FOR THE CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13482, 8 May 1907, Page 9

FOR THE CHILDREN.

A LITTLE SOLDIER. - - : Bobbie's father had been-out of work for a long lime, and everything was very tad. Nellie, Bobbie's little crippled sister, was not getting enough good food to make her strong, and their mother had to leave them* alone a great deal in order to go out to work. -•■.-', ■ ; ; ~•»!>.■ -.' ; Bobbie was so tired of eating dry bread; he did so wish he were more than eight, years old, so that lie could try and work,! too. ■ " Why can't you tell some rich person- to give father work, mother J" he asked. "I don't know anyone to ask." And. Bobbie's mother sighed. .-, " Ask Lord Helm; he lias heaps of money and such a big house. Do you remember:, the lovely day he gave us poor children in- 1 his grounds last summer? You said it was ; because God had sent'him a little boy-."" :'; "Don't worry, : but. get to bed before * ; father comes in," replied his mother. \ L" You go and see Lord Helm, and ask= him," cried Nellie. And her brother pro- y mised be would. ; : ■ Bobbie's plans were soon formed. Yes,. ly he; would go and see,the big man, and .as }, Ihe knew he was a soldier, Bobbie thought- t he would be more likely to get V; hearing ■ if he went in soldier's clothes. ' '' In the old prosperous days Bobbie's ; father had been a. volunteer, and an old I cap and coat still,remained. \i Babbie tied these into a bundle, and taking them and; a wooden sword with hint, set off the next : ;.v morning for his self-impoKcd task. .;* ■'. . , ' He managed * to. paw* the : .lodge-gates without bcing'sceii, and hid himself- in the ; ■ shrubbery. ■'':, Here he made his toilet, and : ■ ;: putting on a bold front marched: up to,the .; hall door, his red coat almost touching the ,« ground round him. . The footman's amazement when he -.'saw.' : the odd little figure was intense. • "Here," he said not unkindly, '..." this is not the fifth of November; whatever do you want?" ,;! ■ '■ : "I want to . see Lord 'Helm,"." faltered > Bobbie. ■■ „ .. ~ .: ';■ Just then a, cheery voice called :. out, g " What is it, Robert? My goodness;, what a funny little object!"-And Lord Helm, who had just arrived home' from shooting,- '. looked with a kindly # smile ; : at Bobbie. ■ "What do you want mc for, laddie?" ho. asked. Bobbie sobbed out, Work for ; father'■ J ; y sir; we are starving! jNellio is,ill, and;l<. ■ hate dry bread." ,'! Come in, little man." Lord Helm pushed him into the ,warm hall. "Tell mo all 'I about it." And Bobbie did so, while he* enjoyed a beautiful meal of bread, meat,,. and jam-tarts, washed : down by cups ol lovely fresh milk. ' " ,'. , - ' ' I'll send my man over to see your father : : to-morrow. In the meantime, you must return to your mother in my trap and wo' will see" what' the housekeeper can do, in' the way of a hamper for Nellie." 'c,_' Bobbie's eyes were shining as he shyly asked: "Do you like the uniform, sir?" : " Why,V of course," said his lordship. '"I . am a soldier." And Bobbie went home so proud and happy. Next day Lord Helm's steward interviewed Bokbie's father, and finding him to be a goodj steady man,. soon found him some work. < And Nellie got plenty of nourishing things, while Bobbio had jam on his»bread, every- day. .'.'.'. PHIL'S SURPRISE PARTY. * . "Poor Phil!" said mother-sympathelM cally. ' "It really is dreadfully disappointing for you, but I am afraid you cannot possibly go to Betty's party thi« afternoon." "" ' . ■ "And nave I got to lie here all day," asked the little boy, in a choky voice... , :. "Well, dearie, . perhaps we'll carry you ■ downstairs to the ''drawing-room; this after- ■■.;"„': noon," said; mother; "but, you know,, a sprained ankle must have complete rest be--fore it will get better." , » .„, . " Have have you told Belly I can't ' come?" said :, Phil, blinking hard to keel),, back the tears. ' ' ' -*"' v - "Yes, darling and she's so tony. Now, ;' I must go and; see cook about a : .nice dinner for my poor' old invalid. ■' Here > ar« > some books to look at till dinner-time."' And, with a kits on his curly bead, mother went downstairs. '„ *. "' ■ "'. '". T '■:■ Poor 'i Phil "felt-he; could cry with d'saP-; pointment; '-.but tbeii boys of' seven"- don't'" % ; cry—at least, not unless "it's for something very, very bad. : It. seemed quite, bad. enough, To , Phil,..", though, -to go and sprain your ankle justthe very day. before you're going to a party..? Betty would be dreadfully disappointed., too, because she and Phil "were, oh, the : , greatest of friends! .'■-.'■' <;":'".""*' '■'■' ■.'.".- '"-.' - 5 How they had chatted excitedly all the* way home yesterday as to the "they l, were going .to ' v play—Blind-man's-buff, Dumb Crambo, Hunt the Slipper, and as y many others as there was time for! 'l/J^-;: And then, just as he was : running; down the front" steps to meet father in the evening, Tie. slipped' on the frozen surface andsprained his ankle! ;;' ■ ' ; ■y : " It's just the disappointingest thing that* ever was,": said Phil, with » heavy sigh. W ' "I think,'dear," said' nurse, " you'tf '; ter have a sleep now, then you'll feel -nice - y and fresh to be brought downstairs presentlv. ' — About an hour later mother came up , to V carry Phil down to the drawing-room. ; ; ." I s'pose Betty's party '11 just be begin- ;; ning now?" he said wistfully. :. , j » "I expect it willin a minute," said mother, with :;a smile, as she l wrapped :a- ; rug round him. "{ " What ever's that?" exclaimed Phil, as. sounds- of merriment reached them from be- ;, low. "' ' : ' Ml -I"You'll soon see," said mother, still smiling, as she opened the door. ; But Phil ■ thought he must be dreaming,: for the room was a blaze of light, all the furniture had been cleared to one side, and there was Betty in her partv frock, with a 5: lot of;; other little bovs and girls in their party things, playing Kiss-in-the-Ring in the middle of the room. * y "■*' ; ;"'-■• "What does it mean?" gasped the be- : wildered boy, as mother laid him on the ■ , sofa.: .-:-' -:-.u. :;-:•--•■ .■ '",*'..• ; "It means that' as you couldn't come to ;- the party, the party* has come to you," cried Betty gaily, ai she ran up and hugged Phil affectionately. . "'■" "Then— then this ;s the party?" said Phil. ' ':-;■'■ V . "' . ""'■,-:y' J ,'vy y;•'Yes," cried Betty, dancing excitedly round him ;■'•'•" and we've brought all th*.. cakes and crackers with us, and presently ; the table is-going to be drawn close up to - your sofa, so that we run all have tea to* v get her. Won't that be fun?" - N =: " Oh," cried Phil happily, "I think its' the loveliest-party that ever was!"

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