Excerpt
I.
Flora Lee’s birthday came in July. Her mother wished very much to celebrate the occasion in a proper manner. Flora was a good girl, and her parents were always glad to do any thing they could to please her, and to increase her happiness.
They were very indulgent parents, and as they had plenty of money, they could afford to pay well for a “good time.” Yet they were not weak and silly in their indulgence. As much as they loved their little daughter, they did not give her pies and cakes to eat when they thought such articles would hurt her.
They did not let her lie in bed till noon because they loved her, or permit her to do any thing that would injure her, either in body or mind. Flora always went to church, and to the Sunday school, and never cried to stay at home. If she had cried, it would have made no difference, for her father and mother meant to have her do right, whether she liked it or not.
But Flora gave them very little trouble about such matters. Her parents knew best what was good for her, and she was willing in all things to obey them. It was for this reason that they were so anxious to please her, even at the expense of a great deal of time and money.
The birthday of Flora came on Wednesday, and school did not keep in the afternoon. All the children, therefore, could attend the party which they intended to give in honor of the day.
About a week before the time, Mrs. Lee told Flora she might have the party, and wanted her to make out a list of all the children whom she wished to invite.
“I want to ask all the children in Riverdale,” said Flora, promptly.
“Not all, I think,” replied Mrs. Lee.
“Yes, mother, all of them.”
“But you know there are a great many bad boys in town. Do you wish to invite them?”
“Perhaps, if we treat them well, they will be made better by it.”
“Would you like to have Joe Birch come to the party?”
“I don’t know, mother,” said Flora, musing.
“I think you had better invite only those who will enjoy the party, and who will not be likely to spoil the pleasure of others. We will not invite such boys as Joe Birch.”
“Just as you think best, dear mother,” replied Flora. “Shall I ask such boys as Tommy Woggs?”
“Tommy isn’t a bad boy,” said Mrs. Lee, with a smile.
“I don’t know that he is; but he is a very queer fellow. You said I had better not ask those who would be likely to spoil the pleasure of others.”
“Do you think, my child, Tommy Woggs will do so?”
“I am afraid he would; he is such a queer boy.”
“But Tommy is a great traveller, you know,” added Mrs. Lee, laughing.
“The boys and girls don’t like him, he pretends to be such a big man. He knows more than all the rest of the world put together—at least, he thinks he does.”
“I think you had better ask him, for he will probably feel slighted if you don’t.”
“Very well, mother.”
“Now, Flora, I will take a pencil and paper and write down the names of all the boys and girls with whom you are acquainted; and you must be careful not to forget any....