was sitting in hammock under two large
trees, busily sewing. Her name was Pansy
Dayton and she was making dress for little
girl that lived across the road and who was
very poor. Her name was Lucy Sanborn, and
her father was dead and her mother had all she
could do to get fuel and bread for them. Pan
sy and some other little girls had been making
some presents for surprise party at Lucy's
house. Lucy would be ten years old on the
next day and each girl had made something for
a present. One little girl had bought new
white dress and made 1t with her mammals aid !;
another little girl had bought lace collar
another pair of boots, and another hat.
Pansy herself had bought and made gingham
dress ard trimmed it with white lace. Another
little girl had given her "a doll and dolrs car
rage for poor little girls like toys full as well
as rich ones do. They had brought all their
things to Pansy's house and Mr.. Dayton was to
carry them up tomorrow, which was Wednes-
day.
Wednesday came and it was lovely day. In
the morning Pansy went over to Lucy's house
anG said, GAS it is your birthday let's clean all
up" Lucy consented, and the two girls went
at it. There were only two rooms-a bedroom
and kitchen. They went into the small bed
room and began. All there was in 1t was bed
stead, a rocking chair and few rugs and a
table. They washed and swept the floor and
snook the rugs and put them down, and then
Pansy went home and got clean bed clothes and
curtains and towels. They made the bed look
nice in its clean white spread and pillow shams
and they put tidy on the chair and curtain
at the window and looped it up with blue rib
bons and put a clean white stand cloth on the
table. The bedroom was all cleaned now and
it looked clean and pure. if it was simple.
Next the two girls went for the kitchen. They
washed the floor and windows and put clean
| curtains up; washed and filled the lamps. They
then put Il red table cloth and dish of apples
that Pansy had brought over, on the table. The
house was cleaned at last and the two girls felt
proud of their work. Lucy did not mistrust
anything. She was delighted to clean up for
mamma. Her mamma was away at work; so
you see the two girls had it their own way. 1t
was eleven O'Clock when Pansy got home. She
ate her dinner and got dressed and then got the
things ready. Then the little girls came and
they went all together. Lucy was delighted
and tickled to death with her things, and the
others were happy watching her; but by two
O'Clock they were all surprised by heavy load
ed truckteam which came up and unloadei and
drove off. Full of curiosity the girls went out
| to see what there was. There was flour, sugar
tea, kerosene oil, lard, cream of tarter, six
| yards of grey flannel for dress. and a warm
| Sanborn. The girls opened it and read as fol.
| lows: Dear Mrs. Sanborn, our little girls have
met this afternoon to give your little girl some
presents. We, their fathers, thought we would
help them out. Very truly yours. From the
fathers of the little girls here
| When Mrs. Sanbom came home and saw hel
| presents the tears came in her eyes and she
knelt down and gave thanks to God. All
have more to say is that the little girls had q
nice time and went home with happy hearts.
MILE.