Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 May 1901 — SKETCHES FOR MEMORIAL DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SKETCHES FOR MEMORIAL DAY

A Memorial Surprise Party. Alma Maynard sat at the window, looking thoughtfully out at the newly budded trees. Poor Alma had been confined to the house all the spring with the scarlet fever which had left her so weak that at first she could hardly lift her head, but now that she wae up and her young friends were allowed to visit her, she had been wish- . ing they would come in a party seme evening. She did not know that at school that very day her playmates were planning to surprise her on the afternoon of Decoration day, which was the next Wednesday. The day dawned bright and warm and about 1 o’clock that afternoon Mrs. Nelson said: “Alma, you had better go and lie down awhile.” So Alma lay down and was soon fast asleep. At a signal from Mrs. Nelson the children trooped noiselessly from a neighbor’s, where they had gathered, and soon the room adjoining Alma’s was tilled with gay lads and lassies, all bearing sweet spring flowers which they arranged around the room and then sat down to wait for Alma to awake. At last she opened her eyes, then closed them again, thinking that the flower-filled rodm with its gay occupants was only a dream. Then Viva Leland, Alma’s most intimate friend, came and took her hand and led her into the room, <where the shout of‘"surprise! surprise! surprise!” met her on all sides. Half dazed, she looked from one to another, then broke into a gay laugh in which they all joinhd. The afternoon passed quickly and pleasantly, and at 6 o’clock they werelcalied to the dining room for supper. And such a supper! They were seated in couples around the table, Alma and Ray Thornton, her favorite chum, presiding at the head. After supper Alma’s father told them stories; and later they returned to their homes, leaving the flowers for their convalescent playmate, and with them many wishes for a speedy return to health. ’