The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-10

~ ting round to my plrtn
y day; but I saw some
queer water wiggling, out in the
street, so I know that May-time will
soon come"
Robert lives in a Northern city,
where the April days are often frosty.
The street on which lie lives winds
around high hills or "bluffs' over
looking the Mississippi river. He
has few playmates and loves to climb
the stone wall at the back of his ia
theirs garden, and watch the shining
water, winding in and out, far below.
He can see a little house, down on
the sand, close to the river. That is
where lives Mrs. jerks, the washer
woman, with her three little boys,
Grant, Sherman and Teddy. They
are bright, rollicking little fellows
with shining, coal-black faces and
soft, merry brown eyes.
They often come up the bank, with
their mother, to help her carry her
baskets of clothes, ard Robert invites
them to come through the gate, to
see his dog, "Ronnie" and play mar
bles.
"Will you come to my birthday
party?" said he, one day when Grant,
Teddy and Sherman were going
home. They looked at each other in
open mouthed wonder. They had
never heard of birthday party and
did not know what to say. Just then
Mrs. jerks came near and heard
Roberts question. "What's dat you
say, honey7" said she. "Course they'd
be lighted to come, but they haven't
any fine clothes, so jes' scuse them
this time, thanking you kindly"
Robert felt greatly disappointed,
but he went in to ask Aunt Maud
how many were coming to his party.
"You may fetch pencil and paper"
said Aunt Maud, land we'll write
down the ma mes of all the little boys
and girls" Robert took from his
pocket queer little old red blank
book, saying "This is my memoran-
dunn, you know, from memo, to re-
member, and randatn1, to write down.
You see, if don't write everything
down here, can't remember it when
I'm big mani MY papa's a pro-
fessor and l heard him 'splain my
book, didn't II"
"Yes," said Aunt Maud" Now let us
just write down the names of all the
little cousins and the kindergarten
friends" sand OH" said Robert,
'please write my bestest friends,
Grant and Sherman and Teddy, but
their mamma thinks their clothes are
all wear'nd out. Do you think it's
sad, Auntie, for boys to live down on
the river bank, and not wear sailor
suits? Do you think it's very sad9'
NO." laughed Aunt Maud, Il think
that Grant and Sherman and Teddy
are very happy, but we shall see if
mamma can find some pretty suits
for them"
And I'll make my hair all curly to
match theirs" said Robert.
His thick yellow curls were the
source of great anxiety to Robert.
He used to carefully brush them
down. with soap and water, until, the
front and sides were quite straight.
He could not see, in the glass, that
the back was as curly as ever, so was
quite satisfied.
Because, you know" he explained
"I'm going to be a man, and men don't
wear curls, but just so Teddy and
Grant and Sherman won't feel lone
some, I'll let all the blades of my
hair curl for my tea-party."
Roberts birthday morning dawned
bright and clear. The birds sang
and the grass was green upon the
lawn. His little friends began to
come to the party early in the after
noon. None looked handsomer than
Grant, Sherman and Teddy. Their
mother had polished their white
blouses until theYreaected the round,