CHAPTER XIX.

THE SIXTH BIRTHDAY--CONTINUED.


Scanned by Deidre Johnson for her 19th-Century Girls' Series website; please do not use on other sites without permission

ALL this time the other children were playing about the room: and Susy went to play with them. Charlie had come, and was looking as rosy and happy as Frank, Grandma said.

"I suppose Charlie can't come and speak to his old grandma!" said she.

Charlie went up to her and kissed her.

"I forgot it," said he. "I've got a new sack on my mother made it. She makes every thing I wear but just my boots."

"And your caps," said Grandma.

"Oh, she makes my caps too!" said Charlie in reply. "Doesn't she, Frank?"

"Oh, what a woman!" said Grandma.

Then they all began to play again, as hard as they could play, at "Puss in the corner," and I don't know what not; and Grandma sat and knit, and looked on, and looked as happy as they.

Every now and then Susy would leave her play, and run to take a peep at her new Bible. Meanwhile time was slipping away, and the children were all astonished to hear the dinner-bell ring.

"Why, Grandma!" said Susy, "is it three o'clock?"

"No, it is only two," said Grandma. "I had dinner early, so as to give you time to get home before dark."

So the all went to dinner, and Susy sat next Frank, and Robbie next to Grandma; and when they were still, and had folded their hands, Frank asked a blessing. He always did, when his papa was not present. Now I shall not tell you whether I approve of this, or not. I am only telling you what really happened.

"Now, children, I don't know how you'll like Grandma's dinner," said she. "If I had known you were coming, I would have had chickens."

"What sort of meat is that?" said Susy, in a whisper to Frank.

"Why, ham," said he.

"What is it made of?" asked she.

"Of pig!" said he.

"Grandma, I like pig!" said Susy.

They all laughed, because grandma laughed; and because they were so happy together.

While they were talking, grandma was helping them all around, and Robbie's nurse had come in to cut up his meat for him. They enjoyed their dinner very much; Grandma looked so happy and so kind; and the sun shone in so brightly , and they had had such a fine frolic. Pretty soon there came in a great dish of sweet baked apples and a pitcher of cream, and then the little folks had as many as they pleased; and, take it altogether, I doubt it there was a happier dinner-party in the world.

"Shall we have time to play any more, Grandma?" asked Susy.

"Oh, yes, you'll have a good large half hour, darling, and I think I must let you all blow bubbles." Grandma kept a number of pipes all the time, for the amusement of the children when they came to visit her. She now gave them each one, and a bowl of soap-suds, and they all began to blow bubbles--oh, what bubbles! Robbie, as it happened, had never seen any bubbles before; and he danced up and down when he found he could blow one, all himself.

ALL this time the other children were playing about the room: and Susy went to play with them. Charlie had come, and was looking as rosy and happy as Frank, Grandma said.

"I suppose Charlie can't come and speak to his old grandma!" said she.

Charlie went up to her and kissed her.

"I forgot it," said he. "I've got a new sack on my mother made it. She makes every thing I wear but just my boots."

"And your caps," said Grandma.

"Oh, she makes my caps too!" said Charlie in reply. "Doesn't she, Frank?"

"Oh, what a woman!" said Grandma.

Then they all began to play again, as hard as they could play, at "Puss in the corner," and I don't know what not; and Grandma sat and knit, and looked on, and looked as happy as they.

Every now and then Susy would leave her play, and run to take a peep at her new Bible. Meanwhile time was slipping away, and the children were all astonished to hear the dinner-bell ring.

"Why, Grandma!" said Susy, "is it three o'clock?"

"No, it is only two," said Grandma. "I had dinner early, so as to give you time to get home before dark."

So the all went to dinner, and Susy sat next Frank, and Robbie next to Grandma; and when they were still, and had folded their hands, Frank asked a blessing. He always did, when his papa was not present. Now I shall not tell you whether I approve of this, or not. I am only telling you what really happened.

"Now, children, I don't know how you'll like Grandma's dinner," said she. "If I had known you were coming, I would have had chickens."

"What sort of meat is that?" said Susy, in a whisper to Frank.

"Why, ham," said he.

"What is it made of?" asked she.

"Of pig!" said he.

"Grandma, I like pig!" said Susy.

They all laughed, because grandma laughed; and because they were so happy together.

While they were talking, grandma was helping them all around, and Robbie's nurse had come in to cut up his meat for him. They enjoyed their dinner very much; Grandma looked so happy and so kind; and the sun shone in so brightly , and they had had such a fine frolic. Pretty soon there came in a great dish of sweet baked apples and a pitcher of cream, and then the little folks had as many as they pleased; and, take it altogether, I doubt it there was a happier dinner-party in the world.

"Shall we have time to play any more, Grandma?" asked Susy.

"Oh, yes, you'll have a good large half hour, darling, and I think I must let you all blow bubbles." Grandma kept a number of pipes all the time, for the amusement of the children when they came to visit her. She now gave them each one, and a bowl of soap-suds, and they all began to blow bubbles--oh, what bubbles! Robbie, as it happened, had never seen any bubbles before; and he danced up and down when he found he could blow one, all himself.




CHAPTER XX.

THE SIXTH BIRTHDAY--CONTINUED.


THE half hour soon slipped away, and then the children were warmly dressed, and their grandmamma kissed them over and over, and charged nurse to be very careful of them.

"And come again soon!" said she.

Susy and Robbie talked about their visit all the way home.

"I like grandma," said Robbie.

"She gave me a Bible!" said Susy.

"I am going to see her again, pretty soon," said Robbie.

"You'll have to ask mamma, first," said Susy.

"When I'm a big man, I mean to give her a shawl," said Robbie.

"Where will you get the money?" asked Susy.

