The Portland daily press., 1888-12-08
A NEW BIRTHDAY.
BY ROSE HAWTHORNE LATHRoP.
Gospel Banner.l

| the fioor and avoid all the publicity OF the
thing, and all the other folks not having any
thing themselves. At the same time he Gu
joyed his presents hugely, and wanted pretty
or funny possessions; only he wished they
would walk into the room early in the morn
Ing while everybody was asleep but himself,
and all Of their own accord.
1t would be SO nice If a printing-press
would roll into his chamber at six o'clock.
a. M, and say. Excuse me If come at an
untimely hour, my dear VIII; but made up
my mind to leave the shop to-day and be-
long to you. 1t is proverb Of mine. Never
too early to do what you want tor"
/ But Will was shrewd enough to be quite
sure that no such queer and charming morn
ing would ever dawn as this one of the
+ thoughtful printing press, and so he evolved
plan, when his birthday was nearly come
again, out of which he hoped to get as much
enjoyment as he desired.
| He was only nearly six years old, and his
hair was still very fine and yellow, and his
eyes were very frank, and he looked at you
long time before 1t was necessary for him
to wink. In this attractive trim he appeared
before his mother when she was washing her
old family china and thin, grandmotherly
teaspoons after breakfast (for there were
old-fashioned ways still blooming In the
house,, and says he:
Mamma. my birthday is coming soon, isn't
it?"
3, "Yes, Will; three weeks from now
What do you hope you will have?"
You have not bought anything yet, have
you?" asked VIII.
!"Why. no." said Mrs. Wellesley, laying
down teaspoon as she looked up, wonder
ing what her small son was about to say,
and hoping it would please her.
well, mamma, want to know il you will
let me have just such birthday as would
satisfy me best. Now, don't laugh when
tell YOU"
''Not for worlds"
Then. may give presents instead Of hay
ing anys"
Dear me, you really startled me-" said
his mother, losing saucer In the dish-tub,
and putting both haLds on the table at
which she sat, quite idly. "What gave you
such an idea?"
Il don't know. But seems to me birth
day is selfish kind Of day. At any rate
would like to try my way of spending 1t. II
may prove very nice. and 1t will give me
chance to make good many presents, which
have never done. And then, nobody will
be expecting anything, for You must only
tell them that they need not give me any
thing this time; and shall have such fun
watching theft faces, to see IL they are glad
Of what give them. Do tell me, mamma,
how nucb mr. no b. e.
my birthday, and then will begin thinking
what can give" viii concluded, breath
lessly, no longer bashful with suspense and
feeling, but full of excitement at the outlook
he had prepared for himself. Don't you
think it's jolly fancy?" he added, throw
ing his arms around his mothers neck, and
dancing up and down at the same time.
IL is astonishing what mothers will sur.
viye; and after choking little, and laugh
ing, and wiping away two tears from her
pretty eyes, Mrs. Wellesley gave Will hug,
and answered:
Papa will have to tell us how much
money we can have. and we can then set
out and carefully select presents; for you
know there won't be so very much to spend
on each. If you are going to give to number
persons"
!, . .Sn must give something to everybody
'Of course. Well, / don't believe papa
can object Go and make list of the things
You think you can give, for it will help you
somewhat in your choice, daresay. To
morrow, after Breakfast, will tell YOU what
papa answers to your scheme"
VIII was enchanted with the programme
suggested for his mornings work, and 1t be-
ing q hot August day he went down to the
brook and found comfortable stone. with
which he was familiar, and sat himself In
the shade and breeze to write
LIFT OF PREZENZs.
For mamma, it's a ceekret.
Fore papa, Kocownuts.
For Hanna, no of pins.
ringe,
Fore Kooc, heuje fame.
Fore MISS Docke, sumthink to make her laf and
For Tomas, his pet wysh, an eddykasion, If wee
can md lit.
i'm afrade thiss il orl.
:, Win conned his list most Of the day. and
liked 1t better and better. He made up his
mind to give 1t to his mother when he babe
her goodnight; and he did so, carefully beg
ging her on no account to lose II, or put II
IN so safe place that 1t would never again
turn up,
But when Mrs. Wellesley and her SON
finally set out for the neighboring town to
buy the presents, they did not carry the list
made by viii with them. His mother had
given him the mixed consolation of bursting
into little ripples of laughter as she looked
over 1t with him, and she had told him that
first one and then the next item was hardly
the best to choose. Will thought 1t SO queer
that the world fitted so badly to ones ready
formed ideas of it, but he hesitated to make
remarks against the world, since it was con-
He soon found himself greatly charmed
with the shops to which he was TAKEN and
he enjoyed spending the money which his
mother had given him, telling him that It
was ms own, since 1t had been intended for
Somehow he liked to think that his day
was to bring pleasure to others, while he
underwent sacrifice; and he felt as If he
had wings on his shoulders instead Of
less he wondered what his father and mother
and the others would have given him, II he
bad let them, and he now and then looked
three OF four times at a toy. or knick-nack,
as II Int ne , were going TO be tempted into
thought Of this kind of birthday, and 1t
would .disappoint her." he would say to
to give away.
The selection for his mother was difficult
one to make, being still 'ceekret" from
her. He had not dared to carry out his first
intention in regard to it, for fear she should
think IL as outlandish choice as the others
had seemed to her. But he was greatly
asst sted by the young saleswoman, who was
very nice, and would have talked the matter
ovor with him twice as long as he required,
with perfect willingness. His anxiety on
this point was well mastered, he felt sure,
when he secured a lovely penholder OF
carved maple-wood. which represented q
cluster Of lilies Of the valley and fern.
The presents having all been purchased, q
few loose coins still remained In Wills purse,
Tor which there was no possible need.