The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1903-05-13
The Birthday of MIR. Bowsr.
ocleveland Plain pealer.-o. B.Lewis

cleveland Plain Dealer.-C B.Lewis.)
When Mr.. Bowser got up the
other morning he realized that his
fifty fifth birthday had dawned. He
had had the day in mind for two
or three weeks but had been care
full not to mention the matter to
Mrs. Bowser. His idea was to
Jump over" the dsy without Civ.
ing it away.
He feared it might be brought
up at the breakfast table. but Mrs
Bowser seemed to have entirely
forgotten that the month of March
had anything to do with him. He
got away from the house to draw a
long breath of relief and none OF
his fellow passengers on the street
car seemed to notice that he was q
relic of the last century.
1t was only when he reached
home at 6 o'clock in the evening
that he got "a jar" When Mrs,
Bowser had greeted him she asked
to step into the parlor for a mo-
ment and turning up the gas she
proudly pointed to new armchair
and said: "You see 1 have not for
gotten what the date is This is
your birthday present.
IL don't think it is." be stam-
mered in reply.
"Oh, but I'm sure of it, I've
had 1t in mind for a month. Yes,
you are fifty five years old today
and I wanted you to see that 1 re-
membered it."
"Why didn't you remember that
1 was 1852" he growl-ed.
Because that's 100 too much.
Do you like the chair?"
"Um. Who said 1 was fifty-five?"
"Why you are, of course. 1t
was in the old Bible which we lost
when moving. You are not asham-
ed of your age. are your"
"Of COURSE not, but don't talk
nonsense. If there is any record
in that old Bible 1 don't know who
put it there. I am either forty-nine
or fifty today. I think it's forty
nine. Have you been gadding all
over the neighborhood to say I'm
fifty FIVE?
mo dear. 1 only said SO to Mrs.
Warner and of course she didn't
keep it in mind three minutes.
Why don't you want to be as old
as you arep"
didn't l say I was forty miner"
shouted Mr.. Bowser as he fastened
one his ooldest galres on her face.
"You keep that in mind and don't
add century to it. 1 was told
yesterday that 1 didn't look a day
over thirty. seven but I'll own up
to twelve years beyond that"
The cook had been told that it
was Mr.. Bowser's birthday and she
had taken extra pains with the din
ner. Her work had been success
and naturally enough she felt proud
of it. When the head of the house
came down she felt privileged to
to say:
"Your ffty-ffth birthday. sir,
and let me congratulate you and
hope you will live to be hundred
years old.
Mr. Bowser stopped short and
looked at her and then waved her
aside, and the almost broken heart
ed girl escaped to the kitchen and
shed tears over his ingratitude.
$50 this ffty-fve business has
got down here, has it2" he asked
of Mrs. Bowser as he carved the
steak.
81 must have told her fifty five"
she answered, "but I'll set her
right after dinner. I'll say that
we made mistake of six years in |
your age"
1t was good dinner but neith-
Or enjoyed it and now and then the
tears stole into Mrs. Bowser's eyes
as she remembered that she had not
even received thanks for the chair. |
The meal had just come to an end
when the doorbell rang and boy
handed in bottle of wine It'll
was labelled:
For Bowser to drink on his
fifty fifth birthday and may bel
live to drink many more"
"Who brought this?" demanded
Mr. Bowser, as the girl handed him
the bottle and he read the card.