The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-03-29
Surprise.

Jackie Kent WAS sitting in grandmamma's
bay window thinking that mumps were the
dreadfullest things in the world.
Not that Jackie had them himself, but Ma
bel and Baby Alice were both i'll with them
right here, three days before his birthday
party. Grandmamma's house was too small
forthe party, and grandmamma herself too
cid to bother with it.
"All the invitations out and everything"
thought Jack. wofully.
ssBc a little Spartan boy" said Aunt Elsa.
sitting down beside Kim and telling him how
bravely those little fellows in far away Greece
used to bear their troubles.
81 will try. auntie,' said Jackie, wlnking
very fast. "Do you know of a Spartan boy
that gave up his birthday party?"
mo" said a%untio, ''but 1 know a boy who
will do it even better than they did,"
Now, the queer part of it was that all the
boys and girls who had been invited did not
seem in the least disappointed, but said:
pooh dom you care, Jack, we don't" in a
manner that was intended to be very consol-
ing, but which only made Jacks sore little
heart a bit sorer.
The birthday morning came and it was
certainly q beautiful one.
A fresh layer of snow had fallen in the
night and the morning air fairly snapped
with crisp cold.
Jack had q wonderful heap of presents,
and mamma came out on the porch to hug
and kiss him on his way to school.
Its most fun being a Spartan" thought
Master Jack, patting his new seal cap firmly
on his head.
81 don't care n bit about my birthday
party" he eonflded TO Bobby Long, at recess.
'Mamma says Bel and Allie are so lonesome
that I mean to take over some of my presents
for 'em to play with, and you and can go
in the yard after school and build u snow
man for EN-, hey. Bobby?"
" Maybe" said Rob, looking hard at the
church steeple.
Before Jack had time to wonder at this re-
lpctance, the bell rang.
Jack trudged home after school that after
noon, wondering much why Trndie Arson
had seven ''pigtails' made OF her straight
locks, why Tip Collier wore %curl-papers to
school, and worst of all, why Bobby Long
had backed out Of the W plan.
'He skipped off like an old meanie p
thought Jack, with rising anger; but just at
that minute he turned the corner to grand
mas, and then stood still in surprise. In
front of tho door was q long blue sleigh just
overlooking with children, Bobby standing
on the drivers seat blowing q horn, which
put a fine finishing touch on the din OF
twenty-five voices all calling at once.
There was Aunt Elsa wrapped in furs, and
laughing as she held herhand out to her aston
ished nephew. ''Come, make haste, Jackie
Asleigh ride party is quite as good as a
house party"
sOh my oh goodnessl oh meg' gasped
Jackie, as he scrambled in, too bewildered to
say anything else.
OF they went, mamma waving from the
porch, and bells jingling gayly. Out into the
country five miles, to Uncle Steve Kent's old
fashioned farmhouse. where every one
seemed expecting them.
There was a roaring wood fire in the par
lor, and plenty of timo for a roind of games
before supper.
Then a beautiful supper, with Aunt Mar
cia Kent in her Quaker cap helping to wait
on them, and Uncle Steve, who said funny
things to everybody, and kept his arm around
timid little Patty Sweet till Patty overcome
her shyness.
Going home was quite as pleasant. The
horses flew over the snow and the stars
twinkled. Everybody saying to everybody
else what q beautiful party it was, and happy
little Jack was loudest in praise of his own
party.
81 just never did, Aunt Elsal" he said. "To
think that when l gave it all up. it came Of
~itselfl'
81 say, Jackie, shouted Bob from the other
end OF the sleigh, "I'm with you for the snow
man tomorrow r
All the others wanted to help, too, when
they heard Of it, and the result was that poor
cross little Bel and Alice had q snowman
party next afternoon, which keptthem happy
for two hours, and gave mamma such n good
rest.
"But 1 say, Aunt Elsa, said Jackie, sit just
spoiled my being 4 Spartan"
"But it didn't spoil your trying" said
auntie, with a pat on his head which made
jack 'feel good all over as he said.-Lilllar
l.. Price in Youths Companion.