Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-05-29
Uncle Eric's Presents
BY LUCY RANDOLPH COkFORT,
TT WAS a radiant March morni,

the ground all mantled with new
fallen snow, the sparrows clamoring
at the window ledge for crumbs, like
bold little beggars as they were, and
the sky bluer than the bluest ribbons
on little Phillis' winter bonnet. And
the children all looked at each other
as they scrambled out of bed.
One thought wa in all their minds.
This was the day upon which Uncle
Eric sailed, with his vessel, for the Ber-
muda islands.
81 wish to goodness I was going with
him." said Nathan. I'D like to be a
sailor, and pipe all hands on deck, and
climb up the rigging when the sea was
mountains high"
"Pooh!" said Sam, CONTEMPORARY,
you'd take to your heels if anyone
threw a washboiler full of water on the
deck!"
But he had to jump pretty nimbly to
get out of the way of the Wash basin
full of CASTLE soapsuds, which Nathan
flung at him, in reply to this haunting
speech.
Hes going to the summer land"
sighed little Phillis, where there is no
snow nor ice, and where dear little
brides don't starve to death. ] wish I
could CO."
That's where the new potatoes and
the asparagus come FROM" said Patty.
"And the nice strawberries, before ours
in the garden have even begun to bios
son."
Patty thinks of nothing but things
to eat and drink" said Sam, ironically.
II do, tool" said Patty, wrathfully.
Il can say my French verbs a deal bet
ter than you can! And Uncle Eric is 60
ing to bring me home a talking parrot
from the Bermudas, when he comes
back!"
"Humph!" said Sam. u should think
you were parrot enough for the whole
family"
Sam was certainly a very disagree
able boy. He was always teasing and
tormenting the other children.
Just then a voice called up the stair
way to them.
Come, children, are you never COM.
ing downstairs? Breakfast is smoking
hot on the table. And here are four
little farewell gifts which Uncle Eric
sent over for you last night, after you
had gone to bed"
This piece Of newsstand the effect Of
Fastening the toilets of the four little
people in a truly astonishing degree.
And presently they tumbled down.
stairs, one after the other, like four
unruly kittens, into the breakfast
room.
what is it, mother?" cried PhiNis.
Let me see It'll" said Patty.
I'm the oldest!" bawled Sam. Fl
But Nathan tripped him deity up,
and leaping over his PROSTATE form
got to his mothers side first, leaving
the champion sprawling like an i'm.
mense beetle on the carpet.
"Give us a look at it, mother" said
Nathan, hugging his mother around
the neck.
Not a look for one of you::' the
mother firmly answered, until you
have eaten your breakfasts"
From this decision there was no ap.
peal; SO the children sat down, re-
luctantly enough, to their milk and
water, oatmeal porridge and broiled
ham and eggs. And when even little
Phillis, the slowest Of the family, had
finished her meal, and folded up her
napkin and put it into it's ring, Mrs.
B%uddington opened a mysterious-look-
ing package, and gave Nathan a little
paper-box which happened to lie ON
the top.
"'For N. Buddington,'" she read,
reading the label before she handed II
to him. "'With Uncle. Eric's love-"
"Ho, ho!" cried the little lad, Joy
fully; "it's Uncle Eric.s silver fruit
knife, with e. B. engraved on the
blade in jolly Old English letters, and
a little sharp spike for q nutpick."
"'For Phillis Buddington,' u" said the
mother.
And Phillis' eyes sparkled at the
sight Of a pretty little clock, about
the size of . silver dollar, which she
had many q time admired on Unsls
Eric's study table.
"And I think this must have been
given to you to teach you to be q
more punctual little girl"
"Oh, oh-how beantirul!" cried