Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-26
DECEMBER 26, 1909.

please don't make your order too
big. I'm a little strapped this year.
You don't want a house an lot, do
your"
mo, but I'd like a lady's hat" the
boy announced, "an' I'd like some real
good tea. an I'd like good, warm
shawl Can have all that?"
Sure" Santa Claus agreed, ANY
thing you say, my boy. You're the
doctor"
"Then I'd like enough dress goods to
make dress for lady-a small lady
I'd like It red with black spots on 1t.
Can I have that?"
"Oh, guess so. / owe you something
for back years, don't I?'
"I might let you have little money
on the goods Not an awful lot but
IL 10 cents would help you any could
let you have it,
Fork it out put 1t In the pot"
"I can't let you have 1t now. | amt
got II in me clothes. but I'll put 1t with
the list on the mantelpece tonight, ana
YOU come down an ct 'em. Say. Kid
told me you come down chimneys. Is
that right?"
That's how I come when come.
"IIow do you git through the stove!
That's what want to know, sara
Mike. with professional interest.
'wen, I can't tell you that: You
don't belong to the union. And don't
YOU walt up for me. I may be little
late, and IL that Is cents Is tnere IN
the morning you'll know It's because l
can't hll your order. l just have 10
look over my stock, you know, Deiore
l take a deposit on the goods
After one hour of intense exertion,
mental and physical Michael evolved
the list: laid II upside down upon the
mantelpiece; weighted 1t with three
fve-cent pieces; cautioned his motner
against disturbing 1t. and vanished INTO
his sleeping closet. Mrs. Dwyer pen,
over the pathetic little scrawl ana
scanned It tearfully. This tiny rift Oh
fancy in her boys prosaic life was
doomed to such bitter disappointment,
and she was so powerless 10 prevent
II. And even as she read the llst OF
feminine fancies, and knew them oe
signed for her. the vigil OF the last
three peaceful weeks ended. The heavy
stan she dreaded sounded on the stairs.
The heavy hand she dreaded turned
the handle of the door, and Mr.. Dwyer,
in a state of intoxication very cred
table to one without popularity, ana
without steady source or income,
iurched in. He ignored empty forms
of greeting and began at once upon
the object of his visit
"where's that boy of yours?" he de-
manded. "Where's, where is her ana
then as she did not answer he enforced
his question with a curse which maue
her retreat behind the table. Her
nosture as she crouched there was
more eloquent than any words.
"Never here when / want him. MT
Dwyer rambled on in one of the rapid
emotional changes common 10 ms
state. "Never any good to me. never
stands a drink to hard-working father
Rotten with money, that Kid, ana
never a nickel for suffering parent
suffering, incurable parent. where's
he now?" he repeated with rresh
oath which terrified the woman into
the monosyllabic lie:
"Out."
always out" complained Mr.
Dwyer. aggrieved almost to tears
"Hard-working father come home,
wants see ungrateful son; wants press
his hand, wants give him fathers
blessing, dying fathers dying bless
Ing. not here"
In keen appreciation of his own
mournful eloquence, Mr.. Dwyer mace
his shiverlng way to the stove, ana
maudlin in his grief, laid his nead
uuon the mantelpiece and wept miser-
ahlv. Now It CHANGED that his despon-
dency led him to his desire, and that
he had no sooner bowed his foreheao
in sorrow than he raised 1t In JOY
There under his eyes. lay three nick
els on a dingy piece of paper. Three
nickels meaning much stimulant ana
unlimited free lunch. Gloatingly ne
wrapped the coins in the paper ana
pocketed them, and straightway ne de-