The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-04-06
miscellaneous.
A NOVEL BIRTHDAY.

Alice Warfield had the mumps
There was no doubt about it. Grand
ma Warfeld had made her taste vine
gar in the good old-fashioned way,
before summoning old Doctor Fuller
and Doctor Fuller had settled the
question at once.
Eyes, indeed It's mumps ~ said
he.
They are mumps, you mean, don't
you?' asked Alice, trying to joke.
Yes, my dear, the disease is plural,
indeed ~
"And can't l go home for my birth
day, week from Saturday p
No, my child, you mustn't expect
that ~
Il was going to have a beautiful
party-and Jack is coming home ~
said Alice, mournfully.
II remember when your father had
the mumps," said Doctor Fuller, as if
he had not heard her. "He was just
about your age, and he was pretty
sick boy But bless you. though he
couldn't talk or whistle, he made the
best of it. He kept an illustrated
diary and drew sketches of his own face
every day. He kept strict account
of my visits, too, | can tell YOU and
when he got well he proved to me in
black and white that l had contra
dicted myself seven times Well,
well, Alice you're not so sick as he
was. Well have you up soon y;
After Doctor Fuller went, Alice did
her best to put a brave face on her
disappointment. She wrote a cheer
full note to her mother, and another to
her brother Jack, who was away at
L., Ioft Oh
''Of course I'm ever SO sorry not to
be with you all in Montrose on my
birthday: but you mustn't think of
make the best of it, and have a pleas
ant visit here with grandma and
grandpa. will skip my birthday
this year. Well forget that l have
one. Make Jack promise not to tell
everybody that l have the mumps ;
and don't any one tell Uncle John
for he'll be sure to tease me-"
1t is wonderful how cheerful and
and sunny girl can be when she real
ly wants to, even if she is i'll and dis
appointed. Alice Warfield made ten
days, long and tedious enough to look
forward to, pass pleasantly, even
brightly, to herself and those about
her.
The morning of her birthday was
rainy. Not a very good day for Il
party, any way" said Alice, as she
came downstairs.
After breakfast Grandfather War
field went to the village, and when he
returned an hour later grandma ana
Alice saw him drive into the yard,
and noticed large tin pail in the back
of his wagon.
Il hope you have letter for me-"
called Alice, as she heard the outside
door open.
Yes, indeed - he returned, bring
ing the big pail into the sitting-room.
Here are several" he added, taking
off the cover. Il had to buy this pail
to bring them i'll. l had no pockets
to hold them
The pail was filled with mail Tor
Alice letters big and little, with pos
tai cards of all three sizes. All the
relatives and friends who were near
enough to know about her illness had
been asked to remember her birthday
by letter, and they had remembered
it.
One very long envelope stuck up
above all the rest, and was directed i'll
Jacks hand. 1t was like legal docu-
ment within, beginning, know All
Men By These Presents - and it stat
ed that Jack Wartield, of the town
of Montrose, County of MiddleseX and
State of Massachusetts, unmarried,
did solemnly promise never to tell any
man, woman or child that Alice War
field, spinster, also of the aforesaid
town, State and county, was afflicted
with the assisting disease known as
Mumps!" This was signed in the
presence of twenty three of Jacks
schoolfellows.
Then there was q thick letter from
father and thicker one from mother,
besides pages of sympathy and news
from the girl friends who would have
been at Alice's party ii she had had
one Uncle John wrote brief but
expressive note, telling how sorry he
was not TO know what was the matter
with his niece. He feared either
| hemiplegia or cynanche trachealis :;
but he hoped nostalgia would not set
in, for Doctor Fuller was unskilful in
curing that disease.
1t was q good days work to peruse
! that pailful of letters, and Alice sat by
the open fire reading and laughing,
while Grandma and Grandpa Wartield
| listened and laughed with her.
1.-TWO gallons of letters are as good
as a party-eh, Alice p inquired
grandpa, in the afternoon.
Just exactly as good ~ said Alice,
| as she opened the last envelope in the
pail. 1t was from Aunt Alice and con-
| tanned five lines:
| There was young girl of Montrose,
Who somehow was led to suppose
| That by staying away
| She could skip II birthday
| But she couldn't, i'll spite of her woes.