The Press., 1891-12-10
Number 36.
AN INSTRUCTIVE TALE.
He was a sweet child of about five ye

J "a kind of mothers pet and fathers joy-and he was taking dinner with his father in one of the down town cafes the other day. Before he left he had attract ed more attention than if he had been & noted man.
 This sweet boy, who had been intro- duced to pair of knickerbockers, sat at 8 round table in the restaurant beside his father.
 It was that time of the day when nearly all the bankers and merchants appear to feel hungry, so the tables in the large cafe were crowded.
 At the same table with the boy sat one of those stern faced business men whose countenance would give him away if he wanted to deny his occupation.
 He was corpulent and appeared to take pride in his luxuriant whiskers. There was another man at the table-a slight, round shouldered young fellow - who looked as if he might be clerk in one of the many offices surrounding the restau- rant.
 As soon as father and son sat down 1t was evident there was going to be trouble. The youngster immediately examined minutely everything on the table within reach. He took the stopper out of the oil bottle and asked his father to smell it.
 Funny vinegar, ,ain't F" he exclaimed.
 "You mustn't do that" said the father timidly. "You are bad boy Ca glance at the old merchant) and I shan't take you out again."
 When the waiter brought bread and napkin the father gently tucked the lat ter under his sons chin. Then the elder gave his order. He asked the youngster what he would have, and for the answer the "kid" merely turned uneasily in his chair. Finally he blurted out:
 ''Ice cream'
 There was no mistaking his order, for he gave it in such loud, shrill voice that everybody in the room looked around.
 The waiter departed, and paterfamilias again remonstrated with the dear little fellow in the conventional manner and again informed him that he was bad boy, glancing at the merchant now and then as II expecting an approving smile.
 But the merchant didn't smile. He tried to eat his dinner and read his paper. In the meantime the good little boy had his napkin out two or three times and was trying to kill flies with it. The dinner came, while papa from time to time re- peated the assertion, which he felt sure was untrue, that his offspring was a bad boy.
 They got through, and the little one was using his napkin for a handkerchief and mopping his brow with it. The stout business man was slipping his coffee and puffing on his segar. The merchant had been looking in the direction of the child, who at that moment had left his chair and was industriously trying to climb up his fathers back
 "How old is your son ?" inquired the merchant of the proud father.
 You could see the father was proud.s Ills face was a bundle of smiles-if any one ever saw such parcel.
 Tell the gentleman how old you are, Aired" he ordered the boy.
 "No, I won't"
 Come, now! I won't take you out again " Shakes him little and tries to iook severe. "He's nearly six"
 oAouAu IihO IO duOpt ulul, the m0T- chant continued.
 "Hear that, Alfred" remarked AL fred's pa to the youth. "This gentleman wants to adopt you. Will you go to him ?"
 Nav. He's got whiskers." This was spoken very violently.
 Paterfamilias looked tired, and his cheeks burned after this unexpected out burst. He tried to shake Alfred again, but the boy evaded him.
 What makes you fancy him ?" inquired the proud father
 Fancy him ?" echoed the business man: "I did not say that"
 But you wanted to adopt him?" "4es-to give me authority to spank hihhl"
 The symposium dispersed, paterfam- llias scowled at the merchant, grasped Alfred by the hand and made nasty exit The walters smiled, the guests laughed, and the merchant continued smoking his after dinner cigar.