"Oh, I shall have some money. Big men always have money."

"Where do they get it?" asked his nurse.

"Oh, out of their pockets," said Robbie.

His nurse laughed.

"You know a great deal, little man, don't you?" said she.

She drew him closer to her side, and threw her cloak over his feet; and Robbie looked up into her kind face, with one of those bright, pleased smiles, with which he was in the habit of thanking her for loving him.

"Are you cold, dear?" said she.

"Oh no, I'm as warm as toast," said he.

"So am I!" said Susy. "But I want to get home, and show my Bible to papa and mama."

In a little while they reached New-York. It was beginning to grow dark.

"Dear me! I'm sure I'd no idea it would grow dark so fast," said the nurse.

The lamps in Broadway were all lighted as they rode through it, and the children enjoyed seeing the brilliant shop-windows. They were never out so late before in their lives.

"I'm afraid mamma will be in bed, and asleep," said Susy, "and then I can't show her my new Bible."

At this moment they drew near their own house. Their papa came running to the door, smiling, and looking very happy.

"Where is my darling mamma?" asked Susy.

"You shall see her in a moment; let's get these things off first," said papa.

"Why, Papa! are you going to take off my things?" asked Susy, laughing. "But why doesn't mamma come? I want to see mamma!"

Her papa kept hurrying off her coat and hood, and getting strings into hard knots; and Susy could not think what was the matter with him.

"Papa!" said she, very gravely, "were you ever crazy?"

"No, indeed!" said her papa.

"Do you think you ever shall be, Papa?"

"I hope not!" said he, laughing. "I'm only in a hurry now, because I've something to show you."

He caught Susy in his arms, he was so happy, and nurse took Robbie, and away they all went, as fast as they could run.




CHAPTER XXI.

THE SIXTH BIRTHDAY--CONCLUDED.


THEY went straight to mama's room, which was not very light, and at first the children saw nothing distinctly. But Susy soon perceived her mamma lying in bed. She sprang from her father's arms and flew to kiss her, calling her "darling mamma! sweet mamma! precious mamma!" till all at once it struck her that her mother returned her kisses and caresses less heartily than usual.

"Don't you love me, Mamma?" said she.

"Yes, darling, dearly," said her mamma; "but you haven't looked at your birthday present yet!" She opened the bed a little way, and Susy and Robbie, peeping in, saw a dear little baby lying on their mamma's arm, fast asleep. They were so astonished, that at first they did not say a work; but in a few minutes they began to dance all about the bed, clapping their hands, and asking all sorts of questions, and saying all sorts of joyful things, they didn't know what.

"Oh, what a little dear!" said Susy. "I hope it is a boy! What is its name? When did it come? Was it while we were gone?"

"Yes, it is a boy," said their papa, "and a very fine fellow, too. And he 'came' about two hours ago!"

"Oh, Mamma! wasn't God good to send you such a dear little baby?" said Susy. "Are you sure it is a boy? What is his name?"

"You shall give him a name, dear, because he was born on your birthday," said her mamma.

"Then I'll have his name Henry," said Susy. "He shall be named for papa. Mamma, you don't love any body better than papa, do you? Shouldn't you like to call him for papa?"

Her mother smiled. "No, I don't think I love any body better than papa!" said she.

"Is he my little brother?" asked Robbie.

"Yes, indeed," said his nurse.

"Then I'll give him all my playthings!"

He was hurrying off to get them, but his papa called him back.

"Never mind to-night," said he; "baby is tired, and wants to go to sleep now."

"Yes," said Susy, "he's come a long journey to-day."

"Where from?" asked Robbie.

"Why, all the way from heaven," said she.

"Oh!" said Robbie.

But now, that strange woman whom Susy had seen in the morning said she thought the children had better go to bed. So they kissed their dear mamma, and she said to Susy, "I don't feel very well to-night dear; and could not you sing to Robbie before he goes to bed?"

"Oh, I'll sing to him!" said papa.

"Oh, well! you'll find the song I had just got ready for them, in my port-folio."

They all went to the nursery together, and papa sung the song mamma intended to sing. They liked it very much. I will put it in at the end of this chapter, and you can get your mother to sing it to you.

Their papa then kissed them, and nurse hastened to undress and put them to bed.

"It's a nice thing to have such a dear little brother, isn't it?" said she. "You'll take a great deal of comfort with him."

"I mean to tell God I thank him very much for sending me such a present on my birthday," said Susy.

"Robbie shall, too!" said the nurse.

So they knelt down to say their evening prayer, and Robbie was delighted to be able to pray for the first time for a "brother." And Susy said, when she rose from her knees,

"Now I've got two brothers! Oh, how glad I am!"

"I've only got one brother," said Robbie, suddenly growing sorrowful.

"Oh, but you've a darling little sister, and Susy has none!" said his nurse.

This comforted Robbie: but in a moment after, he said,

"Hasn't Susy got her own self for a sister?"

"Well, hasn't Robbie his own self for a brother?" said nurse. So they all began to laugh; and Susy kissed Robbie, and Robbie kissed nurse, and they all were as happy as they could be, till they fell asleep.

I must now give you the German hymn Susy's papa sang to her and to Robbie, and then I must bid my dear little readers good-bye.
Knowest thou how many stars
     There are shining in the sky?
Knowest thou how many clouds
     Every day go floating by?
God, the Lord, has counted all;
He would miss one, should it fall.

Knowest thou how many flies
     Play about in the warm sun?
Or of fishes in the water?
     God has counted every one.
Every one he called by name
When into the world it came.

Knowest thou how many children
     Go to little beds at night?
That without a care or trouble
     Wake up with the morning light?
God in heaven each name can tell;
Knows thee too, and loves thee well!

[THE END]


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