Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-07-17
! HIS BIRTHDAY ALONE
By Emma G. Dowd

A BIRTHDAY without Mama Dorrance could
~ hardly believe the dreadful news. 1t had been
= bad enough to think OF having Papa away; but
Mamai To be sure, Dorrance very sorry for dear
Aunt Alice just home from the and lying i'll in
but Mama to go and bring her home; but, OH dear.
birthday all aone For Jenny, the cook and Brda the
maid, didn't seem to count just
Dorrance cried little but even his tears or the
big snow-sorm, which set in during the night, could
keep Mama from going to New York
Tom drove up to take Mama the station just
Dorrance came down breakfast. The sight OF the
driving storm had given him very doeful face. for
there would be no outdoor fun for him unless it cleared
indeed. His lip quvered when Mama kissed him good
by and he would have cried again. only she called him
her big brave boy, and of he mustn't after
that He had forgotten about birthday presents and
was surprised to find by his plate tiny note 1t said
after breakfast look in the library for sehitf pack
age marked, .DORRANCE.
your lorIng Mama
1t delightful to have it wonder about while he
eating his wheat and cream. How nice of Mama
to leave his present in this instead of just handing
1t to him! But when he went to look he couldn't
any white package. He hunted behind books and among
the couch cushions and doefuly thinking he should
have to give it up when he pied something white right
under the easy chair in the corner.
Yes. that -a beautiful book full of stories and
pctures Dofrance looked it through many times. read
few of the stories and just wondering what he
should do next when Brida came in and handed him
a slip of paper He read;
If pon seH go up into your room. yos 70H md PINK
package for you . ,s3 81
How he bounded up the stairs And then what a
search he had for something pink-besides the pink
cushion his dresser!
At last he found it away in back of his table
drawers box of coloFed cFayons lust what he had
been longing for These kept him busy for an hour or
SO, and then Brida appeared with ane11er note.
Oh what ii be this tniei he exclaimed. The
fun growing interesting. -
Hnnt through tie halls until yoa discover agooden
boz"
That was the message he read.
With shout, he dashed off. while Brida watched him.
smiling TO herself at his excitement
Upstairs and down. behind doors and in window
corners. unti-oh joy!-there. right BY the laundry
was the prettest tool chest he had
Jenny brought some bits of boards, and Dorrance
sawed and paned and hammered until luncheon tins
And then the little lad found gifts pretty orange
spoon from Brida and beautiful tart that Jenny had
made for him with his in pink letters on top
As he left the dining room ne was met by another
note that hade him search IN the parlor Tor long
package He found il to be dear little vioin Oh,
what sweet diseords he made for hour two after
wardt He almost Thought this present the best OF
all till he had to stop playing to hunt in his own room
for real silver watch Thatw something ne had not
dreamed of And then it time for Mama and Aunt
Alice to come, He by the front window counting
of the minutes on HE watch when at last the carriage
came in sight.
With one hand in Aunt Alce's and tae other in
Mania's as they came into the hail. Dorrance satds
wasn't lonesome mite My preseuta wouldn't tef
me be-they kept SO busyp