The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-24

Tie lnlnkS SO much or tniS boy. It
 is strange how gentiy-reared children
 will look up to these strong. rough | companions" Mrs. Mersey shuddered.
 T only wish. though. that Harold was
 as strong and Independent as this boy.
 My brother says ftsis my own fault,
 that keep Harold teo close to me.
 and that I don't let him rough 1t
 more, like other boys. But he cannot
 understand. Harold Is all have in | the world and I cannot bear him out
 of my sight"
 When her son returned from school.
 Mrs Mersey showed him Jimmie's note
 and gently asked for an explanation.
 Harold was surprised and distressed as l we'll He. thought so much of Jimmie
 that he hated to disappoint him | Why. emother! never meant to
 ask him to a really. truly party. It was just some class work, you know We have to learn to write all sorts l of invitations, to balls and receptions, i and all that. Why, Jack Lundy-he's ! the scrub b-woman's son-wrote an in- | vitation to. Will Burns, the chimney | sweeps boy. who never has a whole 1 suit of clothes. and he put in the note 1 that the ball was to be that very | night and that fuil dress would be re- ] quired. Miss. Gray laughed right out loud when she read it But we mostly l send the Invitation to make-believe l people. I just wrote mine to Jimmie 1 Block because like him so much. | He's so big and strong and he won't 1 let the boxs hit me. He hits them | when they call nc" l What do they. call you. darling?" They call me mama's baby.
 And so you are, my darling" | Well, I'm your baby at home, mama, | if you want me that way. but l ain't anybody's baby at school. So Jimmie |. ALA LAA a l now they call me Sissy just like was girl And Jimmie made them stop that too. So when Miss Gray | asked us to write invitations. SO we could learn how. l thought I would | write to Jimmie. I couldn't help think ing how nice it would be to have truly. really Thanksgiving party. just me and Jimmie maybe. and turkey and pies and games in the evening, and you could open the piano ana play for us. Thanksgiving is such a long, | long. day and soflonesome when you haven't anybody to play with.'s t- | Mrs. Mersey ssat holding the boys, hand. Thanksgiving such a long day and so lonesome. Why she spent and sent him with some friends to a matinee, every year. He was still looking at her in puzzledS distress. Very gently she said: Don't you know. darling. that I could not give a party here. I have never had any sort of entertainment for the past | three years, l have had so much sor- row-your dear father died. you know"
 Would papa mind if you gave a party now? Don't you remember what jolly times we used to have with him? He would like to have so many little boys and girls to come and see me and you would play on the piano for us and we would dance and have games"
 "Oh, yes! Yes. my darling. do re- member all those happy days. but now don't you sec Harold. I could not"
 Then don't you remember. mama. when papa was so sick we did not make bit of noise? But now he wouldn't mind if we played. would he? In Heaven people don't mind. the noise any more. do they?-
 "Of course they do not mind. my darling, hut could not have party here. You win understand when you are older. Just tell your friend that am in mourning. I will send him a nice dinner and tickets for a matinee or something. He has a sister. has he not?"
 70. yes. such a spendid sister. She sews all day and sends Jimmie to school"
 But you will tell him. Harold. not to come to a. party here"
 "Very we'll. mother the little lad said Loyalty. but a long drawn sigh went with the answer. He was un- usually silent at dinner. and went to bed early of his own accord.
 As she sat up that night reading. Mrs Mersey thought of her sons words. recalling the happy days of his father. Something like a whisper from her dear husband came to her. bidding her renew the boys brighter memories. Why condemn the boy to live in the shadow of a sorrow he was too young to understand. She re- called how careful and devoted the lad had been during his fathers last illness. Must Thanksgiving always be long, long. troublesome day for him? Must he learn to think of his mother as a sombre, silent barrier shutting out the light and gladness of childhood from him?
 Mrs. Mersey put down her book and went to Harolds room. She leaned over the bed and found the boy wide awake.
 Why. thought you were asleep. my darling" she said.
 Not yet, mother. J cannot go to sleep"
 Harold, would you really like to have Jimmie Block and his sister and some other boys-your class at school---and Miss Gray-to come here and have dinner with you Thanksgiv. ing day. and then have some games in the evening""
 "Oh. mother. mother!" Harold hugg- ed her like a sturdy little lad and his eyes were dancing and shining. The last barrier fell down. His mother tucked him in tight and kissed him, like a long. lingering, goodbye.
 Now. go to sleep and dream about your party. Tomorrow we can talk over about what We can have. will write Q note and ask Miss Gray to come and bring all your class. You must tell Jimmie to be sure and bring his good sister"
 So that is how Mrs. Mersey gave a Thanksgiving party that she did not expect to give and that she had re- fused to give. But once having been opened to her boys friends. her heart and home could not be closed again.