The Birthday Party | Page 2

must

be careful not to forget any. Here comes Frank; he will help you."
Frank was told about the party, and he was quite as much pleased with
the idea as his sister had been; and both of them began to repeat the
names of all the boys and girls they could remember.
For half an hour they were employed in this manner, and then the list
was read over to them, so as to be sure that no names had been omitted.
Flora and Frank now went through all the streets of Riverdale, in
imagination, thinking who lived in each house; and when they had
completed their journey in fancy, they felt sure they had omitted none.
"But we must invite cousins Sarah and Henry," said Flora. "O, I hope
they will come! Henry is so funny; we can't do without them."
"Perhaps they will come; at any rate we will send them invitations,"
replied Mrs. Lee.
The next day, when the children had gone to school, Mrs. Lee went to
the office of the Riverdale Gazette, which was the village newspaper,
and had the invitations printed on nice gilt-edged paper.
By the following day Mrs. Lee had written in the names of the children
invited, enclosed the notes in envelopes, and directed them. I will give
you a copy of one of them, that you may know how to write them when
you have a birthday party, though I dare say it would do just as well if
you go to your friends and ask them to attend. If you change the names
and dates, this note will answer for any party.
Miss Flora Lee presents her compliments to Miss Nellie Green, and
requests the pleasure of her company on Wednesday afternoon, July
20.
Riverdale, July 15.
"Those are very fine indeed," said Flora: "shall I put on my bonnet, and
carry out some of them to-day?"

"No, my child; it is not quite the thing for you to carry your own
invitations. I will tell you what you may do. You may hire David White
to deliver them for you. You must pay him for it; give him half a dollar,
which will be a good thing for him."
This plan was adopted, and Frank was sent with the notes and the
money over to the poor widow's cottage.
"Don't you think it is very wicked, mother, for rich folks to have parties,
when the money they cost will do so much good to the poor?" asked
Flora.
"I do not think so, my dear child."
"Well, I think so, mother," added Flora, warmly.
"Perhaps you do not fully understand it."
"I think I do."
"Why should it be wicked for you to enjoy yourself?"
"I don't think it is wicked to enjoy myself, but only to spend money for
such things. You said you were going to have the Riverdale Band, and
that the music would cost more than twenty dollars."
"I did, and the supper will cost at least twenty more; for I have spoken
to the confectioner to supply us with ice cream, cake, jellies, and other
luxuries. We shall have a supply of strawberries and cream, and all the
nice things of the season. We must also erect a tent in the garden, in
which we shall have the supper; but after tea I will tell you all about it."
[Illustration]

[Illustration: Flora and her Father.]
II.

Flora could not help thinking how much good the forty dollars, which
her father would have to pay for the birthday party, would do if given
to the poor.
It seemed to her just like spending the money for a few hours' pleasure;
and even if they had a fine time, which she was quite sure they would
have, it would be soon over, and not do any real good.
Forty dollars was a great deal of money. It would pay Mrs. White's rent
for a whole year; it would clothe her family, and feed them nearly all
the next winter. It appeared to her like a shameful waste; and these
thoughts promised to take away a great deal from the pleasure of the
occasion.
"I think, mother, I had just as lief not have the band, and only have a
supper of bread and butter and seed cakes."
"Why, Flora, what has got into you?" said her father.
Mrs. Lee laughed at the troubled looks of Flora, and explained to her
father the nature of her scruples in regard to the party.
"Where did the child get this foolish idea?" asked her father, who
thought her notions were too old and too severe for a little girl.
"Didn't I see last winter how much good only a little money would do?"
replied Flora.
"Don't you think it