Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-12-21


room. There's fathers gift. Can't you
your favorite set of books? All calf.
too, and illustrated by the only artist
that appeals to you. What\riches lie
in the palm Of your hand as you look!
No one can rob you of these. Every
page means the door of a new treasure
house. How good Of dear father! !
wonder how he knew? He must have
been listening when you and your
chum had that ripping discussion of ia
vorites. And you can't understand how
he knew the color Of your collection.
All, well! Trust a father.
Mothers dressing gown. She made
IL unhelped and probably in the late
night hours after the very long day.
See how cleverly her fingers have
made three yards OF cord look like
much more The loops and buttons are
handmade; they cost so much less, and
you know mother hasn't a bank &C
count of her own. She has not cut
down the rations, either It's just her
great, generous heart that has accom-
plished the seemingly impossible thing.
The eyes are not so bright and blue as
when she was the happy, laughing girl
that dad first loved. But she sees Just
as far beneath the surface, and she
knows how much you long for some
things. All, what world Of sacrifice
and love stands behind these gifts.
Oh. my, Don't smile, but isn't this
just like that great, laundering cub of
a Bob? He must have paid five or six
dollars for this. Poor, misguided, stung
brother! Now you can just see him
sauntering into the "art (save the
mark!) needlework" store. DO you see
his airy nonchalance as he casts his
eye over the pincushions arrayed in
glistening, satiny lines? How much
is this? And this? The latter being
the more expensive, was quickly
chosen. oh, what ever are you going
TO do with it? Bright pink satin, with
a suggestive bunch of bright forget-me-
nots blooming out from beneath a ruff.
he of very cheap lace. You'll never
forget II. You know-the kind OF
things you see at fairs. 1t may be the
reason! Perhaps the fair is an in
stitution for helping hopeless pin
cushions along an easy way.
But that's Bob for you! Care free,
big hearted, little rough on the es-
thetic edges, but ever willing to give
you the best Put back the abomina-
ton of satin and sawdust. Don't hurt
his feelings, please. Thank him for his
thought, his generosity. You can do
this without being hypocrite.
Here's something that hurts. Why?
Oh, because it has been given to .'get
ahead" Of you. She has money and has
bought the most expensive OF its kind
and has forgotten to remove the price!
She really should not have done this,
for she isn't one of your inner circle
and she doesn't care for you. Money
stands back of this. Nothing more
than the dollar mark lies beneath the
lid. You know ii, and blush mounts
few remarks that you heard the giver
make about you at Laura's tea. Why
do people do these things?
Here's a queer one. Lift up the box
lid again It's an old shoe box. but
some loving hands have covered ii
with two paper napkins and-look at
the contents! A loaf Of the finest
Dutch cake you ever tasted. Dear
Bridget never forgets you, does she?
In her little four-roomed cottage where
she's very happy and very busy, she
always bakes the bread that you rel
ish and sends her awkward husband up
with her best wishes every Christmas
day in the morning. What that cake
means only you and she can tell.
Let us look again at the little card
before you. What did that? tear
falls on the colored church. with its
bright roof and another splashes on
the snow that is piled with childish
prodigality at the roadside. A little
boy has drawn that all for you. He
calls you Dear One," and once he told
his mother that he felt sure that angels
look like you, but she corrected him, as
IL child could be stopped in harm
less wonderings, and he never again
ventured along lines of comparison.
Poor little boy! You know what that I
card means! 1t means day and days
Vi WOIh. IL uedus the sIdtituue vi q
crippled child who can't use a finger
without pain. And he has drawn this
for youl
oh. my, isn't this funny! That clown
of Jack is up to his tricks again |
He has bought book for 40 cents and |
has linked it with his foolish hand, add !
ing, Reduced to s1.0S." And to pile |
Ossa on Pelion, he has been addition
ally frank in suggesting that it's tres
bum" That man can always get a
smile from you.
There, you've dropped somethingl |
Don't lose that. It's letter. Are you |
going to read it again? Why, you know |
every word in IT,
Dearest" It says, IL send you my
heart, my soul, my life's best thoughts |