Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-12-25
A Daughters Gift

S,57 OU 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 a 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
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 a present"
"Tm 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 1t 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
day. Don't you remember how he
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 it round. You are to let us
in Wen place 1t right where pa will
see 1t the first thing when he comes
into the breakfast ROOM"
l didn't believe 1t would do any
good, but l told Del l would help her
In any way l could, so 1t was all ar
ranged that they should bring their
gift the next Sunday morning. On that
day we breakfast at 0 o'clock and pa
does not have to go downtown to busl-
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. l was thankful, thinking that II
anything could put pa in good humor
it would be this beautiful morning. A
little before Jim and Del drove up
to the side gate, which was hidden
from the house by trees, though that
fNr. no w
in his shaving room, where he couldn't
see anything, and Jim carried an oD-
long box about three feet In length up
10 the side entrance. | let them H.
and they went to the dining room,
while l went upstairs to keep an eye
on pa. He had finished shaving ana
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." l said, Tor
family party to 20 for drive in the
countryp'
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 1or
fear of making him ugly. saw Dy
the clock that it was five minutes 10
o, and | went to the banister ana
coughed to give Jim and Del warning
then told pa that breakfast was ready
He got up with sigh, ana we went
downstairs together.
what we saw in the bay window at 'he
end of the dining room. The marDle
bust that always stood on the pedes-
tai had been removed, and III lts steau
was the statue of little boy ABOUT
5 years old It was of white marble
that is. so far as we could judge-and
held out n pair of little arms to us.
Great guns" pa exclaimed.
"Little darling" said l. "What Il
city it isn't alive"
How do grandpa?' cried the
statue, and, tearing off It's whlte lace'
it displayed the rosy features OF 'Dei
little Jim. Jumping off the pedestal
all in his white tights he ran up 10 MS
grandpa, who bent down ana TOOK
him In his arms.
I never saw pa so overcome in my
life. He hugged the boy so tgnt .iia'
! thought he would crush him. i heil
Del came from the pantry and put ner
arms around them both. Del was
laughing and crying, and pa was .ry,
ing to keep from doing Dotn' ne.
he put little Jim down, ana Wi'nou'