Oliver Optic

“ That little hand will never move,
Nor come that fleeting breath.
All robed in white, and decked with flowers,
We’ll lay her in the tomb;
The flower that bloomed so sweetly here,
No more on earth will bloom ”

“ As he approached the children, [Pg 73] they began to laugh with all their might; and he certainly was a very funny old man. His long beard and hair, his tattered finery, and his hobbling walk, would have made almost any one laugh—much more a company of children as full of fun as those who were attending the birthday party.
“Children,” said the old [Pg 74] man, as he took off his hat and made a low bow, “I heard there was a party here, and I came to play the fiddle for you. All the boys and girls like a fiddle, because it is so merry.”
“O mother! what did send that old man here?” cried Flora. ”

“ Flora, looking as bright as sunshine again; “but all the money spent on my party will be wasted—won’t it?”
“Not a cent of it; my child. If I were a miser, and kept my money in an iron safe, and lived like a poor man, I should waste it then.”
“But twenty dollars for the Riverdale Band is a great deal to give for a few hours’ service. [Pg 34] It don’t do any good, I think.”
“Yes, it does; music improves our minds and hearts. It makes us happy. I have engaged six men to play. They are musicians only at such times as they can get a job. They are shoemakers, also, and poor men ”

“ When the old man had got half way round the lawn, Charley started, sure he could catch him long before he reached the goal. But just as the boy was coming up with the man, the latter began to run, and poor Charley found, much to his surprise, that he ran very fast. He was unable to overtake [Pg 89] him, and consequently lost the race.
The children were much astonished when they saw the old man run so fast. He appeared to have grown young all at once. But he offered to race with any of the boys again; and half a dozen of them agreed to run with him. ”

“ 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 [Pg 13] 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?” ”

“ The blade was six inches long.”
“O, dear me!” exclaimed Flora.
“Raising the knife, he at once moved towards the angry [Pg 86] apple merchant, and—and——”
“Well, what?” asked several, eagerly.
“And cut a piece out of the apple, and put it in his mouth.”
The children all laughed heartily, for they were sure the man with the whiskers was going to stab the apple merchant.
“He then took two cents [Pg 87] from his pocket, paid for the apple, and went his way,” continued the old man. “Now, there is one thing more I can do. I want to run a race with these boys.”
“Pooh! You run a race!” sneered Charley. ”