Woodville Republican., 1902-12-20
FREDDY's PRESENTS.
Those He Received Were Always Of
the UaefuI Kind.

The following short story, says
Youths Companion, will excite vari-
GUS emotions. Some readers will
laugh at it; others will be indignant;
and every boy that reads it win be
glad his name is not Freddy Keedick
II think shall have to get a Christ
mas present for little Freddy
Keedick," said Mrs. Dillingham; to her
husband one evening early in Decem-
ber.
Don't you think you have enough
little nephews and nieces to provide
for in that way?" asked Mr.. Dilling-
ham.
"We have enough, that's true, but
Mrs. Keedick was so very kind when
Nellie was sick in the summer, that l
feel somewhat under obligation to
her"
"Then l would get Freddy Christ
mas present, by all means. What do
you suppose would be suitable?"
81 have not been able to make up my
mind as to that. What do you think?"
"Oh, don't ask mel"
81 have an ideal" exclaimed Mrs.
Dillingham;. "I'll make a call on Mrs.
Keedick this afternoon, and try to find
out what sort of a present would be
acceptable to Freddy"
In pursuance of this resolve, Mrs.
Dillingham; was shown into Mrs. Kee-
dicks parlor on the afternoon of the
next day, and after few preliminary
exchanges of opinion OF unimportant
matters, the conversation was led
around to Christmas by the caller.
81 suppose Freddy receives quite a
number of gifts each Christmas" said
she.
ooh, yes" replied Mrs. Keedick
"He has a few relatives who always
remember him, but really the presents
we appreciate the most are those his
papa and give him."
"That is because you know what
pleases him BEST" said Mrs. Dilling-
ham.
"Yes, that's it. l haven't much pa.
tience with the toys that his Uncle
Henry and his Aunt Polly bring"
"Why not?"
ooh, l prefer something useful!
Now that French clock on the mantel
there has given me more satisfaction
than any other present Freddy has
ever received at Christmas"
"Was that a Christmas present tC
Freddy?" asked Mrs Dillingham;, il
surprise.
"Yes. We needed a clock in this
room, and l told Mr.. Keedick that as
we had to get Freddy Christmas
present we might as we'll buy him .
clock"
"Does Freddy like it?"
"Well, he doesn't exactly go into
raptures over it, but l find it very use
full indeed. Then Freddy has plenty
of trash given to him at Christmas
so that it really doesn't matter Their
I like him to have useful things, yor
know. That wr;ting-desk there was
another Christmas present to Fred
dy."
"But that is lady's writing-desk.'
81 know it is. You see had decided
that he ought to have a writing-desl
because it would be so useful, but
when l went to buy it, could not fine
a desk suitable for small boy. How
ever, | saw that lovely lady's desk fol
sale at a bargain, and l thought i
would be sinful to lose the opportun
ity of getting it for Freddy, as l haC
gone out for the very purpose of buy
ing him a desk"
81 see," replied Mrs. Dillingham;.
"Then those lovely vases in the par
lor. which you have admired so often
are also some of Freddy's Christmai
presents. The way we happened tt
pet them was this: Mr.. Keedick coulC
not think of anything useful to bu!
for Freddy last Christmas, and hap
pened to think of those vases, whicl
had seen at such a very reasonable
price in a store down town. The par
lor was so bare of ornaments that W,
needed them very badly, and so
went straight out and bought then
for Freddy"
Mrs. Dillingham; rose to go, and al
Mrs. Keedick followed her caller t,
the door, she continued to explain how
much more sensible it was to Civ
children useful presents rather thai
gimcracks, which are broken in 1
week or two.
Mrs. Dillingham; went home, ant
surprised her husband with the an
nouncement that she had decided t.
give Freddy Keedick handsome sofa
pillow for Christmas.