The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-08-22
A DAUGHTERS GIFT
TOriginal.1

Ders marriage with jim. wouldn't al
either Del or Jim to come here after
ward. This was because 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 a splendid hus-
| band and grew rich. They had one
child. a 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 n fine reputa-
ton. all on account, everybody said, of
| the little figure I'm the corner
One day Del said to me. MA, Pm
going to send pa a 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 it. I'm 60
| ing to put it in the dining room SO that
he'll see it when he comes down the
first thing i'm the morning He's al
ways in a better humor then than at
| any other time of day. Don't you re
| member how he used to toss me i'm the
air every morning before breakfastr
How are you going to send itY'
Jim and l are going to get up early
and take it round. You are to let us
in. Wen place 1t right where pa will
see it the first thing when he comes
into the breakfast room"
1 didn't believe II would do any good,
but I told Del I would help her i'm any
| way I could. so It was all arranged
that they should bring their gift the
next Sunday morning. On that day
We breakfast at 8 o'clock. and pa does
not have to go downtown to business.
When Sunday came. the sun was shin,
ing bright and beautiful, the birds were
singing in the yard, and there was a
| delicious freshness In the air. 1 was
thankful. thinking that II anything
could put pa in a good humor it would
be this beautiful morning. A little be-
fore 9 Jim and Del drove up to the
side gate, which was hidden from the
necessary, for pa was shut up In his
shaving room, where he couldn't see
anything, and Jim carried an oblong
box about three feet In length up to
the side entrance. I let them I'm, and
they went to the dining room, while
went upstairs to keep an eye on pa.
He had finished shaving and was sit
ting by the front window looking 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 a drive I'm the
country
There's no family party except you
and me-" he said
I 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 1t was five minutes
to 0, 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
we saw in the bay window at the end
OF the dining room. The marble bust
that always stood on the pedestal had
been removed, and In its stead was the
statue of a little boy about five years
old. 1t was of white marble-that Is
SO far as we could judge-and held out
pair OF little arms to US.
"Great guns" pa exclaimed
Little darlingr' said 1. What q
pity it isn't aliver'
How do. grandpa?" cried the statue
and. tearing of its white face. II dis
played the rosy features of Defs 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.
life. He hugged the boy SO tight that
thought he would crush him. Then
Del came from the pantry and put hei
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 no
ticing that his clothes We're covered
with the white powder that had made
the boys tights look like marble he
folded Del In his arms.
Jim-big Jim. mean-seeing through
4 crack in the pantry door that the
plan had been a success. came into the
room, and pa put out his hand.
That was the happiest breakfast par
kty any of us ever sat down to. l had
4 taken pains TO have a nice breakfast
though | didn't believe Ders present
10 her father would break through hi.
crustiness. but hoped that 1t would
and we would all take our Sunday
morning meal together. After tn,
J breakfast we sat in the library and
talked while pa and Jim smoked
MA" said pa to me. didn't you say
something about family party goint
for drive? I reckon well have ou
= the horses"
, Pa and Jim went out to the stable
, while Del and | got up lunch. Ther
, we started for the country. Their
: was room for Jim and Del on the bacl
seat, while pa had little Jim with hin
i'm front. Jimmie hadn't ever riddeI
behind horses before and was viii,
with delight, talking to his grandpi
and begging him to let him drive til
r pa consented.
: Who got up the statues Why, tn,
I artist who used little Jim for a model
, After the reputation and money h
made out OF his picture he couldn't d.
/ enough for Jim and Del and exercise,