The Grenada gazette., 1886-01-30
BERT'S QUEER GIFT.

A careless nail-it must have bee
the nail which was careless-had tor
Bert's coat, but Aunt Marion had jus
finished the bit of delicate darning tina
made the jagged rent invisible. Sh
was shaking out the garment to han,
it away, when something dropped from
one of the pockets and fell on the car
pet at her feet. She picked it up,
little brown leafy roll-sniffed its odo
disdainfully, and, resisting her first in
clination to toss it into the CRATE, slow
Iy laid it on the table beside her.
"Well, that is just what have sus
pected for some timc." she said. "Pool
Bert! Isuppose I he thinks himself OF
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 tritling affair in
what he considered more important
matters. Chief among these was his
birthday, which came 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, witch q
puzzled look, as, in among the books,
telescopes and half dozen other
things that he wanted. he discovered
neat little box holding only .. a short
steel chain.
THAT? Why that is a wrist chain,"
answered Aunt Marion, with great ear
nestness, as if the question were sur
prising one. ''Is it the right size, l
wonderP Ihad to guess at that" She
came around to his side, and lifting the
chain, slipped steel ring attached to
it over his little finger; then, drawing
the ends of the chain down, she fast
cned them around his wrist. "Fits ex-
actly, doesn't it?" she said enthusi-
astically.
Eyes m, but" Bert hesitated. From
her manner he fancied that it was
something he ought to know all about
and appreciate very highly, but he
really could not see its value. "What
is it for, Aunt Marionp"
"Why. to wear on your wrist. Don't
you seeP' replied his aunt, giving it
another twist and settling 1t to her sat
isfaction.
"Some new fashion that haven't
heard about, I suppose" muttered
Bert to himself, looking dolefully at
bis new adornment as he carried his
treasures up to his room. women
nave fancy for every new-fangled no.
ion, so presume auntie thinks this is
something very nice; but l declare don't
zee the sense of it," He appreciated it
till less as he went about his morning
work. 1t caught, tangled and obtruded
tself disagreeably. mot very con-
enient," he ventured to suggest to
Aunt Marion. But that lady only an
wered placidly:
"Ob, l don't think you will mind
nat very much when you get accus-
'med to it, So she really expected
i'm to wear the troublesome thing and ,
ct used to it! He was pondering the
1bject when his friend Ralph came in {
see the new telescope. I
"Hello! what are you wearing that
'g-collar forP" he questioned, curl a
'sly, as Bert displayed his hand in ar +
.nging the glass. c
"lt's new thing. Didn't you ever see Il
'e beforep' asked Bert. coloring a "
tile. il
Lots Of them-on the ,necks of q
nines,' declared Ralph, with uncere- h
Dnious frankness; "but | don't see
'at you want to wear one on your in
m for" ....s.. III
''Well, the fact is. l DON'T" con- ct
sed Bert, "but don't know exactly u,
at to do about it. You see, it is one th
my birthday gifts some new-fash- fl,
led arrangement that, has taken it
ltie's fancy" 1t was fashion Of as
ich Ralph had never heard, and he nj
! so. His visits and comments left TT
t still less pleased with the odd gift DO
had received. At last he decided to di1
1t over with Aunt Marion: ris
You see. am ever so much obliged
'ou, auntic, but ! don't know lust
at to do with the thing" he ex-
ined. "What is the good of wear n.
itp" 'n'
Oh. ! don't suppose there is any ~. sos
ID in it," answered Aunt Marion, W. ~,
,nely. no, .o,
Well, don't think 1t is very-orna- ~, In
ltal, you know" ventured Bert ~, III
tatingly. ~.
Oh dear, no!-not the least bit or. -, I
lental, assented his aunt ~ ~.
And, besides, It's inconvenient. W., us
Probably; but think you would ~ NV
accustomed to that after awhile. W.
not notice 1t much"
But what is the use Of getting ac- =, y
omed to it-a chain like thatp" @ sos
anded Bert, growing more and ~
e bewildered. what would You =. ~
t to wear it forP" sue
p Oh, / wouldn't want In wear n