Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-12-30
HIS CHRISTMAS
PRESENT
By MARK WHITTEMORE
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

~ was thirty eight and Laura was
thlrty-two. They had reached the age
where childless married people begin
to try to supply the deficiency by pets.
Henry Trayne, who was profess
siOnal chemist and mining engineer,
was offered every inducement to go to
the Pacific coast and direct the opera
tons Of a mine. Besides his salary,
he was offered some stock Of the COM
pany. For q long time he declined.
not caring to break up his home on an
uncertainty-for the mine might prove
worthless-Or to leave his wife while
the experiment was being made. but
''the WOLF was providing about the
door, and Mt lust the couple made up
their minds to bear the separation.
Henry was obliged to make a pre-
lim.nary trip to a distant city where
the capitalists who were to employ
him lived in order to talk matters over
and become posted as to his work.
During this absence. which lasted a
month, Laura had a taste Of what she
was to endure during the longer sepa-
ration. When her husband returned
the couple were enraptured at the re-
union. being like young couple In
their honeymoon. except that the long
er separation stared them In the face.
When the March winds were blow
ing Henry babe his wife n sorrowful
adieu and went to the field OF his OPP
srations. During the first month OF
absence Laura wrote him every day
'Chimmy" (the dog. dear boy. misses
you very much. The day you left he
whined and fretted and ran about pin
ing for his dear papa. Toddle" (the
parrot) "said yesterday. oh. Henry.
how can l live without your wonder
II the dear girl got that from me-"
Had the letters fallen into the hands
Of strangers they would have supposed
the writer to be referring to beloved
children. However. after few weeks
possibly Laura was becoming more
accustomed to her husbands absence
and did not need to lavish so much
love on Chimmy and Toddle-the let
tiers assumed n more practical tone.
Laura hoped the venture would be
successful. They were getting on
toward old age and nothing laid up.
It would be nice II in addition to
Henry's salary the shares that had
been given him would become valu-
able. Then they would not have to
worry about the future. In one of her
letters she asked Henry II there were
good schools In the district where the
mines were located. Henry wrote back
that he hadn't taken any interest In
the schools, for II they made the place
permanent home. not having any
children Of their own. 1t wouldn't
make any difference To which Laura
replied that she thought Toddle could
be taught to read. and she wouldn't
Hike to take her where such a thing
would be impossible II desired. Henry,
who had got used to being separated
nom his pets. thought this absurd.
Six months passed. and no immedi-
ate prospect Of Henry's getting home.
October came. and there was a rich
strike In the mine. The success Of the
enterprise was secured. but still Henry
could not get away. In December he
left everything to so home and spend
Christmas with his wife and Chimmy
and Toddle.
He arrived ON Christmas morning.
A. he ran up the steps Of his house
he noticed an auto standing before the
door and In the hall met the family
physician. who was giving some In.
structions to q trained nurse. Henry.
In terror. begged to be informed as to
the reason for their being there.
The crisis II passed." said the doc
tor. "Doot worry. Nurse. 60 up and
prepare Mrs. Trayne to meet her hus-
band. We don't want to startle her."
The nurse went upstairs and In q
Few minutes called out that Mr..
1rayne might come up. Henry was
20 anxious that he had not responded
to Chimmy's greetings and when the
DOG got In his way a. he was hurrying
upstairs gave him a push that sent
him away yelping. When the eager
husband reached his wife's door he
was astonished to see a placard ON Il
bearing the words:
Merry Christmas from Harry"
Too anxious to give way to wonder
% to what It meant, he opened the
door softly and entered the room.
There lay Laura, with the tiniest bit
Of baby on her arm, and the mother
nad . happy smile Of welcome on her
faces - &c. =
"A Christmas present for you, Hen.
tyr said Laura.
The nurse. who took a position to see
the husbands face at the moment OF
hls surprise. told the doctor that '.hA
looked A. II he had had a pitcher OF
Joy poured over him" He stood for a
moment enraptured at what he saw.
then took his wife and their child In
Que embrace.
Now know" he said, why You
were inQuiring about the schools and
were giving me that nonsense about
teaching Toddle to read. But why
didn't you let me knowr'
II wanted to surprise you. And
when 1 learned that you were to come
q this time I hoped my Christmas
ein would be here ready for you. The
doctor delivered 1t without wrapper
q address this morning at 9 O'Clock"
And 20 It was that Chimmy and Tod
die were rslegated to a very inferior
position to make way for the rising
sou Of the household. Toddle. who
was bright enough to deserve a better
Ate. says:
Shut mp! You'll wake the babyr
MIreHEN Bros. have invested about
$4,000 in q packing plant near Re-
creation Park, Spokane. that will be