The grocery boy, staggering under the weight of an ice-cream freezer and carrying something wrapped in white paper, came up the path.

“It’s fer you,” he said, grinning broadly.  John was cross-eyed, so Miss Hazy thought he looked at Mrs. Wiggs, and Mrs. Wiggs thought he looked at Miss Hazy.

However, the card on the freezer dispelled all doubt:  “Fer mrs Wiggs on her 50 Birthday compelments of The Naybors.”

Under the white paper was a large, white iced cake, with a “W” in cinnamon drops on top.

“How’d they ever know it was my birthday?” exclaimed Mrs. Wiggs, in delight.  “Why, I’d even forgot it myself!  We’ll have the cake fer the party to-night.  Somehow, I never feel like good things b’long to me till I pass ’em on to somebody else.”

This necessitated a supply of saucers and spoons, and friends were again called upon to provide as many as possible.

The Wiggses were quite busy until seven o’clock, when they stopped to make their toilets.

“Where’s Europena?” asked Asia.

Nobody had seen her for some time.  Search was made, and she was discovered standing on a chair in a corner of the parlor, calmly eating the cinnamon drops off the birthday cake.  Fingers and mouth were crimson, and the first stroke of the “W” was missing.  Billy was so indignant that he insisted on immediate punishment.

“No, I ain’t a-goin’ to whip her on my birthday, Billy.  She’s sorry; she says she is.  Besides, the cake ain’t spoiled; it’s jes’ a ‘N’ now, ’stid of a ‘W,’ an’ N stands fer Nancy jes’ as good as W stands fer Wiggs!”

The first guest to arrive was Mr. Krasmier; he had paid ten cents toward the refreshments, and proposed to get his money’s worth.  Mrs. Eichorn came early, too, but for a different reason; she was very stout, and her happiness for the evening depended largely upon the size of the chair she secured.

Half the spectators had arrived before the hostess appeared.  Her delay was caused by the loss of her false curls, which she had not worn since the memorable night at the Opera House.  They were very black and very frizzled, and had been bought at a reduced price from a traveling salesman some ten years before.  Mrs. Wiggs considered them absolutely necessary to her toilet on state occasions.  Hence consternation prevailed when they could not be found.  Drawers were upset and boxes emptied, but with no success.

When hope was about abandoned, Asia suddenly darted out to the shed where the children kept their play-things.  When she returned she triumphantly displayed a battered doll, armless and footless, but with a magnificent crowning glory of black, frizzed hair.

Mrs. Wiggs waited until all the guests assembled before she made her speech of thanks for the cake and cream.  It was a very fine speech, having been written out beforehand by Mr. Bagby.  It began, “Ladies and gents, it gives me pleasure—­” but before Mrs. Wiggs got half through she forgot it, and had to tell them in her own way how grateful she was.  In conclusion she said:  “Couldn’t nobody be more obliged than what I am!  Looks like nice things is always comin’ my way.  Hope God’ll bless you all!  The musicianers have come, so we ’ll begin the party with a Virginer reel.”