Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1902-08-25
/ DAUGHTERS S GIFT
fOriE:na!.1 !

wild and hadn't settled down. 1t was
hard or 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 sof;eninS appeared to harden,
though Jim made Del Il splendid hus-
band and grew rich They had one
child, a boy. the prattiest little chap
you ever saw. One LAY an artist saw
him in his bath and Was 50 struck with
his slender lite form that he asked
leav" to copy ilin i.l,o ii i2:l',>,,".n he WAS
painting. The picture N::s y s"ccess
and brought the artist !; q i'eputa-
tion all on account, everybody said. OF
the little figure i'll the e6iner.
One day Del said % re, Ma. Pu
COINS to sr;.d pa Il present"
.I'm afraid. ny dear. he'll send Il
right back TO HeE.'
"NaElsa ne vii. and ma ybe he won't
Anyway, IL .-=9t,2.ss g try it. I'm 20.
az; to pat /; il the tiii1.:s-: roe1a SO that
he'll see it wsl4ea he comes down the
Giii,at thing in Il" morning. Hes az.
ways in d better hHmo1' then than at
any ctlnr tjl.Ge OF la.- Don't you re-
member ho5. l3c used to toss ne in the
air cHs..y morning before brea!stf2st::''
"I!ow are yea lin" to send it"
Jim ;s:ld .5.'y -o;:ls 20 get uo early
and tatse il ro5t!4el You @re to let Us
In. Vel place It r;,ft where pa VIII
I,
into tl2a hre;l..:: Fast room"
GittAt believe it won'A Go any GOOD
but told Eai would l:elp her in aay
way could. SO it WAS all arranged
that they should bring their gift the
next Sunday morning. On that day
we break +: st 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
delicious freshness in the air I was
thankful. thinking that If anything
could put pa in good hunlor it would
be this beautiful morning. A little be-
fore Q jim and Del drove up to the
side gate, which was hidden from the
house by trees, though that wasn't
necessary, for pa was shut up in his
shav wing room. where he couldn't see
anything. and Jim carried an oblong
box about three feet in length up to
the side entrance. l let them il, and
they went to the dining room. while
went upstairs to keep an eye on pa.
He had finished shaving and was sit.
-,
but instead of being happy the bright
morning seemed to make him all the
mere melancholy.
What pleasant day" said. "for
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 didn't say anything more
for fear Of making him ugly. l saw
by the clock that it was five minutes
to 8, and l went to the banister and
coughed to give Jim and Del warning,
then told pa that breakfast was ready.
He got up with 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 hat
been removed, and in its stead was the
statue of little boy about five years
old 1t was of white marble-that is,
so far as we could judge-and held out
a pair Of little arms % US.
Great guns pa exclaimed.
LITTLE darling" said !. What q
PITY it isn't alive"
"IIow do, Gian,Ipa:' cried the statue
an, tearing eff lis white face, it dis
plaEe the rosy features of Del's little
Jim. Jumping OF 1Ae pedestal AL
IN his white tights he ran up to his
grandpa Who bent dowa and took HIM
in his arms
! never saw pa SO overcome in my
life. He A1!@aed the boy 50 tieAt tha1
! thousht he would crush him. Z. n
De! eanIe from the pantry and put her
arms around them both Del was
! laughing ana crvin-, and pa was try
ing to keep from doing both. Then be
put little Jim down, and without no
ticing tiat his clothes We're covered
with the white powder that had made
the boys tights lock like marble he
folleG Del in his arms
,!im hiS Jim. l mean-saeing through
a crack in the pantry Goor that TIE
plan haG hsha y success, came into the
room .=a}! a3 pat out his hand.
TEae Ms tAA hGppiest breakfast par
II AZ. - =, ever SIT down to. | had
talk. ld...1 - have q nice breakfast,
rNA., n =. ,.a,t lA.AliAA-N nnl,s nrAs,.lt