CHAPTER VI
LITTLE SUSY'S SIX BIRTHDAYS.
CHAPTER VI.
THE SIXTH BIRTHDAY.
Susy awoke very early on the morning of her sixth birthday.
It was dark and cold and still.
She wanted very much to jump up and run to her mamma for her six birthday kisses, but she knew it would not do to get up before the fire was made.
Nurse was just opening the shutters, and Robbie began to rub his eyes and look up to see what was going on.
"Robbie! it's my birthday," said Susy.
"Yes, I know it," said Robbie.
"T mean to get into your bed," said Susy.
"Well!" said Robbie.
So Susie got into Robbie's bed, and they began to frolic together.
Susy threw the pillows at Robbie and Robbie threw them at her, till nurse said they must not do so, and then they
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ae oy] stopped and tried to think what they could do next.
"ll read to you out of a Rollo book," said Susy.
"Oh, well!" said Robbie.
But just then Robbie's nurse was ready to give him his bath.
"Well, I can read to myself, then," said Susy ; so she went on reading as fast as her tongue could fly.
She could read very well now.
By and by it came her turn to be bathed and dressed ; and while nurse curled her hair, she sat in a high chair and read aloud to Robbie, who thought her just about the dearest little sister in the world.
After breakfast and prayers, Susy went away into her mamma's little room and knelt down and asked God to forgive her for every naughty thing she had ever done in her life, and to help her to be very good all that day. When she came back to the nursery she went to the window and stood there looking out.
T[er mamma thought something seemed to trouble her, and went behind her and said:
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"What is my little Susy thinking about "
"T don't know, mamma."
But after a moment she said: "Will God mind it if I do not know how to pray so well as big people ?"
Her mamma said: "Once a little girl did or said something naughty, and her papa punished her for it by saying he should not kiss her for two hours.
She sat down, feeling very sad and sorrowful, and wishing her papa would forgive her; and at last she thought she would write him a little note, tell him how sorry she was, and ask him to forgive her.
She did not know how to write very well, and her little note was full of blots and mistakes.
But she ventured to carry it up to his study and put it into his hands.
Now when her papa opened the little note and saw all those blots and mistakes, du you suppose he said, ' Oh, I can't forgive a child who writes so badly as that!
No, he said, 'Papa forgives his little darling gladly; he loves to forgive her!
And he took her in his arms and kissed her again and again.
"Now, when little children pray to God, I suppose their prayers do have some mistakes
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and blots on them.
They are poor little prayers, but they are all heard by 'gentle Jesus, meek and mild; the same Jesus who once took children in his arms and blessed them; and he loves every little sorry heart, and will give it all it asks for."
Susy was comforted, and her mamma kissed her many times, and then told her to go out with Robbie to roll hoop.
Susy had a fine time driving her hoop. Hers was made of wood, but Robbie's was iron.
While they were running up and down the sidewalk together, their papa came out and watched them a few moments, and when they came up to him he said, " Well, my darlings, have 'you had a nice play ?"
"Oh, yes, papa!" they said.
"Well, how should you like to go and spend the day with grandmamma ?"
"Qh, I should like it dearly!" said Susy.
"Shall I go, too?" asked Robbie.
"Yes, you, too,' said his papa.
"Is mamma willing?
Is she going too?" asked Susy.
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"No, mamma can't go very well, but she wants you and Robbie to go."
"T don't want to be away from mamma on my birthday," said Susy.
She ran into the house and found a woman she never had seen sitting there.
" Who is that woman ?" she whispered.
"She is going to spend afew weeks with us," replied her mamma.
Susy did not like that at all; but she only said :
"And can't you go with us to grand mamma's 2"
"No, darling, not to-day.
J am very sorry to disappoint you, dear Susy, on your birthday, but it cannot be helped.
I think grandma will send for Frank and Charlie."
"T'm afraid they'll have to go to school."
"Oh, this is Saturday," said her mamma.
Then Susy began to think it would be very pleasant to go, even if she had to leave her dear mamma behind; so she went to the nurs. ery, where she found Robbie all nicely dressed, and her own things all ready and waiting for her.
LITTLE SUSY'S SIX BIRTHDAYS.
5% "We're going in the cars!" said Robbie.
"T mean to carry my doll," said Susy.
"And I shall take my blocks," said Robbie.
His nurse laughed at him, and said he would need one man to carry his blocks then, for there was a cartload of them.
"Then he'll need a horse," said Susy.
"Are you going with us, Nursey dear," said Robbie.
"Oh, yes, indeed; your papa and mamma have no idea of sending you two little monkeys off by yourselves."
By this time Susy was all dressed, and she and Robbie ran in to kiss their mamma.
She kissed them many times, and then their papa said he would see them all safely in the cars.
They were very happy indeed, and the cars did not go faster than their little tongues did. They reached their grandmamma's house at eleven o'clock.
She was sitting by the fire, knitting, and when she saw them coming in she was delighted.
"It's my birthday, grandma!" said Susy.
"T'm six years old !"
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" And I'm four," said Robbie.
"I'm almost Six."
Grandmamma helped take off their coats and tippets and mittens, and she said:
"Tl tell you what I'll do, I'll send right over for Frank and Charlie, and you shall all have a fine play together."
