Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-12-20
WAS A PUT-UP JOB
FATHER TAKES SONS INTO HIS
CONFIDENCE.
Christmas Shopping Seems Very
Much Slr7pIified Until He Over.
hears the Remarks Of the
Youngsters.

y have been in the habit of con
su.'.n- my sons concerning their
Christmas gifts fnr TIE last Two o.
thrr" years. said The grain broker to
II" man n tie office buildiuS cigar
stand 4 mean tina; have asAcd
Ni..am Mat ri, hard would like. ami
Richard What William would Ike. |
have dome that because believed
th"\ would be in a position 10 know.
and th,n it sort Of tlatter's a kids
pride 10 share = Srct"l with a grown
" person. besides establishing the
ri2ht sort Of confidence between
father and son. which | think IS
miSh'y srod thing. too
Il, certainly is, agreed the CIGAR
man
Yes. said the grain broker rcflrc-
lively. its a good thing. Certainly
So am At times. was then Any
Way. called William into the library
he's II. William is--and said. 'Ri)l
old hoy. what do You suppose Dick
would like for his Christmas? Has
he said anything to YOU about it,
think | know what he wants.
William replied. I heard him wish
Ing the either day that he had one Of
those pearlhandl,d knives with four
blades and tOo,hpick and cork
screw and a little pair Of tweczors
and thing Ia pull the stones out of
horses shoes and saw blade and a
sin.ot and 4 can opener.
That's a funny assortment | said
He explained that al the articles
mentioned We're covered by one pearl
andl"-incorporatcd in the knife
And then he added. he's been want.
ing fountain pen
| might manage that. said. 'Bnt
If have Ia give him a horse too, il
will run me pretty. close on presents
for the res, of the bunch.
"A horse he said
Hell need horse to get stones
in his feet so that he can pick them
out with the knife attachment. won't
he?' | asked Hell have to have
something for the corkscrew to work
on. too
He looked at me moment and
then said. 'Aw. you're joshing me-
Well. what else inquired.
%. don't know as there's any
thing else he needs he said.
Soon after | took an opportunity
of calling Richard aside Christmas
Is coming along here pretty soon,
Dickie boy" | said. What are we
going to get for brother Bill?'
81 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 il you like. | can go down to
the office in vacation
We'll see about that 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 Pedcrson's father got
him tom Sawyer" last Christmas
and Dick wanted to borrow it and he
wouldn't lend it, l wsh't | could
buy that for him, but l know | can't
Won't you get it?'
"Ill think about it, said. L would
promise You can run away now
presently heard dickens of
racket in the next room. | could make
out Dicks voice raised in anger and
now and then Bin Clipped in open
ed the door and stood out in the hall.
| was just going To hollcr at them to
keep quiet when Richard shouted:
. Yes | did. too. You're a lobster.
"'You didn't said Bill
IL did. | told YOU plain. said a
punching bae and pair of skates and
a fountain pen and a knife with them
iiXings and all you told him was Just
that measly fountain pen and the
knife. ! didn't leave ont anything you
told me, and put in the new wheel
that you didn't tell me. If that amt
being mean sneak | don't know
what is
81 don't care says Bill. defiantly.
"'All right for you I'll fix YOU. I'll
go right back and tell him you said
you didn't want any watch and III say
you read ITO I Sawyer" You'll see
Il went back and closed the door
softly.
but wouldn't that jar you?"
GEORGE WELLS.