The San Francisco call., 1906-09-02
WHAT HAPPENED
ON GRACIE'S
BIRTHDAY.

T WAS little Gracie's birthday. She
was years old. and it was to be
gala day for her. In the after
were to como In and help. her to eat
the beautiful snow covered cake which
her mtmma had baked the day before.
and on whose white crest was Gracle's
name and age spelled out in little red
candy drops. Grscie had been given a
peep at this wondrous confection as
1t stood in the ioebox to cool. And
besides the great birthday cake (Which
was to hold Ave lighted pink candles
when placed on the little banquet
table,, there was to be all the ice
cream the little hostess and guests
could eat.
Oracle was up early on the morning
Of her birthday. The sun had hardly
pceped in through her bedroom win
dow when she lcaped out of bed say
ing: I'm 5 years old today. | must
not begin the day by being lazy.
little sieepy-head." Then she was
dressed In jiny and ran down stairs
to help mamma with the breakfast.
I'm big enough to work now. am /
not, mamma?" she asked as She helped
to pick over the strawberries for
breakfast.
yes, you are big girl now. dearie;
but arc still mammals baby"
And papa's little woman. said a
loving voice at the. door. and Oracle
looked up to see papa standing there.
Now, must give my little daughter
q whipplng-much as l dislike to do
So" he said with mock gravity, hold
Ing out his arms to catch Oracle, who
pretended to be very much afraid.
o-three-four-f-i-v and
one to grow on.' cried papa, giving
his laughing little grille the licks so
lightly that she hardly felt them.
And so the morning passed away
with fun and frolIc. and great prepara-
tions for the afternoon party. As 1t
was papa's vacation time he remained
at home with mamma and Oracle.
helping with the arrangements.
The guests were to arrive at .
o'clock in the afternoon and oracle
was dressed .or the occasion at / :.
While her mamma completed the table
decorations Gracie went out on the
front steps to walt for the appearance
of the company. While she sat there
she heard low sobbipg near her.
Looking around she beaeld a little girl
hot quite so large as --erself--stand-
ing half hidden in nearby doorway.
crying quietly against her ragged
sleeve. Oracle was all interest and
sympathy in an instant, and, jumping
down from the steps. she ran to the
fofiorn little one and asked In a sweet
voice:
What's the matter, little girl? Come
"rm l-o-s-tr' sobbed the child, more
tears flowing.
"oh, we'll, I'll take you home. Do you
know here you liver"
The child nodded her head and point
ed In a certain direction Then she
tum dat way" she said. L lives way
down dare
do you know your home when you
SEE IT." Oracle asked.
Again the child nodded her head and
held cut her tiny hand to Oracle. say
Ing in a pleading voice. 'rum take me
TO mamma
''.ill right said Gracie,, grasping Il ],
thin little hand in her own pink. chubby
one and starting in the direction the
cnild had designated
Down the street the two little girls
went. hand In hand. At the first corner
the lost child pointed down Ii side
street, saying, Down at way" Oracle,
not watching the way she was going.
was soon lost In a crowded, narrow
street unfamiliar to her, but she did.
not for minute doubt that she could
make her way back easily. on the,
went Oracle In vain trying to locate
day." Oracle said to herself. and I'm
big enough to take this little lost girl
t. her home
The street they We're in was filled
with iabbering Foreigners dark -browcl
and very poor in appearance. The
dirty greasy little shop windows be-
came interesting to Oracle, and several
times she paused to examine their dis
plays In one window were a number
o. odds and ends of broken toys. Graz
cie's companion became interested and,
pointing to a doll with one eye gone,
said. Il wis tould hab dat dolly
In an instant Gracie's hand was at
the little silver purse, that hung round
her mock by silver chain. From it she
extracted seven pennies. the purses
contents. and led the child into the
shop. where she asked an old italian
woman the price OF the one-eyed doll.
In another minute the seven pennies
were In the old woman's hand (she had
seen the amount when Oracle counted
Il out OF her purse) and the doll was in
the arms Of the little lost child, who
hugeed It lovingly to her breast and
smiled her thanks to Oracle.
Then out they went again. Hut in
the street a hurdy-gurdy was playing
and the Italian and Hebrew ,hildren