PAPAS BIRTHDAY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 49, 5 December 1891, Page 667

PAPAS BIRTHDAY.

‘ O Maysie !’ said Seth, in a horrified tone. ‘ It’s papa's birthday to-morrow !’ ‘ To-morrow !’ echoed Maysie, the corners of her sweet mouth suddenly drooping. ‘ O Sethie ! and this is the first time, too.’ Seth didn’t laugh, although Maysie’s statement sounded funny. He understood it too well. It teas papa’s first birthday in their new home. And it was, also, the first time that they had ever been too poor to give him a present. For papa had lost all his money the winter before, and they had had to sell their fine house and pretty things to get enough money to go to Montana and begin again. Everything was strange to Seth and Maysie, but they rather liked it. Papa’s birthday was the first real stumblingblock to their happiness. They stood looking at each other in woeful silence. Seth was nine years old, and he didn’t want to cry before Maysie, because she was only six and a girl besides. But the tears were slowly coming, when suddenly Maysie Hew at him, her eyes sparkling and her mouth all dimples again. ‘ Come on, Sethie ! I know something !’ she cried, excitedly, and danced out into the yard. There, on her tiptoes, where nobody could possibly hear, she whispered and whispered in his ear, until Seth threw his hat into the air with a shout. • It’s a go, Maysie ! You’re a brick !’ The next morning a cautious little voice at Seth’s door said, • Are you ready, Sethie? It’s nearly daylight.’ ‘ Yes. Come on down these stairs, Maysie, anil don’t let ’em creak a mite. Sh h!’ • Let me slip the bolt, Sethie, ’cause my fingers are little. Th-e-r-e ! Now, you take the basket, and let’s run, for it’s late.’ In reality, the dawn was just breaking ; but Seth gave Maysie his hand and away they scampered down the street until they had passed all the houses. Then they crossed a gully and began to climb the high mountain, back of the little town. ‘ S’pose you don’t know where they aie, Maysie ?’ ‘ Oh, I do. They’re right around that big rock.’ A few steps more, and there was an ‘ Oh h !’ of delight from both childien. Then silence for a long time ; when they came from behind the big rock again, and started down the mountain, they carried the little basket in a very different way. They walked quickly up the silent streets, and stole back into the house again as quiet as mice. Then began a muffled rattling of pots and pans and crockery amidst much tiptoeing and whispering. Then once more all was quiet in the kitchen, but a most mysterious writing was going on in the dining-room. Seth struggled with the pen, while Maysie hung over him, breathless. When it was done she just hugged Seth in a whirl of joy, and then danced around the table, saying, ‘ Isn’t it jolly ! Isn’t it jolly 1’ In the midst of her capering there were steps on the stairs. Then what a scattering ! Seth Hew to hold the door, shouting, ‘You can’t come down yet, mamma and papa ! Bring the handkerchiefs, Maysie, quick !’ Maysie Hew and returned with two large folded handkerchiefs. Seth opened the door a little way, and they both slipped through and stood before their astonished parents. ‘ Papa, I’m going to tie up your eyes, and Sethie’s going to tie mamma’s, and then you can go down,’ Maysie announced, in a business like way. ‘ Now, come on, and we’ll lead you.’ ‘ What is going to be done to us?’ asked mamma, groping around with her hands. ‘ Sethie, don’t let her see a teenty-weenty !’ cried Maysie, anxiously. • Here's the table,’ said Seth. ‘ Now, sit down, please, and wait a minute.’ The children scampered to the other side of the table and took their places. ‘ Now you can take off your blindfolds !’ they cried. And what a surprise ! A snowy breakfast-table all ready, with a dainty dish of spring Howers by mamma’s plate, and a luscious basket of red-ripe wild strawberries, crisp with the mountain dew, by papa’s. There was also a pitcher of creain, cold, sliced tongue, and coffee of Seth’s particular .nake. A little white note lay on papa’s plate, which he opened and read : Dere Papa.—We went upp on the mountine thise morning and piked these strawberies and ttoures fore you becaus we couldent bear not too give you enything fore your burthday. Wo havent enytbing else, dere papa, but we lov you veri much and so dus mama. Your too title children, Maysie and Seth. Papa’s eyes tilled with tears, and dropping the note he went to his little ones, and putting an arm around each, kissed their brown heads. Then, looking at their mamma, he said tenderly, *My blesseds ! This is the happiest anil best birthday papa ever had.’ And Seth and Maysie were too full of joy to s|>eak.