The San Francisco call., 1903-12-20


the part OF really. truly
grown-up people at Christmas
~ time and see what a heap more
fun you'll have. Don't be scared the
nrst rattle out Of the box and imagine
for a single instant that mean you
are TO sit in solemn state all day long
and see how sorrowful and meek you
can be. for that wouldn't be the least
bit nice, and ten to one you'd only
succeed in having the entire family at
your heels with all sorts and descrip-
tions OF nasty tasting medicines, for
they'd be sure TO think that you were
terribly III. For Christmas is the
day OF days.
But I do mean to behave yourself
in such fashion that your neighbors
won't feel sorry to see you coming.
Don't be such nuisance. They're
too trying for anything, and besides
you can't imagine how much fun it
bars you from.
And wouldn't you be ashamed and
wouldn't your mother feel hurt II you
could look into your friends home
and watch her rushing about picking
up dainty roses and costly bric-a-brac
before she answered the bell. And
the uncomfortable part Of it is she
wouldn't do it unless you had handled
everything in sight and kept her con-
stsntly in hot water for fear you
might break her pretty things.
Haven't you seen the boy or girl
that never can be quiet a single mo-
ment7 Not one? Well, 1 have. and I
positively heard one chaps father
offer him 80 cents il he would sit
on a chair and not move for five
minutes. OF course. he didn't win It.
for he was eternally and forever into
everything. and he couldn't help wrig-
Cling to save his life.
That may sound awfully easy to you,
and Il might be if you were ever in
the habit Of reading or even playing
doll. but II you spend your time fall
ing up and down the stairs and try
ing to see how much noise and dis
turbance you can create, / am awfully
afraid you could not win the so cents
either.
Every one can tell a little lady or
Hentleman as far as they can see them,
but there isn't any one place that
marks them as distinctly as at the
table. II you don't believe it just
watch yourself
True, II isn't much fun being
dragged from the highest limb In the
cherry tree to luncheon, particularly
when there are guests, but as long as
II has TO be done. it's rattling good
scheme to DO il as cheerfuly and
quickly as possible. You see that
means the trying ordeal will be over
just that much sooner and may be
you can beat Johnny and get the best
seat after all.
There's one thing that should al
ways be done before you present your
self at the table. Climbing trees and
Shinnying over back fences somehow
or other doesn't seem to make your
hands especially clean OF your blouse.
either. for that matter. So run right
along to your own room and have an
animated cleaning-up bee. It's an
awful nuisance. l know. but suppos-
ing Mrs. Guest should take a fancy to
you and invite you to the theater on
Saturday with her own children,
wouldn't that be fine and daisy?
Of course. II you are going OF side
into the room. hang your head and
scrape your toes into the rugs, she'll
be more than likely to think you grew
on q tree ia the hills. but il you run
downstairs and very frankly shake
hands with her she'll probably think to
herself; What a manly chap Tom is.
I'd Ike George to be like him." and
then you just see il there aren't good
times coming.
OF course. after that II you hold your
elbows out and flourish your arms
around like windmills she'll change her
mind and she most certainly ought to,
for there isn't one thing that looks
quite as commonplace or as careless.
Don't lounge in your chair either. SIT
up. for you aren't a Turk. and conse-
ouently there isn't the least shadow OF
an excuse for lying down. Besides the
meal never is long enough to tire you
out completely.