Eddie’s Birthday; or Tom’s Unselfishness.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue XVIII, 3 November 1900, Page 854

Eddie’s Birthday; or Tom’s Unselfishness.

It was in London, a very large house with a dull outlook on to the dusty town. There were two boys sitting in the large old schoolroom reading. After a little time the younger of the two looked up from his book.

“Well, have you fixed that up, Tom?”

“I wish you wouldn’t talk to a fellow when he’s reading ;but, at any rate, what do you mean?” “1 mean, did you send that story to the editor, you said you were going to this morning?” said Eddie. Tom did not answer.

you send it?” repeated Eddie. "Well, if you want to know really. Oh, well, I’ll tell you what 1 did, Eddie. 1 woke up pretty early this morning,” continued Tom, “and 1 thought I would like to win that three pound prize. So I just jumped up and dressed as quick as I could, finished the story, and ran down to the post as quick as possible. (But, 1 say, don t you go and tell mother and father, will you?) 1 very much wanted to eatch the early post, so I just stuck the stamp on and put it in the box, so there’s an end of that, my dear fellow.”

"Oh, I hope you will win it; I do hope you will win it,” cried Eddie, excitedly.

But while Eddie is praising we will see how Tom came to write his story. Lhe fact was Tom was looking over the “Graphic,” and saw that the editor of the Children’s Page was offering a prize for the best story written within that month. Tom very badly wanted a set of Dickens’ and Thackeray’s works, so thought he might try for the prize. His parents were very comfortably off, his father being a doctor. (Their name was Lanberry.) They allowed Tom a shilling a week, a s he was twelve years old, and Eddie sixpence, as he was almost ten. Tom had been saving up to buy those precious books; he had saved by now ten and sixpence, but he suddenly got disheartened, as it seemed to him that he would never get enough, so he decided to give it up, when suddenly reading the “Graphic” he saw the wonderful piece of news concerning the prize.

“Tom!” called his mother, “it is 100 wet for you to go out this afternoon, so come both of you, I have a lit fie news to talk over.” “Oh, what is it? What is it?” cried both boys.” “Come into father’s study, where we can be quiet,” said Mrs Lanberry. Both boys followed her, asking questions all the time.

“Now, children,” said their mother, you know it is Eddie’s birthday in a fortnight, and father and I have been thinking if we shall give you a little dance.”

“Oh, how lovely! Do, mother, dar ling, do!” they cried. “Wait until I have finished speaking.

boys, then tell me what you think of it. So,” continued Mrs Lan berry, ”1 thought if we were to send the invitations out this week we could have the dance on Eddie’s birthday. Now tell me what you think of it.” ‘‘l think,” said Tom “Eddie first, Tom, as it’s to be his dance.”

"This is my opinion, then,” said Eddie. “Have the dance the time you mentioned, and we can ask Mr Abbe (their tutor) if he knows any nice 1 oys, as we don’t know very many ourselves.”

“A very good idea,” interrupted their mother.

“Then,” continued Eddie, "we could have a good tuck in about ten o’clock and keep the thing going till twelve." “Splendid! Splendid!” cried both Mrs Lanberry and his brother. “You go on now,” said Eddie.

Tom did not answer for a little. He was thinking if he won the prize he could give Eddie the set of Dickens and Thackeray (for he knew Eddie was wanting them ns much as himself, and he also knew that his brother would lend him the books if he wanted them.) “I think what Eddie said would be very nice indeed.” said Tom aloud. “Well, that is settled,” said their mother, smiling.

“We can both write the invitations, can’t we, mother?” said Eddie “When can we start?” “I think you could to-morrow, as it is Saturday, and you will be having no lessons.”

The next day turned out to be a lovely bright one, so with Mrs Lanberry’s permission the boys had dinner on the lawn. 2\fter dinner they went into their mother’s boudoir to w rite the invitations.

“What shall we put?" said Tom. “Oh,” said their mother, “put ‘Masters Tom and Eddie Lanberry request the pleasure of so-and-so's company oa July 24th. Then at the end, in a corner of the paper, put ‘Dancing.’ ” The next Monday saw little pink and blue envelopes flying all over the town. The children could hardly wait for the time to come. At lessons poor Mr Abbe must have had a lot of patience to endure what he did with the boys. He was constantly finding them passing notes to one another, and when he made them give them up, he would always read something connected with the “Dance.” It seemed to the boys that that Wednesday would never come. But at last it came round. Mrs Lanberry gave the boys a holiday, for she knew they would not do any lessons. I forgot to mention that Monday morning was the day for Tom to go and see if he had won the prize for the story. Directly after breakfast he tore down to the office to see if he had won it. and sure enough, when he got there, on a table was an envelope addressed to him, and. as you will see. it was the precious money. After he had carried it safely home he told his mother all about it. and she was delighted. That afternoon Tom and his mother went to town to buy Eddie his presents. And what should he buy with the money he had won? Dickens’ and Thackeray’s works.

Returning to Wednesday: Directly Eddie awoke Tom carried the precious books over to his bed. wishing him “Very many returns of the day.” Eddie was delighted. He got a great many presents, but it would take me too long to tell you about them. The dance went off splendidly, and all the children admired the presents very much. They did not stop dancing and playing till nearly twelve o’clock. But what they admired most of all was Tom’s books, got through his unselfishness.