"THE BIRTHDAY PROBLEM"

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 132, 6 June 1931, Page 18

"THE BIRTHDAY PROBLEM"

jqpjHKEE girls were standing by an II opun window in a corridor of St. H.iary's School. It was naif an hour to school time, so Enid Roland and Mary and Joan Stewart had gathered for a talk. Their conversa j tion turned to Marie Lind, a crippled 'girl. She wou.'d have often been very ;onely had it not been for the St. Hilary's fourth form girls. Her mother 'had to go out to work at a milliner's ! every day. The fourth form girls | were either making, or had saved up jto buy Marie some little present for her birthday that was the next week. "It's a wonder Nancy Hurst hasn 't said any thing about Mario's birthday. They're both such groat friends, too," said Mary. Nancy Hurst had been reading a book on a bench not far from the window, and she cou.dn't help overhearing whal tin1 girls said. However, she pro tnidcd to go on reading. "Well, you know she never has pocket mi;ncy, and she can't sew a thing, hardly." Enid said rather reproachfully. "So I dare say she feels rather out of it." "I do feel out of, too," muttered Nancy to herself. Her father was omy a fi?hi:rmiin and couldn't allow his daugher pocket money, and the only sowing slit ever did was to mend her father's fishing nets. "Yes, I suppose so," replied Mary, "but still, sec how wondorfully she can draiv, and I bet she paints even better. Marie would love a painting of something or other, I am sure."- ---" 'Tis good, sister, 'tis so!" exclaimed Joan merrily. "The girl is a perfect artist, and—oh bother!" She would have rattled off more words in Nancy's praise, only the bell rang. She flung the fisherman's daughter a cheery smile as they filed into the class room. Joan, in spite of her smile, thought Nancy was treating Marie rather meanly as did her sister. Enid also thought the same, with mucU reluctance. On the way home that afternoon. Aancy Hurst was thinking over what she had overheard that morning A painting would be very nice for her iriend s birthday, but water paints were no good. Hei paints were very old and worn out. A piece of canvas and a box of proper oil paints were needed for a really decent picture. Anything would not do for poor crip pled Marie Lind! What could sho do. then? Nancy called in to see her friend, who was sitting up in bed sewing a white linen centre-piece. Marie had fancyworked some little roses around the edge of it. "Hello, Nan, dear! So glad you've come in. Do you like this?" she said, holding up the pretty centre-piece. "Oh, I think it's sweet!" Nancy cried.

"I have n:-ar!y finished It now. Whea it's done," Uavie paused a moment, "it's your 3." "K.aliy?" said the other delightedly. Oh, thanks." The two giris ta!k:d for about an hour, and Marie completed the centrepiece. She was somewhat disappointed that Nancy didn 't mention her birthday. "I'll have to go now," the latter said. "Goodbye, Marie." "Here, don't forget this," and Mario hi.'!d out to her tho small present. Nancy thanked her heartily, am', then hurrying out of I he room made her way along the g'ooi.iy passage, where nobody could sec her tear-filled eyes. She stood before a looking glass to arrange her hat and coat tidily. As Nancy lookrd in the g'ass she seemed to-travel back a year. She rcmemoored th« beautiful tittle present which Marie had gi'Tn her on her own birthday, and which had rrken such time and patience to make. If she failod to give her faithful friend a present, how mean she would feel. The crippled girl would think it rather strange when she received something from all the other fourth form g'rls and nothing from her best friend. Nancy was sitting in the parlour with Mr. Hurst in their little cottage near the beach. "I am terribly sorr"' you caught no fish to-day, Dad," she said. "Ah well, girlie, they are wise, not biting," laughed Mr. Hurst forcing a brave smile on his kindly face., "But, Nan, you're looking pale these last few days. What's wrong?" Nancy resolved to tell her father what was troubling her. "Well. Dad," she began, "I've beea trying to solve a birthday problem. You see, it's Marie's birthday in four days, and—er—well, I've nothing to give her. I thought a painting would be nice, but I've uo paints." What Mr. Hurst said next surprised her beyond measure! "I've got the very oil paints yoa want, and a !argc piece of canvas. They're in my old trunk. I had them when I was a boy." "O, Dad!" was all the joyful girl could say. So Marie's most treasured present turned out to be an oil painting called "The Foam Child," by Nancy. Soon after, Mr. Martin, a London artist, came to the town where Nancy lived. He heard of the girl's artistic talent and induced Mr. Hurst to allow his daughter to paint him a picture every week. His price was so tempting, too. How proud the St. Hilary's girls were of their Nancy Hurst; Marie and Mr. Hurst were the proudest of all, of course. The birthday problem wai lucky for Nancy after all. "DOUBLE DUTCH" (12). City. V