Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-08-13
PAPA'S BIRTHDAY.

How Maysie and Seth Celebrated the I'M
portant Occasion in Their "es'er"
| Home.
| so Maysier' said Seth, in a horrlfled
tone Its papa's birthday tomorrow!
''To-morrow!" echoed Maysie, the
corners of her sweet mouth suddenly
| dropping. 30 Sethie! and this is the
| first time, too
Seth didn't laugh, although Maysie's
| statement sounded funny. He under
stood it too well. 1t nas papa's first
| birthday in their new home, away out
west. And it was also the first time
that they had ever been too poor to give
him a present.
For papa had lost all his money the
winter before, and they had to sell their
fine house and pretty things to get
| enough money to go to Montana ana
begin again.
Everything was strange to Seth ana
| Maysie, but they rather liked it. Pa
pas birthday was the first real STUN
| bling block to their happiness.
| They stood looking at each other IN
woeful silence. Seth was nine years
| old and he didn't want to cry before
| Maysie, because she was only six and
girl besides
But the tears We're slowly coming,
when suddenly Maysie flew at him, her
eyes sparkling and her mouth all dim
| Piles again.
Come on, Sethie! l know some
thing.' she cried, eXcitedly, and danced
out into the yard
There, on her tiptoes, where nobody
could possibly hear, she whispered and
| L.. H. n
his hat into the air with a shout.
ats a go, Maysie! You're a brick
The next morning a cautious little
| voice at Seth's door said: Are you
ready, Sethie? It's nearly daylight"
Yes. Come on down these stairs,
Maysie, and don't let 'em creal> n mite.
| Sh-h.''
LET me slip the bolt. Sethie, cause
my fingers are little. There! Now,
you take the basket, and let's run, for
| it's late"
In reality, the dawn was just break
ing: but Seth gave Maysie his hand and
away they scampered down the street
until they had passed all the houses
Then they crossed a gulch on a
miners sluice-box, and began to climb
| the high mountain, back of the little
| town.
"S'pose you don't know where they
| are, Mavsie?"
| ''Oh, do. They're right around that
| big rock
| A few steps more, and there was an
| "Oh-h!" of delight from both children.
| Then silence for long time: when
they came from behind the big rock
| again, and started down the mountain,
| they carried the little basket in a very
| different way.
| They walked quickly up the silent
| streets, and stole back into the house
| as quiet as mice. Then began muf-
| fled rafting of pots and pans and
| crockery amidst much tiptOeing and
| whispering.
Then once more all was quiet in the
| kitchen, but most mysterious writing
| was going on in the diningroom. Seth
| struggled with the pen, while MaySie
hung over him, breathless
When it was done she just Rugged
| Seth in a whirl of joy, and then danced
around the table, saying: isn't it jolly.
Isn't it iolly!'
In the midst of her capering there
were steps on the stairs. Then what a
scattering! Seth flew to hold the door,
shouting: ''You can't come down yet,
mamma and papa! Bring the hand
kerchiefs, Maysie, quicl1!'
Maysie flew, and returned with two
large folded handkerchiefs. Seth opened
the door little way, and they both
slipped through and stood before their
astonished parents.
papa, I'm going to tie up your eyes,
| and Sethie's going to tie mammals, and
| then you can go down." Maysie an
nounced in a business-like way
"Now come on, and we'll lead you
''What is going to be done to us?''
asked mamma, CROPPING around with her
hands.
''Sethie, don't let her see teenty-
weenty.' cried Maysie, anxiously.
Here's the table," said Seth. Now,
sit down, please, and wait minute
The children scampered to the other
side of the table and took their places
Now you can take off your blindfolds.''
they cried.
And what a surprise! A snowy
breakfast-tab bic all ready, with a dainty
dish of spring flowers by mammals
plate, and luscious basket of red-ripe
wild Strawberries. crisp with the
mountain dew, by papa's.
There was also a pitcher of cream,
cold, sliced tongue, and coffee of Seth's
particular make.
A little white note lay on papa's
plate, which he opened and read:
DERE PAPA-We went upp on the mountne
thise morning and pked these stra wberies
and fioures fore you becaus couIdent
bear not too Civ you enythin8 fore your
birthday. We haven't unything else, dere
papa, but we low you veri much and so dus
mama Your too litle,ehldren,
MAYSIE AND SETH.
Papa's eyes filed with tears, and
dropping the note hs went to his little
ones, and putting an arm around each,
kissed their brown heads Then, look
ing at their mamma. he said, tenderly:
my blesseds! This, is the happiest and
best birthday papa ever had
And Seth and Maysie were, too full of
joy to speak. Youths Companion.
Hanging: Them UP.
Jimmy was once asked how he would
like to go to'a military school.
Not at ALL" was his prompt reply
'Why?" we asked.
Cause. he said, ''they hang a fell
low up there for little or nothing"
mo, no." we said. that can't be so''
With an emphatic nod he replied:
Yes, it is; Mx. Fox (hss teacher) saws
So"
hanor bp-f lin H., ...~