Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-12-20
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3
was lighted by a big candle in tan
! 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. cHticing 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 | do" exclaimed the
boy.
If you'll be good" said the man,
! I'll give it TO YOU Christm
I'll be good" promised the boy.
We'll. 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 tfiat you. Central?
Give me 33S. Iceland. please.
Hello" called the man. rs that
you, Santa Claus? Good How are
you. Santa? That's fine. ! want YOU
to do a little something for me Christ
mas morning. There's a big silver
watch wait a little boy to have, but
| live 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
overcoat. will you. Kiddie?"
The boy sprang down from his lap
and brought the overcoat, a 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
aforethousht smeared grease on my
new overcoat. IIa h0, r~:nod it, 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.
1T isn't time yet to be good" the
hoy 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, wish to speak to him"
rs this 33S, Iceland? Please let me
have Santa Claus again. will you?
Thank you. This Santa Claus? Well.
Santa. about that large silver watch
| told you about 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 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 trou-
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 pity. But it can't be helped A
behavior"
The boy seemed to be thinking hard
as he stood by, but he said moth
ing.
Il think" volunteered the woman,
that / can take out the grease with
hot iron. have put one on. | will
lay blotter on the coat and the
grease will come off on the blotter
when | put the iron on it, Come in
the kitchen and help me-
The blotter and the hot iron had
the desired effect. She held The
coat up TO the light triumphantly
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 to
them softly. He stood at the table.
the toy telephone to his ear.
is this you. Central?" he asked,
wistfully. Yes. Good, Will you
give me 33S. Iceland if you please.
Thank you. Central"
Isn't he police" 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 tel, 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
overcoat"