THE SURPRISE PARTY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 141, 17 June 1933, Page 7

THE SURPRISE PARTY

(Original.) Little Jessie was feeling rather sad because on Saturday it would be her birthday, and she knew .that mother and father were too poor to give her a party. Jessie lived on the edge; of a forest, for her father was a poor woodcutter, and just by luck they managed to keep themselves from starving. That night, when mother came upstairs to ; ■ tuck Jessie up, before she kissed her goodnight, she smiled.a little roguish smile. "Something in store for you, my dear,'* she said. But before Jessie could speak mother had gone downstairs. Saturday morning arrived, and when Jessie went down to breakfast she found a little parcel on her plate. First she kissed mother and father good morning, then took her/place at the table. Her parents went on talking, while Jessie very excitedly opened' the present. Then— "Oh, oh! Look, mother!" she cried. She held up a gold wristlet watch. " From ' Aunty Elise," father said. "For I'm sure we couldn't afford one." "Well, last night," began Jessie, "I had a dream. I dreamt I went to Fairyland, and on a throne of pearl sat Queen Fairiel, and,' oh, such lovely fairies were there! Fairiel said I was toget a-sur-prise sooner,or later. After that everything melted away, and I. woke up to find myself in bed!" "Oh," said mother, "how lovely." Nothing more was said, and breakfast finished in silence. About 2 o'clock that afternoon a knock was heard at the doo_r, and Jessie opened it. To her ' surprise Shirley, Gwen, Ivy, Margaret, and'MelVyn stood there. "We'Ve■ come to your party," Shirley said. "My party?" cried the astonished Jessie. The five girls walked in laden with' parcels. All the presents were given- to Jessie. When she opened them they contained cakes as well as smart gifts. Mother produced a large birthday cake. It had pink icing, and written iri' ; silver cachous was "To dear Jessie,- from Fairiel." "Oh, how lovely!" cried Jessie. "So my dream came true." "Yes, dear," said mother. They had a glorious time, and before tha girls left they agreed that it was tha best surprise party they had ev§r been to. " ."■■■■■- -: ■•'.■• "TIPPETTY TOES." (11) Brooklyn. . ~ ,