Today (November 20th, 1885) is Harry's birthday; his 8th birthday actually, and he is hoping for the day to be a grand one with sunshine and wonderful presents.

Pg 9, paragraph 2 excerpt: Hurrah! my birthday has come at last. I'm so glad. It seemed as if it never would really come. I hope it is going to be a nice fine day; everything seems jollier when the sun is shining. I wonder how many presents I shall get? I suppose father and mother will give me a boat between them. I'm sure that great paper parcel that came yesterday, when I was in the hall, had something like a mast sticking out at the top. And mother told me to run away. So I did. But I peeped over the staircase when she was paying the man, and I'm almost certain I heard her say, 'You think it is not too heavy to float?' Well, a boat IS a jolly thing to have; and won't I swim it on the Dyke Road pond! and won't all the cads wish they were me, just!