Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1907-12-25
WAS A PUT-UP JOB
FATHER TAKES SONS INTO HIS
CONFIDENCE.
Christmas Shopping Seems Very
Much simplified Until He Over
hears the Remarks of the
Youngsters.


81 have been in the habit OF con
sulting my sons concerning their
Christmas gifts for the last two OF
three years." said the grain broker to
the man at the Office building cigar
stand. Il mean that / have asked
William what Richard would like, and
Richard what William would like. e
have done that because I believed.
they would be in position to know
and then it sort of fatter's kids
pride to share a secret with grown
up person, besides establishing the
right sort of confidence between
father and son, which think is q
mighty good thing. too
1T certainly is agreed the cigar
man.
Yes" said the grain broker reffee-
lively, its good thing. Certainly
So am l at times. / was then. Any
way, 1 called William into the library
he's IL. William is-and said. Bill,
old boy, what do you suppose Dick
would like for his Christmas? Has
he said anything to you about itg
II think 1 know what he wantss
William replied. I heard him wish.
ing the other day that he had one OF
those pearl-handled knives with four
blades and a toothpick and cork
screw and little pair of tweeEers
and a thing to pail the stones out OF
horses shoes and saw blade and a
gimlet and a can opener
That's funny assortment said
He explained that all the articles
mentioned were covered by one pearl
handle-incorporated in the knife
And then, he added, he's been want
ing fountain pen.'
I might manage that said But
if l have to give him a horse, too, Ii
will run me pretty close on presents
for the rest of the bunch
"a horse!' he said
He'll need a horse to get stones
in his feet so that he can pick them
out with the knife attachment, won't
hep l asked. He'll have to have
something for the corkscrew to work
on, too
"He looked at me a moment and
then said, 'Aw, you're joshing me-
Well, what else?' 1 inquired.
80, don't know as there's any,i
thing else he needs he said.
Soon after 1 took an opportunity
of calling Richard aside. Christmas
is coming along here pretty soon,
Dickie boy" l said. What are we
going to get for brother Bill?'
L don't believe can get him much
of anything, pop he said. I'm just
about broke and / want to get some
thing for you and mother, too
Couldn't you help me out? I'll work
for you if you like. / can go down to
the Office in vacation
"'We1l see about that 1 said. but
I'm talking about Bill, now
He wants a watch said Richard.
and his wheels about worn out and
it's getting too small for him; and
these air rifles-you know. He'd be
awful pleased if you got him an air
rifle. Jimmie Pederson's father got
him tom Sawyer" last Christmas
and Dick wanted to borrow-it and he
wouldn't lend it. wish't l could
buy that for him, but know I can't
Won't you get it?'
I'll think about It, said, 4 would
promise. You can run away now.
Presently / heard a dickens of D.,
racket in the next room. could make
out Dicks voice raised in anger and
now and then Bill Clipped in. open
ed the door and stood out In the hall
1 was just going to holler at them TO
keep quiet when Richard shouted:
Eyes l did, too. You're a lobster
"'You didn't said Bill.
'I did 1 told you plain. said
punching bag and pair Of skates and
a fountain pen and knife with them
fixings and all you told him was just
that measly fountain pen and the
knife. 1 didn't leave out anything you
told me, and / put in the new wheel
that you didn't tell me. II that amt
being a mean sneak / don't know
what is
az don't care says Bill, defiantly
"'All right for you. I'll fix you. III
go right back and tell him you said
you didn't want any watch and I'll say
you read tom Sawyer" You'll see.
Il went back and closed the door
softly.
But wouldn't that jar your"