The Democratic advocate., 1908-02-21
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, FEBRUARY 21, 1908
How Mr.. Tabtale's Wish Game True.

How Mr.. Tabtale's Wish Came True.
"Please what p grumbled Mr.. Tab
tale, "T N not doing anything, am I!'
tsMr. Tabtale Please | want you to
put the piece Of mistletoe back i'll your
pocket and keep it there =
Whereupon, with certain sheepish,
hangdog air, Mr. Tabtale did as he was
bid and turned sulky the very next mo-
ment.
How the wind blows outside p she
cried
Mr.. Tabtale sat tight but geowered hell
ishly at the blowing wind.
'Listen /" she cried.
He couldn't very we'll refuse this simple
command, but he looked as if he would if
he could.
ats whistling down the chimney p
she laughed 'sOh, l love to hear it
whistle down the chimney Don't you ?
Shall put another piece of wood on the
fire, Mr.. Tabtale? Oh, love to see it
blaze Don't you-uu u-u?
"I like all the good old Christian GUS
TOMS mumbled Mr. Tabtale.
"Oh, so do Ir' she exclaimed
"Mince pie and plum pudding and brandy
sauce--and- Tabtale Please p
'sPlease what r. demanded Mr.. Tab
tale. "Please what? p
"What is that in your hand p
Nothing
"Let me see, then.
He showed her that exceedingly porta-
Bile piece of commodity with spiteful sort
of feagerness, Immediately thereafter laugh
ing shortly and bitterly like a man who is
draining the dregs in his cup.
''How bluely the fire burns p she cried.
Zone would think that one had sprinkled
salt on it.
"Perhaps one has,, uttered Mr.. Tab
tale frightfully.
"Oh, Mr. Tabtale Please p
"How now p exclaimed that harrassed
young gentleman, badgered almost to
degree GIVE got nothing in my hands !
Lave Funny if /"
"No, no, I don mean that, she gent
ly protested, 81 mean the salt.
"What salt?
'On the fire, you know.
"Awful bad luck p she cried CAL
most as bad as spilling Though, of
course, ifone spills it accidentally and throws
a pinch over ones left shoulder -
"Do you really believe in all that ?"
"Why, of course l do. Don't you u
u-u-uY'
"Certainly not -
"And don't you believe in cracked mir
rors?''
'Stuff r.
''Nor in crickets p
"Nonsense p
"And don't you believe in dogs bowling
at the moon, Mr. Tabtale p
81 wouldn't believe them under oathr'
he cried, and she laughed SO immoderately
at his wit that his iron will softened and
he looked almost genial again.
"Wait p she cried. ''Ive got some
thing for you
She ran out of the room and ran back
bearing wishbone.
81 saved this from the Christmas din
ner," she exclaimed. 'Isaved it specially
for you, Mr.. Tabtale Now we each make
a wish and pull and the one who breaks
off the largest piece has his wish fulfilled"
81 don't believe it for a minute"
grumbled the contumacious Mr.. Tabtale.
'"Oh, but it, true p she cried. 1.-THE
wish always comes true Always p.
"Not it p
"Really and truly it does Oh, really
and truly, Mr.. Tabtalel Now pull p
They pulled, the bone cracked and broke
and the larger piece had undoubtedly
broken off in Mr.. Tabtale's hand.
''There p she cried with rounded eyes.
-'Now you'll get your wish p
He sheepishly drew forth his mistletoe.
"Oh, Mr.. Tabtale Please p she
cried.
"Why?' he demanded with heat
''Isn't this part of my wish p
ooh, noP' she implored "you
mustn't p
He put the mistetoe back in his pocket
exclaiming triumphantly; II knew it p
''Knew what p she asked.
''Silly superstition p he exclaimed in |
the sourest irony "Oh, of course I'll |
get my wish Oh, of course r'
They sat in silence for a minute, he |
mutely gloating on his victory, and she
pensive and thoughtful
''How many berries did it have on it p
she breathed at last
He took it from his pocket for the third
time and as he began counting the berries
she knelt down to put bit of wood on the
fire. She was long time in getting that
bit of wood exactly according to her wish
es, but just before she got up Mr.. Tabtale
saw light and he slipped the bit of mis-
tletoe in her pompadour.
"Did you count she began as she
arose to her feet and somewhat incenclu-
sively she ended, "Why Mr.. Tabtale
What on earth do you mean p
"Call me Tommy r. he said. "I
wished for it
Didn't 1 tell you ?" she cried. "Oh,
it always comes true Didn't I-why,
Tommy p
II wished fora hundred p said Tommy,
unexpectedly, starting on No. 8.
''Dear p she murmured, as they started
fairly together on No. 4.
rood For nho,,o.h+