Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1907-12-20

was l1Snteu ny UlS N"i'''o '' " '
brass candestick. The boy mad llSh'-
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 a great notion to give
it to him. 1t won't run
Il should say l do" exclaimed the
boy.
IF you'll be good said the man,
I'll give it to you Christmas"
I'll be good" promised the boy.
well, then" said the man, I'll
bring it myself. or say, better let
Santa Claus bring it. Where's that tel
ephone? Here" he said, taking up
the toy instrument; "I'll just ring up
Santa and tell him about it. Hello
Central. Yes. Is that you, Central?
Give me 33S, Iceland, please.
Hello, hello! Is this 33S. Iceland?
Yes. Call Santa Claus, If you please
Tell him Id like to speak with him.
All right Busy. is he? I'll wait"
The boy stood by in the light Of
the candle.
Il reckon he's pretty busy about
this time" said he.
"Hello,' called the man. as that
you, Santa Claus? Good. How are
you, Santa? That's fine. | want you
to do little something for me Christ
mas morning. There's big silver
watch want little boy to have, but
i've in Brooklyn. That's too far to
bring it 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 it to
the little boy who lives here in New
York. You will? Thank you, Santa.
All right. Goodby.
There" to the boy, as he put down
the telephone, that's settled. Are you
ready?' to the woman. Bring me my
OFclCOCl Will y otl, NltAlS.
The boy sprang down from his lap
and brought the overcoat, heavy
weight for his smallness. He laid it
in his lap, then deliberately blew out
the big candle and taking up two
fingerfuls of the warm grease, smear
ed it on the overcoat.
well, look at this!" cried the man.
He has deliberately and with malice
aforethought smeared grease on my
new overcoat He has ruined it. wish
you would come here and look!'
The woman ran in and turned up
the gas.
"Terrble." she cried. What made
him do it? 1t is something you might
expect of little tough, but of boy
we are trying to bring up der"ntly-'
and she tried to wiring the heart of
the boy into something like repent
ance by reproachful looks as he stood
silently by.
And he had promised to be good,"
lamented the man.
1T isn't time yet to be good" the
boy maintained stoutly; its too long
before Christmas"
The man took up the toy telephone
with an air of finality.
rs that you. Central" he asked
sternly. Good. Well, l wish you
would ring up Santa Claus for me
again, please, l wish to speak to him"
is this 1913, Iceland? Please let me
have Santa Claus again, will youo
Thank you. This Santa Claus? Well,
Santa, about that large silver watch
| told you about few minutes ago
The one l 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 Clans. l have concluded not
TO give it to the boy Why? 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 tron-
bic 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 it with it. Yes, it
is a pity. But it can't be helped. A
boy must not be encouraged in such
behavior"
The boy seemed to be thinking hard
as he stood by, but he said moth
ing.
Il think" volunteered the woman,
that l can take out the grease with O
hot iron. l have put one on. will
lay blotter on the coat and the
grease will come off on the blotter
when I put the iron on it. Come in
the kitchen and help me-"
The botter and the hot iron had
the desired effect. She held the
coat up to the light triumphantly
rhe 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 to
them softly. He stood at the table,
the toy telephone to his ear.
us this you, Central?" he asked
W1Stfully. Yes. Good! VIII you
give me 33S, Iceland, if you please
Thank you, Central"
Isn't he polite?" the woman whis.
pered to the man.
is that you Santa CLAUSE" asked
the boy at the telephone. Good!
Well, Santa, I'd like to tell you that |
you needn't pay any attention to the
asst message the man from Broo <lyn !
sent you about that silver witch. |
They've got the grease out of the |
avercoat."