The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-16

look sad and sweet over Il d say tnet
IL was a pity IL was 20 expensive, ana tnat
she considered that such things were only
for rich people, and that 1t was a sname
he wasn't making more money, with an
his talent, and that some day she nopeo
and then she'd sigh some more, ana sne
told me-yes, the shameless creature actu-
ally told me all about it-that she couid
see her husbands jaws tightening and sne
knew that he was saying to himself tnat
she should have that locket, expensive or
not expensive, and sure enough he gov "
for her, although it must have cost all o.
$3.50 and he'd been having hard luck IN ms
business-the janitor's wife had heard MN
talking about il with his wife only q httse
while before, and she told me-and du
you ever in your natural days hear OF any
thing like a woman Dragging, actuaAy
Dragging TO another woman, OF gousfns
her husband like that
I'D have to want a picked out christ
mas gift from my husband pretty oaaiy
| before I'd go to all the trouble In steering
| him up to the point OF getting 1t for me,
deed l would. The idea OF lodging arounu
about It and limiting ana molly-coodhng
'em and feeding them unusually gooo
things to eat, like that Nailit m down
stairs does for her husband during the
holidays, and wasting all that time ano
troublel
-On December first, last year, I said to
James at the breakfast table:
james, l want a set OF broadtah furs
for my Christmas gift from you, just the
oollarette and muff, you know; and I've
selected the set I want, and have had them
put aside at Skinnz's, and they're TO be
called for on December the t~wenty-third,
and l told him how much the set cost and
invited him to look pretty and amiable
about it.
James, OF course, is kinky and crotchety'
like all men. and he put on the abused ex-
preston that I confidently expected to
see him put on, and he talked about folks
making Christmas giving a sordid' cut
and dried affair, and asked me IL it ever
occurred to me that there were some men
who'd prefer to pick out their own gifts
for their wives and surprise them and all
that sort Of humbug.
~Of course / told him that the surprise
feature Of the Christmas business was a
dead and buried institution a thousand
years ago and that 1t was only intended
for children who still believed in Santa
Claus, anyhow, but he looked grouchy
and went out mumbling. I wasn't worried
a bit, though; l knew perfectly well that
he'd get me my broadtsil furs.
Il didn't even mention the gift again
till the morning of December %, and
then before he left for the office !
told him that he was to drop in al
Skinnz's on his way home that evening
and get my furs. Then he mumbled SOM
more about the cold blooded deliberate
ness of the scheme as he called 1t, but
I told him that I'd ave the broadtail furs
or no gift at all.
aHe stopped and got them that even
ing. and brought them up himself ano
tossed them on the couch, saying, Here's
YOUR furs,' trying to make out as II he
was grouchy, though, OF course, he wasn't
and l told him that l was going to get him
socks and neckties for his Christmas gift
because he needed them, and asked him
for the money to get them with; and he
paye IL to me, and there was no beating
about the bush or frivolling around at all.
Il believe in doing things the straightout
way, and that's why James and l get along
40 well together. He says that my strong
common sense wears on him sometimes
but that's Just his talk, and he knows thai
everything l suggest is for the best, and
that's why he does everything l say.
IL do wish this Christmas foolishness
were all over. deed / dol / am not going
70 make any presents at all his year. So
pul-lease. my darling. let me entreat you
not to embarrass me by sending me a single
solitary thing!
"I know the impulsive, sweet kindness
of your heart, but you are so very generous
and big hearted, my dear, that you do
mortify your poor, Inundated friends most
terribly, and l wouldn't for worlds have
you"
-Going 30 soon7 Well, good-by, dear
and il l don't see you again before
Christmas, why, a merry Christmas n
happy New Year, my dear, and-good
by. Be sure and come and tell me al
the things you got for Christmas as soon al
you can get around.
lSolus,l
There, I guess I've fixed her. I'm sur,
she won't send me anything for Christina
this year, and I'll get even will her b.
sending her that pair Of six dollar vase
that I saw the other day, and maybe tina
won't cut her.
THE idea of her sending me a t4.9S beade,
! pocketbook for Christmas last rear when
; had only sent her a dinky little Christina
! card! Won't she just boil over this year
though, when she gets the vases I'll sen,
/ her. knowing that she hasn't sent me
/ thing! I'm awful glad she came so tina
I could tell her I wasn't going TO send he
anything
3 ROSTAND'S FAIRY PALACE.
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