Year: 1876

More than one pair of anxious eyes
peeped out of the windows of the Asylum
on the morning of the party day, to see if
the weather would be propitious enough to
allow them to enjoy themselves in Charley
Stewart's fine play grounds. Mr.. Stewart
believed in plenty of breathing room, and
therefore had extensive grounds all around
his splendid mansion.


They turned away from the windows
with disappointment depicted in their faces,
for cold, drizzling rain had set in (; just
the kind that was likely to stay all day,
without doing much harm, only to keep
little boys in doors.


" 1t is too bad Charley exclaimed, when
he had eatiefied himself that the rain was
there, and meant TO remain.


"How disappointed tie boys will be,
for told them that we would have lots
of fun playing all sorts of games in our
back yard. 1t was so nice and warn the
day saw them, that it never entered my
head that it could be anything but fine


"Never mind, Charley" said hismother,
will see that your guests have pleas
ant time; trust me for that. your fa-
ther will see to it that they get here with
out getting wet, if it should set in and
rain but 1 do not thinkit Wilt"


" Thank you dear mother how can
ever repay you and dear father for think
ing 80 much of my happiness 7"


"By being always the noble, generous
boy you are now, my son. Now Charley,
since you have been disappointed about
the rain, will tell you something that
will please you, which had intended to
have kept secret from you until this even
ing. Your uncle has sent you very costly
and beautiful present, which he ordered
on purpose for you nearly year ago, and
which he does not wish you to see until this
evening; it will afford enjoyment not only
for the boys. but also to our beloved bishop
nd -


Instead of worrying his mother with
questions about the present. as most boys
would have done, Charley contented himself
with the thought that evening would soon
come, and then he wenld know all about
it. With good will he set himself to
work, helping his motber and the servants
decorate the rooms with evergreens and
hot house plants, many Of which were in
full bloom.


Early in the afternoon when the rain
had almost ceased. ono after another of
the good priest came, and were ushered
into the large parlors, where they soon
engaged in lively conversation with Mr.
Stewart, and some other gentlemen who
had been invited to entertain them.


Soon the patter of many feet on the
broad graveied walk told Charley that the
kind Brothers aud boys had come.


He did not wait for them to ring the
bell, but hastened outside to welcome
them, while his mother and the servants
stood in the hall ready to assist them in
taking off their things, and conduct the
Brothers into the parlors, and the boys
into the stting-room and library, which
had been fixed up on purpose for them.
When the boys had amused themselves
after there own fashion for awhile, Mrs.
Stewart came in and told the boys who
were in the sitting room, that If they
wished to hear some fine music, to move
their chairs into the library: She then
6I,av, all CO.. Hha fo1a n
which opened into the back parlor, accord
ing to their size, the smallest boy in front
and SO on, Then she opened the folding
doors, and soon the boys heard the grand
music of the organ, harp, and guitar,
played by master hands. Aud such music
as it was, no wonder that the boys were
entranced; but when the sweetest of all
songs and hymns, were sung, not only by
the best singers in that city, but also by
the priests and Brothers, and even the
aged bishop joining in, the boys forgot
where they were, and thought il must be
heaven.


Supper was announced too boon for the
boys, for they felt AZ if listening to such
singing and such glorious music was far
better than any supper could be the music
had made them forget they that were hun
cry.


Their appetites soon returned however,
when they sat down to the bOuntiful re-





than a supper nothing was wanting. After
the second course of puddings, pies etc,
had been cleared away, and the third
course consistiDg of the incest cakes, can
dies, nuts and oranges, had been put on the
table, it was plain to be seen by the boys'
faces that to eat any more would be going
against the Brothers instruction, not to
eat too much. Charley, however, had pro-
vided for the emergency, for a servant en-
tered with basket full of white paper
bags all numbered, which were distributed
among the boys; and the good bishop told
them, in a very pleasant manner, to put
every thing that the servants would give
them into the bags, and then to remember
the number so that each one could claim
his own bag when they went home ; for
that they were to carry the bags full
home with them, as the cake and candy
would taste better to them to morrow than
now.


After supper all had the pleasure of en-
joyipg Charley'e birth day present-which
was nothing less than a miniature panora-