Birthday Party: A Story for Little Folks Read online

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  RIVERDALE STORY BOOKS

  THE BIRTHDAY PARTY

  BOSTON, LEE & SHEPARD.

  The Riverdale Books.

  THE BIRTHDAY PARTY.

  A STORY FOR LITTLE FOLKS.

  BY

  OLIVER OPTIC,

  AUTHOR OF "THE BOAT CLUB," "ALL ABOARD," "NOW OR NEVER," "TRY AGAIN," "POOR AND PROUD," "LITTLE BY LITTLE," &c.

  BOSTON: LEE AND SHEPARD, (SUCCESSORS TO PHILLIPS, SAMPSON & CO.) 1864.

  Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by

  WILLIAM T. ADAMS,

  In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

  ELECTROTYPED AT THE BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY.

  THE BIRTHDAY PARTY.

  I.

  Flora Lee's birthday came in July. Her mother wished verymuch to celebrate the occasion in a proper manner. Flora wasa good girl, and her parents were always glad to do anything they could to please her, and to increase herhappiness.

  They were very indulgent parents, and as they had plenty ofmoney, they could afford to pay well for a "good time." Yetthey were not weak and silly in their indulgence. As much asthey loved their little daughter, they did not give her piesand cakes to eat when they thought such articles would hurther.

  They did not let her lie in bed till noon because they lovedher, or permit her to do any thing that would injure her,either in body or mind. Flora always went to church, and tothe Sunday school, and never cried to stay at home. If shehad cried, it would have made no difference, for her fatherand mother meant to have her do right, whether she liked itor not.

  But Flora gave them very little trouble about such matters.Her parents knew best what was good for her, and she waswilling in all things to obey them. It was for this reasonthat they were so anxious to please her, even at the expenseof a great deal of time and money.

  The birthday of Flora came on Wednesday, and school did notkeep in the afternoon. All the children, therefore, couldattend the party which they intended to give in honor of theday.

  About a week before the time, Mrs. Lee told Flora she mighthave the party, and wanted her to make out a list of all thechildren whom she wished to invite.

  "I want to ask all the children in Riverdale," said Flora,promptly.

  "Not all, I think," replied Mrs. Lee.

  "Yes, mother, all of them."

  "But you know there are a great many bad boys in town. Doyou wish to invite them?"

  "Perhaps, if we treat them well, they will be made better byit."

  "Would you like to have Joe Birch come to the party?"

  "I don't know, mother," said Flora, musing.

  "I think you had better invite only those who will enjoy theparty, and who will not be likely to spoil the pleasure ofothers. We will not invite such boys as Joe Birch."

  "Just as you think best, dear mother," replied Flora. "ShallI ask such boys as Tommy Woggs?"

  "Tommy isn't a bad boy," said Mrs. Lee, with a smile.

  "I don't know that he is; but he is a very queer fellow.You said I had better not ask those who would be likely tospoil the pleasure of others."

  "Do you think, my child, Tommy Woggs will do so?"

  "I am afraid he would; he is such a queer boy."

  "But Tommy is a great traveller, you know," added Mrs. Lee,laughing.

  "The boys and girls don't like him, he pretends to be sucha big man. He knows more than all the rest of the world puttogether--at least, he thinks he does."

  "I think you had better ask him, for he will probably feelslighted if you don't."

  "Very well, mother."

  "Now, Flora, I will take a pencil and paper and write down thenames of all the boys and girls with whom you are acquainted;and you must be careful not to forget any. Here comes Frank;he will help you."

  Frank was told about the party, and he was quite as muchpleased with the idea as his sister had been; and both ofthem began to repeat the names of all the boys and girlsthey could remember.

  For half an hour they were employed in this manner, and thenthe list was read over to them, so as to be sure that nonames had been omitted.

  Flora and Frank now went through all the streets ofRiverdale, in imagination, thinking who lived in each house;and when they had completed their journey in fancy, theyfelt sure they had omitted none.

  "But we must invite cousins Sarah and Henry," said Flora."O, I hope they will come! Henry is so funny; we can't dowithout them."

  "Perhaps they will come; at any rate we will send theminvitations," replied Mrs. Lee.

  The next day, when the children had gone to school, Mrs. Leewent to the office of the Riverdale Gazette, which was thevillage newspaper, and had the invitations printed on nicegilt-edged paper.

  By the following day Mrs. Lee had written in the names ofthe children invited, enclosed the notes in envelopes, anddirected them. I will give you a copy of one of them, thatyou may know how to write them when you have a birthdayparty, though I dare say it would do just as well if you goto your friends and ask them to attend. If you change thenames and dates, this note will answer for any party.

  _Miss Flora Lee presents her compliments to Miss Nellie Green, and requests the pleasure of her company on Wednesday afternoon, July 20._

  _Riverdale, July 15._

  "Those are very fine indeed," said Flora: "shall I put on mybonnet, and carry out some of them to-day?"

  "No, my child; it is not quite the thing for you to carryyour own invitations. I will tell you what you may do. Youmay hire David White to deliver them for you. You must payhim for it; give him half a dollar, which will be a goodthing for him."

  This plan was adopted, and Frank was sent with the notes andthe money over to the poor widow's cottage.

  "Don't you think it is very wicked, mother, for rich folksto have parties, when the money they cost will do so muchgood to the poor?" asked Flora.

  "I do not think so, my dear child."

  "Well, I think so, mother," added Flora, warmly.

  "Perhaps you do not fully understand it."

  "I think I do."

  "Why should it be wicked for you to enjoy yourself?"

  "I don't think it is wicked to enjoy myself, but only tospend money for such things. You said you were going to havethe Riverdale Band, and that the music would cost more thantwenty dollars."

  "I did, and the supper will cost at least twenty more; for Ihave spoken to the confectioner to supply us with ice cream,cake, jellies, and other luxuries. We shall have a supplyof strawberries and cream, and all the nice things of theseason. We must also erect a tent in the garden, in which weshall have the supper; but after tea I will tell you allabout it."