New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-07-07
NY BIRTHDAY.

NY BIRTHDAY.
We, Mother Raynor, Jack and I,
were sitting in our little sitting-room,
oui best room, but not parlor, for
mother would never call the little box
OF a room by SO dignifed a title, and
for the hundrcdth time they were tell
ing me what they knew Of my life.
'lou see Birdie" said mother, as
had always ca]Iad her, cit was q
stormy night and Jack had been de-
tanned at the store-he was cash boy
at Cotton 4 Co.'s then-but
just as he was running up the steps
about seven O'Clock he met woman
hurryn1g down them. She brushed by
without speaking and he, when he
reached the door, almost stumbled
over Il basket where you lay all snug
gled up in warm fiannels. All, but
you were & nice baby, my dear"
'Pity my mother hadn't thought
500 sarcastically observed.
h.1ubtediv you would have Jared
W s,lichan in our humble home,'
-s7a -9'Heb, grimiy.
''<FG", Jack, you don't think that
II 1'',f dear?' hastily asked Il
arti. 10 : feel badly to think my own
Sn.es : ana blood would abandon me
49,. thrust 1ale with strangers, that's
= w. Mat was seventeen years ago to-
- ,'c.l1l,r night" neditated mother
81 : ",ng our conversation.
~ : NN;" | chimed in, anxious to clear
~ e@1G7d from Jack S forehead; "and
y you have always called it my BIRTH
day, and have made the day so pleas
ant for me, too. Let me see" rat
t]:hDn; ''you thought I must have
been about q year old, and so am
eighteen tomorrow. Have you made
my birthday cake yet, mother?"
Eyes, indeed. And that reminds
me I must so out and seeto the frost
ing it, to might. No, you stay right
here. Watch her, Jack for she is not
to see the cake until tomorrow"
retreated before her laughing conn
mand. and seeing how sour Jack stall
make h;m behave like his owm old
:erm OF his chair ! leaned over, trying
to catch his eye
Gross, dear?'' [ asked, very sweet
iy.
no, he replied in tone that said,
''Ies, decidedly SO; let me alone"
Bat | was not to be rebutfed. Slip
ping my n.TMS around MS neck drew
his face al.otnd toward mine.
50
to the toundlings' Home, aren't you?
It's enough to make any
one CROSS to think how he has been
troubled for seventeen years just be-
cause he Was SO soft hearted over q
miserable little baby whose own pco-
pie didn't care about keeping It, Are
you sorry, Jacli?'
care you, Bird?"
He suddenly Strengthened up, a look
in his dark eyes | had never noticed
there before
What have to be sorry for?'' I
asked. "Was not thrown into the
hands Of She dearest, kindest mother
and brother q girl ever had?'
eyes, deitr-tilat is, we've always
meant kindness; but still am not
your brother'
Il know il, hut love you just as
wei! ! began. rut some way under
the steady look OF Johns beautiful!
eyes / could not GO on with my usual
protestations OF affection, as had al
ways been in the habit OF doing, and I
drew my arm away from about his
neck.
{ ''But | don't want you to, Bird, he
! said slowly; and then he went on
eagerly, "Nly darling, | want you to
'ove NE just as well as do you. I
want you for my very own, for my
wifc, Bird
Ilasping me close in his strong arms
lie told me how happy could make
him by saying that loved him. And
SO strongly did he argue his case that
some way was completely won over
to his way OF thinking, and before the
birthday cake was frosted Jack aud
were engaged.
i've accepted Jack as q birthday
gift I whispered to mother as I ran
out.
A radiant look of surprised joyf fair
y illuminated her dear old face as she
comprehended the meaning OF my re-
mark.
cit has been the wish Of my life"
she whispered, kissing me softly. BE
ready for other birthday gifts to-mor-
row. she called after me.
ooh, happy birthday | whispered
when tomorrow dawned, and 1 awak-
Sng, remembered my promise to Jack
."aVhat better gift could have asked
than the gift OF dear Jacks love?''
Several little tokens were at my
breakfast plate; some very expensive,
gun to sell so well and orders poured
in faster than he could execute them
he had begun to be quite extrava
giant.
He had gratifed all oft-expressed
wish OF mine by having a little cameo
earring, found in the basket in which
they first found me, set in q ring for