Cañon City record., 1907-12-12

Ts-S. y on her hat to go
out to dinner with him. The room
was lighted by a big candle in tall
brass candlestick. The boy had light
ed the candle for his own amusement.
The man sat in a big rocking chair
near the candle. the boy in his lap.
playing with the mans watch. which
was large, enticing and made up
largely Of silver and few baser
metals.
do you want this watch" he
asked the boy. Then in an aside to the
woman: I've great notion to give
1t to him. 1t won't run"
II should say l do" exclaimed the
boy.
"If you'll be good" said the man.
"I'n give 1t to you Christmas.
"I'll be good" promised the boy.
well. then" said the man. "Tll
bring it myself. or say. better let
Santa Claus bring 1t. Where's that tel
ephone? Here!" he said. taking up
the toy instrument; "I1l just ring up
Santa and tell him about 1t. Hello.
Central. Yes Is that you. Centralf
Give me 33s, Iceland. please.
Hello" called the man. rs that
you. Santa Claus? Good. How are
you. Santa? That's fine. l want you
to do little something for me Christ
mas morning. There's a big silver
watch want little boy to have. but
I live in Brooklyn. That's too far to
bring II to him Christmas morning.
He lives In New York. This is what
! want you to do. Santa. Stop at my
place. get the watch and bring 1t to
the little boy who lives here in New
York. You will? Thank you, Santa
All right. Good-by.
There" to the boy. as he put down
the telephone, that's settled. Are you
ready?" to the woman. Bring me my
overcoat. will you, KiddieT'
The boy sprang down from his lap
and brought the overcoat . heavy
weight for his smallness He laid II
in his lap. then deliberately blew out
the big candle and taking up two
fingerfuls Of the warm grease. smear
ed 1t on the overcoat.
"Well. look at thisi" cried the man.
"He has deliberately and with malice
aforethought smeared grease on my
new overcoat He has ruined it. I wish
you would come here and look!"
The woman ran In and turned up
the gas.
And he had promised to be good"
lamented the man.
TT isn't time yet to be good" the
boy maintained stoutly: ITS too long
before Christmas
Tho ms to1 toIa
with an air of finality.
rs that you. Central?" he asked,
sternly. Good. Well. I wish you
would ring up Santa Claus for me
again, please. I wish to speak to him"
rs this 1913. Iceland? Please let me
have Santa Claus again. will your
Thank you. This Santa Claus? Well,
Santa, about that large silver watch
told you about a few minutes ago.
The one want you to call for In
Brooklyn and bring over to New York
to the boy on Fifteenth street You
needn't bother about that watch,
Santa Claus. have concluded not
to give II to the boy. Whyf Oh. he's
bad That's ALL He does things
that haven't any sense In them. Just
now. after had gone to all the trou-
BILE to call you up on the long-dis-
lance phone to ask you about bring
ing the watch. he deliberately ruined
my new overcoat. Took some candle
grease and smeared II with II. Yes, it
10 . pity. But It can't be helped. A
boy must not be encouraged in such
behavior"
The boy seemed TO b thinking hard
~ he stood by. but he said moth
Ing.
II think" volunteered the woman.
"that I can take out the grease with Q
hot iron. have put one on. win
lay . blotter on the coat and the
grease will come OF on the blottsr
when ! put the iron ON II. Come In
the kitchen and help me-"
The blotter and the hot iron had
the desired effect She held the
coat up to the ligh triumphantiy.
The man carried the coat to the
door OF the music room IN which the
tragedy had occurred. says the New
York Press. They stopped at the
door. for the boys voice had come %
them softly. He stood at the table.
the toy telephone to his ear.
''Is this you. Central?" he asked,
wistfuIly. Yes. Good! VIII zoo
give me 1913. Iceland. n you please
Thank you. Central"
Isn't he polIte7" the woman whis-
pered to the man.
rs that you Santa Claus?" asked
the boy At the telephone. ''0oodi
Well. Santa. I'd like to tell you that
you needn't pay any attention to the
last message the man from Brooklyn
sent You about that silver watch.
They've got the grease out of the
overcast"