Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31
HER FIRST PARTY.


HER FIRST PARTY.
For q week Anna Lee hal thought
OF nothing but the party. The invita-
ton was the first delight, and she had
carried the square, 81 t-edgad card TO
school, and had peeped at it once when
recess was begilniug. before she got
her little lunch basket and joined the
three girls who wee her particular
friends. Ten thsre was the interest
OF her dress. a red one with a guimpe;
her little full petticoats VITA narrow
but fine embroidery; her smooth Isle
stockings ana shoes with cloth tops
and shiny tips.
She was to have red ribbon to tie
the black hair from her eager little
freckled face; and she was to carry
Cousin MolEe's tiny white fan hanging
about her neck, for although it was
winter fans were proper at party.
1t seemed to her as if the time would
never come Days and nights passed
away, of course, but the party stayed
next Wednesday" and 1.-The day after
tomorrow" for long time. However
the morning came at last when tee
party was to be this afternoon; and
then Anna had her dinner and tried
restlessly to take nap, and first
thing she knew it was now" and
there was great hurry to get her
ready.
The whole family came into the
parlor to have a look at hsr in her
party clothes.
Head up" said father, and smiles
to the front" That was part of drill
. they used to pay sometimes. But
would you believe it?-Anna looked
as if she could not SIN lie, no matter
how hard she might try. Nobody
remembered ever to have seen such
sober look on the face of the young
est Lee.
What is it? dear" asked mother.
did tie your hair-ribbon too tight?
mo, ma'am," said Anna.
whats the trouble, caick?" askel
Uncle Charlie. You look just like
a little girl who was going to get kept
In because she couldn't spell bat, bat,
and maybe not even cat, cat. Now,
what Is the matter?"
But Anna only shook her head. and
although they could see that she was
trying to smile, she was not able to
get the tiniest bit of sunshine into her
face.
Dear mel" said mother. And az
ter all this looking forward to the
party!"
well. WE'LL" began father; and I'm
Gle Charlie was just going to- make a
remark, too, when grandma, sitting
in her -.g chair by the open crate,
said:
Bless the child! l know all about
1t. She's scared"
"Scared?' asked Uncle Charlie.
What OFF"
YES" grandma went on, Il remem-
Der my first party, and 1 remember
Anna's mothers first party; and we
were both of us frightened, thinking
about the strange people and so many
Of them. But l know the cure for it.
I am not going to tell it out loud
before all of you, but if Anna wants
me to l will go into my own room
with her and tell her secret; and
If she does just what say she will
enjoy the party as mueh as she ex-
pected yesterday to do"
Father and mother and Uncle Charlie
laughed, because it was quite family
joke that grandma and Anna had so
many secrets from the rest of them;
then father sad they would wait in
the hall outside, ard the two coul1
talk in the parlor.
Ten minutes later Mary put on her
white cap and apron anil took Anna
TO the party. There were greal
many little boys and girls already
gathered together, and they seemed to
be having merry time playing games.
-Four or five ladies were standing
near the doo", greeting the newcomers,
and when one of them came forward
Anna nearly turned to cling to Marys
hand, for although she was eight years
old she really was very shy. But then
she remembered grandma's secret,
and even while she was being well
coined she began to look about for
somebody.
All during the first part of the party
Anna was on the watch. She looked
at each little boy and girl she came
near, but she did not find the one she
wanted; so at last she slipped out
into the hall and peeped around in all
the corners. and after while, in
the very last corner, where 1T was
dark because the staircase went up
right over it, she came upon a little
girl about her own age. sitting quietly
all alone on sofa. Annals eyes
sparkled, and she went and stood in
front OF the little girl.
II was looking for you," she said.
Whats your name?"
"My names Maud" said the other.
And you couldn't look for me. cause
you don't know me-"
"But my grandmother told me to-"
explained Anna. And we've got to
80 In and play games with the otherG
and make everybody have q good
time at the party