Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-01-21
A QUEER GIFT.
UnsigIltly, Inconvenient and Utterly Use
less, But "Tastes Differ.

Unsightly, Inconvenient and Utterly Use
less, But "Tastes Differ.
A careless nail-it must have been
the nail which was careless-had torn
Bert's coat, but Aunt Marion had just
finished the bit of delicate darning that
made the jagged rent invisible. She
was shaking out the garment to hang
it away, when something dropped from
one of the pockets and fell on the car
pet at her feet. She picked it up-a
little brown leafy roll-sniffed its odor
disdainfully, and, resisting her first in
clination to toss it into the CRATE, slow
" laid it on the table beside her.
''Well, that is just what have sus-
pected for some time" she said. ''Poor
Bert! suppose he thinks himself on
the sure road to manliness now"
The words were spoken only to her.
self, however; she said nothing to any
one else about it, though she sat for a
few minutes with very thoughtful
face before she hung the coat away and
took up other work. If Bert missed
anything from his pocket, he made no
inquiries. He was thankful that Aunt
Marion made none, and, as she did not,
he soon forgot the trifing affair in
what he considered more important
matters. Chief among these was his
birthday, which came a few days later,
and it was a very bright face which
greeted the parcels that lay beside his
plate at breakfast
.'But what is this?' he asked, with
puzzled look, as, in among the books,
I'll l,,1e ofh n,.
things that he wanted. he discovered a
neat little box holding only short
steel chain.
s.Thatp Why that is a wrist chain,"
answered Aunt Marion, with great ear
nestness, as if the question were sur
prising one. ''1s iG the right size, l
wonder? hal to guess at that She
came around to his side, and lifting die
chain, slipped a steel ring attached to
it over his little finger; then, drawing
ened them around his wrist. '.Fits ex-
actly, doesn't it?'' she said enthusi-
astically.
Eyes m, but" erthesitated. From
her manner he fancied that it was
something he ought to know all about
and appreciate very highly, but he
is it for, Aunt Marion?"
"Why, to wear Oh your wrist. Don't
you see?'' replied his aunt, giving it
another twist and settling it to her sat
isfaction.
'Some new fashion that I haven't
heard about, 1 suppose" muttered
Bert to himself, looking dolefully at
his new adornment as he carried his
have fancy for every new-fangled no.
ton, so l presume auntie thinks this is
something very nice; but I declare don't
still less as he went about his morning
work. II caught, tangled and obtruded
itself disagreeably. "Not very con-
venient," he ventured to suggest to
Aunt Marion. But that lady only an
swered placidly:
"Oh, | don't think you will mind
that very much when you, get accus.
toned to it, So she really expected
him to wear the troublesome thing and
get used to it! He was bordering the
subject when his friend Ralph came in
to see the new telescope.
''Hello! what are you wearing that
dog-collar for?" he questioned, curl
ouoiy' as DeIe uisPldyeu Ills nanu III at
ranging the glass.
''It's new thing. Didn't you ever see
one before?" asked Bert, coloring a
little
Lots of them-on the necks of
CANNES" declared Ralph, with uncere-
monious frankness; "but don't see
what you want to wear one on your
arm for.'
''Well, the fact is, I DON'T" con-
fessed Bert, ''but don't know exactly
what to do about it. You see, it is one
of my birthday gifts some new-fash-
Toned arrangement that has taken
auntie's fanovT IT. Wy - fooh;on If