The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-06-08
THE BIRTHDAY TOP.

two birthdays at once, her own ana
her cousin Hugh's, both of which fell
on September 5. The party was to
be held this year at Hugh's house,
but Rosalie was to wear a new dress
and cut the frosted cake that would
be decorated with ten green candles
and eight pink ones. The dress had
not been made yet, but the silk slip
to be worn under it needed only one
more trying on.
AS she stood at the sewing-room
window, waiting for the fitting, she
held up her present for Hugh, a red
and-yellow top, and looked it over low
ingly. AS she twirled it in the bright
sunlight she was surprised to hear a
voice call to her from the street.
The voice came from shabby lit
tie boy, who stood peering at. Resale.
through the gate. What are you
looking att" he said.
Rosalie was surprised, but she an
swered at once, "Why l am looking at
this top"
The boy Unmatched the gate and
came in slowly. Girls, don't play
with tops!" he called. Boys dol"
He edged nearer and nearer.
Rosalie leaned out of the window.
''It is for my cousin Hugh's birthday
she told him. 1--WE have the same
birthday Ny party dress is to be
white with pink dots, over a pink
silk slip. If there's money enough in
my bank, I'm going to buy a string
of pink beads. to wear with it.
"The top is red and yellow, in
stripes" said the little boy, who by
this time was under the window. His
eyes were fixed steadily on Hugh's
present.
81 don't know how to spin il"
Resale said.
"Ho, that's easy enough" the boy,
answered. = ~
Resale thought that it might be a
good plan to find out who he was.
MY names Rosalie Brooke" she said.
Whats yours?''
Link" was the answer. ''Say, I'm
coming in and show you how to spin
that top
He opened the front door and came
down the hall and into the sewing
room, brown, plain-looking little boy,
but fairly neat He took the top out
of Rosalie's hands gently but firmly
and asked for some string.
The string was kept in the hall
closet, and Rosalie ran to get a piece;
but before she had gone half way she
heard voices at the top of the stairs.
She ran back to the sewing-room.
my mother and my sister, Claire,
are coming to try my slip on me, she
said. They'll be surprised to find you
here"
Then she ran back. Now, if mother
and Claire would only turn at the foot
of the steps and go the other way!
But no, they kept straight on.
Come along, Rosalie,' said Claire.
1--WE are ready for YOU
Rosalie followed slowly; at the side
of the door she paused for a moment.
1t would surely seem very strange to-
mother and Claire to find an odd-look-
ing, unknown little boy playing in the
front room. But they were talking
calmly about the party dress, as if
nothing had. happened at all. She.
went in slowly. There was not a sign
of a boy to, be seen. Where could
he be? And where was Hugh's birth
day top?
As they stood her on chair and
pulled the slip over her curls, she
could hardly keep back the tears. The
boy must have jumped out of the win
dow, she thought, and he must have
taken the top with him. Mother and
Claire were so busy fitting her, with
a pat here and pin there, that they
did not notice for some time how
quiet she was.
Don't you feel well. dear?" her
mother asked after while.
Eyes, mother said Resale; but.
there was a lump in her throat, and:
she shut her eyes. =
Presently she opened them wide. 1t
seemed to her that she could hear a.
queer rustling somewhere in the room,
but although she looked round she.