The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-01-23
THE CHILDREN'S HOUR.
HER BIRTHDAY.

nice all these things were, for her
father and mother were always hard
at work, and Polly and the rest Of
the children worked with their father,
her sister helped her mother in the
house, and Polly washed the dishes,
secured the knives, fed the chickens
and ran errands for the family and
for all the summer boarders besides.
One of the boarders, Miss Cary, was
watching Polly shell peas one morn
ing, and thinking that she did a great
deal of work for such a little girl
Finally she said:
How old are you, POlly?"
Seven" Polly answered.
You're almost eight said her
mother.
when is her birthday" Miss Cary
asked
"Why, let me see, it's this month
sometime -the-17th-yes, the 18th of
July. l declare, I'd have forgotten all
about it if you hadn't "a spoke" And
Mrs. Jones went on with her work
again.
Whats a birthday" Polly asked
shyly.
why, Polly" exclaimed Miss Cary,
"dont you know? It's the anniver.
sary of the day you were born. Didn't
you ever have a birthday present
Polly?"
NO" said Polly, looking puzzled.
Eve never have much time for
those things" Polly's mother said
"It's bout all l can do to remember
Christmas"
! Eyes, know" Miss Cary said, but
she resolved that Polly should ''have
a birthday.
When she went down to breakfast
the next morning, Miss Cary met
Polly in the hall, and, putting a little
silk purse into her hand, said kindly:
Here, Polly, is something for yor
to buy birthday presents with"
Polly opened the little bag, ant
found in it eight bright silver quar-
ters; and she ran as fast ar she could
to tell her mother
"Why, child" her mother said
that's too much money for you tc
spend. Better save it. 1t will buy
you a pair of shoes and warm hoot
this winter"
Almost any little girl would have
cried at this, and Polly's eyes did fill
with tears, but as her mother wanted
her to help to put the breakfast on,
Polly took the plate of mullins int
the dining room. Miss Cary noticed
the wet lashes, and said:
Mrs. Jones, please let Polly 81
down to the store today and spent
her birthday money"
Mrs. Jones could not refuse this re
quest. So, after she had put the bah,
to sleep, Polly was allowed to go t,
the store, which was a good two miles
away; but the happy little girl wonl,
have willingly walked five miles tt
spend her precious two dollars.
1t was late in the afternoon whel
she came back and the boarders wer,
lounging about, waiting for the sur
per bell to ring. They all smiled a
the little figure toiling up the road
| I Will ucI Iu1l VI
smiled radiantly through the dust tina
covered her round little face as sh,
called to Miss Cary:
ooh, I've got such lot of things
Please come in to the kitchen AM
see!"
So they went into the house, an,
Polly commenced to unwrap the pack
ages and exhibit her purchases.
There" she said, as she tore tn
paper from queer-looking bundle
this is for ma" holding up an egI
beaten, cause it takes so long to bea
eggs with a fork"
The boarders looked at each othe
in surprise, but Polly was too bus
to notice. She fairly beamed as sh
held up green glass necktie-pin TO
inspection.
Isn't it lovely?" she asked. ut
q for pa, SO he'll wear a collar, ik
: ma wants him to. OF course, hel
, want to wear such an elegant pin
and he'll have to wear a tie, and the
t he'll have to wear a collar"
This isn't much,'' she continued
| opening a small bundle, "only a raj
tie for baby It cost only five cents.
. The boarders looked on in silenc
as the busy little fingers unite,
: strings. No one knew whether t
t laugh or feel sorry.
i It was wonderful what two dollar
would buy, and not strange that tn
little girl had spent whole half-da,
) shopping. There was blue tie TO
Brother Dan and a pink one for Tin
: a yellow hair ribbon for Sister Linda
some brass hairpins for grandma,
small bottle of cologne for Jake. tn
hired man. and then there was bu