The Prescott daily news., 1909-12-23
An Afternoon
 Of

It began at the breakfast table. Blif- kins had come down ahead of the other members of the family and now, buried in the morning paper. he paid no attention to the noisy greetings of his two boys as they romped into the dining room. Mrs. Blifkins' good morning" was received in silence The family was properly subdued. Finally. perhaps ten minutes later, Blifkins noticed that his wife was speaking to him.
 Hardly a good way to start the day Mrs. Blifkins was saying. It's getting to be custom. know you're not angry or cranky, but you might as well be; the effect is the same You'll never gain the boys confidence that way. You never play with them. You're always too busy, thinking or working. and can't keep Billy at home because there's nothing here to amuse him. Why don't you come home early this afternoon and get ac- quainted? You can live if you miss your club one afternoon"
 So Blifkins went home at threo o'clock Billy, Az years. and Dick. two. were waiting for him on the front steps. They began to whoop like young Indians when they saw him get off the car.
 I'm going to play with you this afternoon, boys" Blifkfns said You ti11 I toll nf nd n1 we'll have time. We're going to get acuuainted. we are"
 Fifteen minutes afterward Blifkins had turned an old porch seat upside down in the back yard and was mak- ing it into a work bench for Billy and ment a large tin box filled with all sorts of valuables, such as broken locks and keys, discarded buckles, bits of wire and other junk. It was treasure box for Billy and Dick. and soon they were exploring it's contents.
 Just then Blifkins heard more h. dian yells and turned in time to see three boys of Billy's age about to at- tack from the rear, over the fence.
 q won't play with you." Billy said. I'm going to play with my papa"
 We'll said one of the boys in per feet good nature. we're going to play with you"
 Blifkins didn't desire to offend Bil- ly's playmates. He determined to be patient. q don't come home often in cex hD | vyic you'd run home now and come back tomorrow. Billy and Dick and r."
 Nav said we could come," one of the boys said.
 But your mamma. didn't know was"
 Yes she did That's why she let us come. We're going to-"
 Four more boys and three girls. none more than five years old, now appeared, some from the front some from the rear. They lined up around Blifkins and stared at him much as they'd stare at a giraffe of an ele- phant. It's way children have.
 Children" he said-Billy and Dick here took up their positions near their father-"children, I don't come home often in the afternoon, so I wish you'd 80 home now and"
 Nav said" one of the girls be- gan. but Blifkins interrupted her.
 Tt doesn't matter what 'maw' said. This is my house and I wish you'd go home."
 We want to play with Billy" was the calm rejoinder
 "I don't want you." Billy said. sturd- fly supporting his father. No one was at all offended by Billys candor.
 The argument was here Interrupted by the arrival of three more boys. Blifkins' backyard resembled a kinder. garten. Blifkins appealed to his wife. who had come to the kitchen door.
 See here, Martha" be said. T