The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1908-01-03

%AN on her hat to go
sut to dinner with him. The roo
vas lighted by a big candle in a tall
,rass c~andlestick. The boy had light
I'd the candle for his own amusement.
The mar sat in a big rocking chair
near the candle, the boy in his lap.
playing with the mans watch, which
vas large, enticing and made up
'argely of silver and a 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
t to him. 1t won't run"
II should say l do" exclaimed the
10Y.
III 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
sphone? Here!" he said, taking up
he toy instrument; "Ill just ring up
Santa and tell him about it. Hello.
Central. Yes. Is that 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
% do a little something for me Christ
mas morning. There's a big silver
watch l want a little boy to have, but
I 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
he 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
he telephone, that's settled. Are you
.eady?" 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
he big candle and taking up two
angerfuls Of the warn grease, smear
ed It on the overcoat.
well, look 1t this!" cried the man.
He has deliberately and with malice
aforethought smeared grease on my
aew overcoat. He has ruined 1t. / wish
you would come here and look!"
The ran in and turned up
the gas.
"And he had promised to be good"
amented the a
1T isn't time yet to be good" the
boy maintained stoutly; its too long
before Christmas"
The mar took up the toy telephone
with an air Of inality.
is that you, Central?" he asked.
,ternly. Good. Well, I wish you
would ring up Santa Claus for me
sgain, please, l wish to speak to him"
us this 1888. 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 a few minutes ago.
The one I want you to call for in
Brooklyn and bring over to New York
20 the boy on Fifteenth street. You
aeedn't bother about that watch,
Santa Claus. 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 l had gone to all the trou-
BILE to call you up on the long-dis-
.ance phone to ask you about bring.
ing the watch. he deliberately ruined
my new o~vercoat. Took some candle
grease and smeared 1t with 1t. Yes, it
,s a pity. But it can't be helped. A
boy must not be encouraged in such
,ehavior."
The boy seemed to be thinking hard
as he stood by, but he said moth
ing.
II think" volunteered the woman,
that l can take out the grease with a
hot iron. l have put one on. will
lay q blotter on the coat and the
grease will come on on the blotter
when l put the iron on it. Come In
he kitchen and help me-"
The blotter and the hot iron had
the desired effect. She held the
:oat 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 t.
them softly. He stood at the table
the toy tele~hone to hts ear.
els this yca. Central?" he asked,
wistfully. Yes. Good! Will you
give me 333S. Ice 1. II you please
Thank you. Cent. :"
isn't he politc:' the woman whis
pered to tic man.
rs thu. you Santa CLAUSE" asked
the boy a. ire telephone. Good!
Well, Sans:.. I'd like to tell you that
ron needn't ray any attention to the
last message the nan from BROOKLYN
sent you about that silver watch
rhsy'ye CIT We gFtfse out OF the
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