The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-06-02
A Novel Birthday

Alice = arneld had the munpS'
There was no doubt about it. Grand
ma Warfield had made her taste vine
parin the good old-fashoued wayl be-
fore summoning old DR.. Fuller, and
DIR. Fuller had settled the question at
once. -, :,
Eyes, indeed. It's mumps"' said
he.
"They are, mumps, you mean, don't
YOU ?n asked Alice, trying to joke.
"Yes, my dear; the disease is plural
indeed :"
"And can't I go home for my birth
day a week from Saturday."
mo, my child; youlmustn't expect
thatm
II was going to have beautiful par,
ty-and Jack is coming home ~ sald
Alice, mournfully. -,
II remember when your father had
the mumps," said DR.. Fuller, as II ne
had not heard her. "He was just
about your age, and he was a pretty
sick boy. But, bless you, though he
couldn't talk or whistle, he made the
best of it. He keptan illustrated diary
and drew sketches of his own face
every day. He kept strict account OF
nv visits, too, can't tell you; but
when he got well he proved to me in
black and white that had contradict
ed myself seven times Well, well,
Alice! you're not so sick as he was.
Well have you up soon."
After DR.. Fuller went Alice did her
best to put brave face on her disap-
pointment. She wrote cheerful note
to her mother and another to her
brother Jack, who was away at school.
In her, home letter she said ;"Of course
I'm ever so sorry not to be with you all
in Montrose on my birthday, but you
mustn't think of me as sad or blue,
Pm going to make the best of it, and
have a pleasant visit here with grand
ma and grandpa. I will skip my birth
day this year. Well forget that /
have one. Make Jack promise not to
tell everybody that I have the
'mumps;' and don't any one tell uncle
John, for he'll be sure tc tease me.
It is wonderful how cheerful and
sunny girl can be when she really
wants to, even if she is i'll and disap-
pointed. 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 very good day for a
party, any was ?" said Alice as sne
came downstairs.
After breakfast Grandfather War
field went to the village, and when he
returned, an hour later, grandma and
Alice saw him drive into the yard and
noticed large tin pail in the back OF
the wagon.
81 hope that 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. I had to buy this pail
to bring them in. / had no pockets to
hold them"
The pail was filled with mail for
Alice letters big and little, with postal
cards of all three sizes. All her rela-
tives and friends who were near enough
10 know about her illness had been
asked to remember her birthday
by letter, and they had remembered
it.
One very long envelope struck up
about the rest and was directed in
Jacks hand. 1t was like legal docu.
ment within, beginning, Know all
men by these presents" and it stated
that "Jack Warfield, 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, county, and State, was afflicted
with the wasting disease known as
mumps |" This was signed in the
presence of twenty-three Of Jacks
school-fellows.
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 if 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 heml-
plega or cyanche trachealis, but he
hoped nostalgia would not set in, for
DR.. Fuller was unskilled in curing that
disease.
1t was good days work to pursue
that pailful of letters, and Alice sat at
the open fire reading and laughing,
while Grandma and Grandpa Warfield
listened and laughed with her.
1.-TWO gallons of letters are as good
as aparty-eh, Alice ?" inquired grand
pa, in the afternoon.
"Just exactly as good v' said Alice,
as she opened the last envelope in the
pail. 1t was from Aunt Alice, and
contained five lines:
"There was a young girl Of Montrose,
Who somehow was led to suppose