The record-union., 1898-03-16
Sarah AIMS Birthday Party.

Sarah Ann was going to have a birth
day party, and the little girl was fairly
wild with joy. 1t was TO be her tenth
birthday, and she had been dreaming or
the event for weeks. She had had VS.
icns of dolls with golden curls, and LIMBS
that would move just like real people,
and eyes that would close when the doh
was put to bed. Sarah had thought OF
tea sets and doll furniture, but a party
"a real party, with her friends present.
was something she had never even
dreamed OF.
1t was ten days before her birthday
and the family had gathered around the
fire in the sitting room after supper.
Papa was reading his paper and mamma
was sitting around the corner of the
chimney so the fire would not burn her
face. Uncle Tom was smoking direct
ly in front Of the fireplace. He had been
reading, but now the book rested IN his
lap and he sat gazing into the fireplace
and thinking
Sarah Ann had been studying, but she
v as through now, although she still held
her book before her. She was watching
the blue smoke from Uncle Toms cigar
as it curled toward the ceiling and Won
dering if it didn't hurt the cigar to be
burned up, when Uncle Tom threw a
quick glance at her as if he had been
waiting for something.
Are you through studying, Sarah
Ann?" he asked.
Yes, just finished, Uncle Tom," and
the little girl closed her geography qui-
etly and sat looking for a moment out
of the window.
Uncle Tom looked at her with a smile
playing around the corners of his mouth
as if he was being afforded great amuse-
ment, and said: When is your birth
day?"
Sarah Ann was all attention at once
Now she understood why he asked il
she was through studying. He had
something for her, and couldn't wait
any more than she could until the proper
Gay.
November 10th, and I'll be ten years
old, and mamma said I needn't go to
school on that day"
That's Friday, isn't it, Sarah Ann,
and just at this point Uncle Toms voice
grew wonderfully solemn, "how would
you like to have a birthday party?"
Sarah AIMS hands met and clasped
just below her chin, while her arms were
pressed close to her body. She was
speechless for the moment, and looked
first at her mother and then at her faith
CT, both of whom had looked up and were
smiling at her, and then at Uncle Tom,
who was looking curiously at her
through big cloud of smoke.
We'll, Sarah Ann, do you want it,"
he asked.
"Oh, Uncle Tom," was all she could
say. "Oh. Uncle Tom,' but by this time
she had her arms around his neck and
she was covering his face with kisses.
Sarah Ann slept little that night. She
lay awake on her bed and thought for
hours over the details Of her party She
thought of who would be invited of
how the house would look with the deco
rations and all the lights lit. And then
her dress. OF course her mother would
have new dress for her, for she need
ed one anyWay-at least she thought
she did. And she would ask Uncle Tom
to walk in to supper with her, for he
would, of course, be the central figure
at the party. 1t was with such thoughts
as these that the little girl fell asleep to
dream of her party that was to be the
grandest thing that ever occurred in her
neighborhood.
Tt was just four days before the party,
and Sarah Ann was in a fever of excite
ment. She had scarcely thought of any
thing else since she had been told Of il,
and as the time grew near her enthu-
siasm increased. The new dress that
she had thought she needed had been
given her. and it had been tried on. AS
Sarah Ann had said when she kissed her
mother after trying on the dress: It's
Just lovely" 1t was of white, with lots
and lots of ribbons and was longer than
any dress Sarah Ann had ever had be
fore.
She was very proud of it, and hal
surveyed herself in the mirror with ev-
ident satisfaction. Sarah had not told
any one of her party. Uncle Tom said
she mustn't, and to disobey Uncle Tom
especially when he was giving her the
party, was something Sarah Ann wouid
not do for worlds. She had just como
home from school and her cloak ana
muff had been taken by her mother
She was quietly eating her dinner wher
Uncle Tom came into the dining-rooH
and stood for moment looking at her
Come into the sitting-room Whel
you have finished your dinner, Sarah
Ann" he said, and the little girls