Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-12-01
A Daughters Gift

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<7S7 GU know. pa wouldn't consent
W to Ders marriage with Jim.
q wouldn't allow the wedding at
the house or allow either Del or Jim
to come here afterward. This was be-
cause Jim had been wild and hadn't
settled down. 1t was hard on us all,
for Del was my only child; she had
always been her fathers pet. and his
treatment almost broke her heart.
The years went by, and pa. instead
of softening, appeared to harden.
though Jim made Del splendid hus-
band and grew rich. They had one
child, boy, the prettiest little chap
you ever saw. One day an artist saw
him in his bath and was SO struck
with his slender little form that he
asked leave to copy him into picture
he was painting. The picture was a
success and brought the artist a fine
reputation, all on account, everybody
said, of the little figure in the corner.
One day Del said to me: MA. I'm
going to send pa present"
I'm afraid, my dear. he'll send 1t
right back to YOU"
Maybe he will, and maybe he
won't Anyway, I'm going to try 1t.
I'm going to put it in the little dining
room SO that he'll see 1t when he
comes down the first thing In the
morning. He's always in better hui
NOR then than at any other time Of
do no a
used to toss me in the air every morn
ing before breakfast?
How are you going to send it?"
Jim and are going to get up early
and take 1t round. You are to let us
in. Well place it right where pa will
see it the first thing when he comes
into the breakfast ROOM"
didn't believe it would do any
good, but told Del would help her
in any way could, SO 1t was all ar
ranged that they should bring their
gift the next Sunday morning On that
day we breakfast at o'clock and pa
does not have to go downtown to busi-
ness. When Sunday came, the sun
was shining bright and beautiful, the
birds were singing in the yard. and
there was a delicious freshness In the
air. was thankful, thinking that IL
anything could put pa in good humor
1t would be this beautiful morning. A
to the side gate. which was hidden
from the house by trees, though that
wasn't necessary. for pa was shut up
in his shaving room, where he couldn't
see anything, and Jim carried an OBJ
long box about three feet In length up
to the side entrance. let them in.
and they went to the dining room,
while l went upstairs to keep an eye
on pa. He had finished shaving and
was sitting by the front window. look
ing out, but instead Of being happy.
the bright morning seemed to make
him all the more melancholy.
"What a pleasant day." said. "for
a family party to go for drive in the
country!'
"There's no family party except you
and me-" he said.
knew that he was pining for DEL
but l didn't say anything more for
fear of making him ugly. l saw by
the clock that it was five minutes to
o. and went to the banister and
coughed to give Jim and Del warning.
then told pa that breakfast was ready.
He got up with a sigh. and we went
downstairs together.
We both stood mute, looking at
what NO saw in the bay window Mt tho
end of the dining room. The marble
bust that always stood on the pedes-
tal had been removed. and In its stead
was the statue Of little boy about
Z wears old. 1t was Of white marble
that is, so far as we could judge-and
held out a pair Of little arms to u.s.
"Great gunsv pa exclaimed.
Little darling" said I. What a
pity it isn't alive"
"How do. grandpa?" cried the
statue. and, tearing off its white face.
it displayed the rosy features Of Dels
little jim. Jumping off the pedestal.
all in his white tights he ran up to his
grandpa, who bent down and took
him in his arms.
l never saw pa so overcome In my
life, He Rugged the boy so tight that
I thought he would crush him. Then
Del came from the pantry and put her
arms around them both. Del was
laughing and crying. and pa was try
ing to keep from doing both. Then
he put little Jim down, and without