"Oh, yes, grandma, do! do!" cried Susy ; "for since Aunt Maria moved away from New
York we don't see Frank or Charlie at all. And Frank loves me."
In a few minutes Frank came running in, with his cheeks as red as roses; and he kissed
Susy and Robbie, and seemed delighted to see them.
" But where's Charlie?" said grandmamma.
"Oh, he's coming pretty soon, grandma; he had to stop to have another sack on, and a clean ruffle ; that's all."
"Well, now, I suppose you are all hungry, and grandma doesn't know what to give you for luncheon, uniess it's a piece of apple pie."
"Apple pie for luncheon? why, grandma!" said Susy.
LITTLE SUSY'S SIX BIRTHDAYS.
But grandma had already gone, and in a few minutes in came hot apple pies and a great plate of cheese.
Robbie's nurse said, if grandma pleased, she should rather he had a cracker for his ]unch.
"Oh, I do want some pie!" said Robbie.
"Well, when they come to see grandma they must have something better than cracker," said grandmamma, and she began to cut the pie, while the children stood waiting about, thinking it was a very fine thing to come to see her.
"T must help Susy first," said she, "because it is her birthday."
" And Robbie next, because he's such a stranger," said Frank.
When they were all helped the cheese was offered them.
"No, I thank you, grandma," said Susy, mamma does not allow me to eat cheese."
"She doesn't allow me to eat cheese, either," said Robbie.
He shouted this out in such a loud voice that all the children laughed.
Robbie blushed, and cast down his eyes and wanted to cry, but he
LITTLE SUSY'S SIX BIRTHDAYS.
was afraid grandma would not let him come there again if he cried; so he began to crowd great pieces of pie into his mouth, and pretty soon he forgot his troubles.
"Why didn't your mother come?' asked Frank.
" She couldn't very well," said Susy.
" You've learned to read, Susy, have you not ?" asked grandmamma.
"Oh, yes, grandma; and mamma was going to give me a book for my birthday present, but she forgot all about it, we came away in such a hurry."
"Well, I want you to come and read me one chapter in this Bible, and then I will give it to you for your own."
Susy flew into her dear, kind grandmamma's arms and hugged and kissed her.
She said, "Thad rather have a Bible than anything else in the world.
What chapter shall Tread? May I read anywhere I choose?"
Grandma said she might; so Susy sat down and began to turn over the leaves.
She wanted to find "The Lord is my shepherd."
LITTLE SUSY'S SIX BIRTHDAYS.
6] One day she found it in the big Bible at home, and "liked it dearly," she said.
"TI guess it isn't in this Bible, grandma," said she.
"Let me see, what is it you want to find, dear ?"
"<¢The Lord is my shepherd,'" said Susy.
"Oh, that is the Twenty-third Psalm," said grandma; "Tl find it."
So grandma quickly turned to the place, and Susy read the Psalm very well indeed, and grandma kissed her and said she hoped the Lord would indeed be her shepherd ; and then she gave her the Bible; and Susy was very happy, and in her heart she hoped so too.
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.
"T suppose Charlie can't come and speak to his old grandma!" said she.
Charlie went up to her and kissed and hugged her.
"T forgot it," said he.
"Tve got a new sack
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on, my mother made it.
She makes everything 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 dinnerbell ring.
"Why, grandma!" said Susy, "is it three o'clock ?"
"No, it is only two," said grandma, "TI had dinner early so as to give you time to get home before dark."
So they all went to dinner, and Susy sat next to Frank, and Robbie next to grandma; and when they were still and had folded their hands, Frank asked a blessing.
He always did
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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 some chicken."
"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,
LITTLE SUSVY'S SIX BIRTHDAYS.
take it altogether, I doubt if 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 soapsuds, 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.
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.
"T like grandma," said Robbie.
"She gave me a Bible!" said Susy.
LITTLE SUSY'S SIX BIRTHDAYS.
"Tam 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.
"Seam I!" said Susy. "But I want to get home and show my Bible to papa and mamma."
In a little while they reached New York.
It was beginning to grow dark.
LITTLE SUSY'S SIX BIRTHDAYS.
"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.
"Tm 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 ina 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 ?"
LITTLE SUSY'S SIX BIRTHDAYS.
6% "No, indeed!" said her papa.
"Do you think you ever shall be, papa":
"T 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.
They went straight to mamma's room, which was not very light, and at first the children could see 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?" gaid 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
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word; 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 itisa boy!
What is its name!
When did it come? Was it while we were gone ?"
"Yes, it ig 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 itis a boy?
What is his name 2"
"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 anybody better than papa, do you?
Shouldn't you like to call him for papa?"
The mother smiled.
"No, I don't think I love anybody better than papa!" said she.
"Ts he my little brother?" asked Robbie.
" Yes, indeed," said his nurse.
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"Then Ill 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 2"
"Oh, V'll sing to him!" said papa.
"Oh, well! you'll find the song I had just got ready for them in my portfolio."
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.
LITTLE SUSY'S SIX BIRTHDAYS.
Their papa then kissed them, and nurse hastened to undress and put them to bed "Tt'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."
"T 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 Tam!"
"Tve 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 2"
"Well, hasn't Robbie his own self for a brother?" said nurse.
So they all began to
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val 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-by.
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!
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