The daily Republican., 1902-12-19
FRFDDY's PRESENTS,
Thoss He Received Were Always Of
. the Use3ul Kind,

.. The following short story, say
| Youths Companion, will excite yari
Gus emotions. Some readers will
laugh at it; others will be indignant
and every boy that reads it will b,
glad his name is not Freddy Keedick
| i think | shall have to get Christ
mas present for little Freddy
keedick," said Mrs. Dillingham; 10 hel
| husband one evening early in Decem
| Der.
Don't you think you have enough
little nephews and nieces to proyid,
for in that way?" asked Mr.. Dilling,
ham.
I'VE have enough, that's true, but
Mrs. keedick was so very kind when
Nellie was sick in the summer, that
feel somewhat under obligation to
her.
Then would get Freddy a Christ,
mas present, by all means. What do
yon suppose would be suitable?"
Il have not been a bic TO make up my
mind as to that What do you think -
"Oh, don't ask me.'
II have an idea" exclaimed Mrs.
Dillingham;. "l'Il make a call on Mrs.
keedick this afternoon. and try to find
out what sort of a present would be
acceptable 10 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 on unmportant
matters, the conversation was led
around to Christmas by the caller.
81 suppose Freddy receives quite a
number Of gift each christmas" said
She.
"Oh. yes" replied Mrs. Keedtck.
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. Dillnc-
ham,
Yes, that's it. | haven't much pa
tience with the toys that his Uncle
Henry aud his Amt Polly bring"
"Why nor""
"Oh, | prefer something useful!
Now thar French clock on the mantel
there has given me more salts factiol
than amy other present Freddy has
ever received at Christmas"
"Wa> that Christmas present to
Freddy ." asked Mrs. Dillingham;, in
surprise,
"Ne> We needed clock in this
room. and / void Mr., keedjck that ns
we had to get Freddy Christmas
present "" might a. well buy hin
cluck"
"Dor> Freely tjI,r it,"
"WcID. lr our~aI exactly o. into
rap,ur,- ever it. hut find it very use
fui inGcrG Ihru Freddy has plenty
of trash given to him at Christmas,
50 that il ready doesn't mailer. Then
like him to- have useful things, yuu
know Thm Nrlrtug-dr>k there was
another Christmas present to Fred
ty"
"Hu' that j. i .atN'~ vrjtin"-dcsl"
Il huoW II -. Won ~et had decided
tina, he odcji To- have q Writjug-Gesk
hecau>c II Wu..G hc - useful. hut
when wru' ru ouN il. coll,d not find
a desk suitable for mali boy. How
ever. / saw lhHt lovely 'ady's desk fer
sale at q bargain. ard thought it
wouId Dc >iufuI 10 I"sr he opporr un-
itv Of getting il for Freddy, H> had
gone out for rtc,crI purpose of buy
ing him Gc>h."
II >rr." rcp.1", Mrs. Dillingham;.
"rhru those .u1r.} wastes il the par
tor which yea HAY, admired ,o ofrcn.
Wrc also some Of Frc@aI'- Christmas
presents. THE way We happ"nrd u
get Them wa, This: Mr. krrGirh could
not ,hinh Of anything useful to huy
for Freddy last Christmas, and hap
ppncd to thjuh Of those Vases. which
| had seen a. such very rra,onahlc
price in Store CuNu town. The par
Ior was So bare Of ornaments that We
needed them very Oacly. and 80
went straight rat and in.,Yhr them
for Freddy"
Mr.. Dillingham; rose 20 60. and as
Mrs. kecdIch followed her cajicr to
the door, Sue ronJinuod t"cNpaiu how
much more sensible it was to give
chiIdrcn useful presents rather than
gjmcrackS. which are broken in :
week or two.
Mrs. Dillingham; went h"nr. and
surprised her husband with the an
uouncemeu lha' ~hc la" Gcridcd to
give FREDDY Kccoick a handsome sofa
pillow for Christmas