Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-06-23
The Birthday Party.

Ceilu!u tndl YOU are Ill uIrc uduSef-
in danger of great pain and of death
Pain. we all know, is terrible thing
so terrible that every sufferer imasines
his own suffering 10 be the worst tor
ture in the world yet how very few OF
us know what real suffering is. You
have had an earache perhaps, or a
growing pain that made you uncom-
for;Abe for whole evening, or head
ache which compelled you to 90 to bed
quite early and then you slept it OIL
and were all right again.
mention these little ailments, to
which, perhaps, you have all been sub
iect, because want to arouse your
sympathy on behalf of a poor animal,
such as we often see in great distress in
our streets.
1t was only raj, caught in wire
trap, and set down upon the sidewalk
in tie miGst off crowd OF boys and halt
= dozen excited dogs, who paved the
trap and shifted around the bars, eager
to torture the poor, frightened little
creature, who rushed around its prison
house in an agony of terror. l knew
what was coming, for had seen these
creatures before frightfully mangled
and tortured by boys who were, per-
haps, more stupidity thoughtless than
diabolicallv cruel But the poor dumb
creatures suffer all the same.
II was such a sweet, bright day ; the
sky of soitest blue, trees and foliage
freshest green, flood of sunshine all
around, and little birds carroling their
Joy. Had an accident happened there
and then TO one OF the boys, the whole
street would have fastened to the res
cue, and sympathy and sorrow would
have been in every heart. Yet was
there none TO pity or 10 save their un-
happy little victim q?
30, | say" cried fresh young voice,
what are you doing with that poor
thing ?"
to let the dogs have it after while,
'But they'll hurt it awfully. l
should think you wouldn't want to see
it?"
cts a rat, you BOBBY who cares
about hurting rat t."
'sPoor thing, ii can feel pain, guess,
Just as much as you or /. O, it's
shame to torture it, on this lovely day,
too
Eddie Carey, the speaker, felt partic-
ularly happy on this bright summer
day-though, indeed, he was always Il
happy little fellow. But it was bis
mothers birthday: great holiday in
the Carey household, and Eddy was on
his way now, with the savings of
whole year, to purchase Il birthday
present for her. Yet he could not 90
on his happy mission, leaving the poor
rat to It's fate. He knew he could not
fix his thoughts upon anything, remem-
bering its appealing look of terror and
agony, although, poor little wretch, it
little dreamed of a friend among the
superior beings to whom its death was
sport. He knew, too, that its sad story
Eddy always tcld his mother every
thing-would cast quite cloud over
their festival. With word OF pathos
in his last appeal, he pleaded
please, dear boys. I'd give any
thing if you'd only kill il at oncc-I
suppose "a rat has to be killed, but
don't les these dreadful dogs have it to
torture. Do save it,
Mind your own business, Busybody-
thankless, said one.
"What would you give" said an
other.
Yes, yes, what would you give,
since you're so anxious - chorused the
crowd.
Give, said Eddy slowly, "why, I'd
give anything, eXcept-except-'
All, there was that dollar and twen-
tv-five cents, so carefully boarded, so
slowly accumulated, and he wanted just
that amount for his little purchase.
Nothing to give" said Joe Warren
scornfully, land moment ago YOU d
give ANYTHING What's the use of pre-
tending to be SO concerned when you
don't really care twenty-five cents?'
AHA, " they laughed. when it comes
to putting his hand in his pocket it's
another story.
Indeed, do care. o, boys-indeed
indeed"
SO, 90 away and don't bother US.
Joe, I'll give YOU'LL give you-a
quarter for the rat, cried poor Eddy
desperately.
Not enough-make it fifty cents"
1--WE won't give it for fifty cents,
cried anotter. '0ur sport is worth
more than that If you have n dollar
and give it, the rat is yours. If not,
YOU Just 20 along and leave us to do
what we like with our own. One or
the other now
This was too much for poor Eddy.
He turned and ran rs fast as his short
legs would carry him. But above the
laughter of the boys and the shrieking
of their victim. he seemed TO hear the
accusation selfish. inhuman boy !,
Coward cowardn He knew what
would please his mother best, and he
stopped. turned and ran back faster
than he had run away.
"Here's your dollar. | saved 1t for
mothers birthday present, and this is
her birthday. But take it; mother
wouldn't want the poor rat to suffer so,
| know"
Shamefacedly Joe Warren took it,
and handed over the rat. With one
we'll directed blow through the bars of
w ~ -. liz