Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-02-04
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rhe heRirthday Presents.

The Boy was on his way to the groc-
cry, and he was thinking SO hard that
he came near going by the shop. He
recollected in time, but while the man
was griding the coffee that the Moth
er wanted he went on thinking.
How disappointed the Twins would
be when their birthday came and there
was no bookcase and no dollhouse for
themi The Father had said only this
morning that he had no spare money to
spend for presents, and the Boy him.
self had less than a dollar. Yet he
knew that the Brother was expecting
a bookcase. and the Sister had con-
fided to him her hope that her dolls
would soon have home Of their own.
A customer inquired for little bis
cults, and a clerk started to open
fresh box. As he did SO he pushed
aside the empty box, and 1t stopped
near where the Boy was standing. His
eyes fell on it with indifference-then
suddenly his face lighted. The Mother
said he was always having inspira-
tions, and one came to him now. He
thought a moment longer. and then
walked straight across to the clerk.
'How much do you get for your
empty cracker-boxes|
"Ten cents apiece when the covers
are good"
''Yes; but without ccvers?"
"Split 'em up for kindling-wood or
give 'em away. You want one to carry
homer
"Id like about six of those. but I'd
rather pay for them. They are worth
something to you for kindling-wood.
and I'm willing to give quarter for
half a Dozen"
"AIl right. Don't believe we have so
many just now, but we empty 'em
pretty fast, and I'll save 'em for you"
The Boy thanked him, and hurried
home with his coffee, his head full Of
his new scheme.
For the next three weeks his room
was shut to the Twins. greatly to their
wonder and sorrow. Such a thing had
never occurred before, and they could
not understand it. There were also
queer, panty smells in the air, and the
Boy was locked into his room after
school and before school, and for hours
at a time on Saturdays. 1t was very
| mysterious.
| But the secret was out when the
birthday morning came, for there were
as convenient a bookcase and as dainty
dollhouse as the Brother and the Sis
ter had ever dreamed Of For each,
three boxes had been placed on their
sides, one above the other, and every
bit of printing had been washed or
sandpapered off. The bookcase was
stained and polished, making it look
almost like oak, and as for the doll
house-oh, how the Boy had worked to
make that dollhouse! The outside was
painted white. with green blinds. and
the three rooms inside were finished
and furnished just as rooms should
be. The walls were papered. the floors
were stained and polished. There were
pretty rugs and muslin curtains-those
were the Mothers gift; there were
chairs and tables and a bedstead, and
SO many other beautiful things that the
Sister could only say, "Oh, how dar'
lingw and isn't that lovely?" and give
| little signs of delight and glggles OF
rapture for a whole hour.
The Brother began almost at once to
place his books in the new case, and
! it took so long to arrange them to his
satisfaction that he was still at the
happy task when the Boy started fol
school.
The Boy looked back as he closed the
door. The Sisters dolls were eating
breakfast in the new diningroom, and
the Brother was trying to decide
whether "The Jungle Book" would look
best on the first or second shelf.
"They couldn't be better pleased
he said to himself, "if those things had
cost fifty dollars instead of fifty cents!
Youths Companion