Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-29
THE DAILY CHIT-CHAT.
By Ruth Cameron.
Do you like surprises?

Do you like surprises?
| I am so fond Of them myself that feel
sure you do. Remember sometimes, when
you were little, how father, mother or big
| brother would put q stick of candy a
| many-colored pencil or some other child.
ish treasure under your plate: and remem-
Der how delighted you were when you
| came to the table, saw that inverted plate
| and how the treasure beneath it became
| twice as delightful by reason of being a
| "s'prise"?
Remember, too, that time when big
brother came home and said right out OF
clear sky, How would you like to go to
| the circus this afternoon?' OF course
you do. and you can remember as we'll as
| II 1t were yesterday how you jumped ur
and down and cried "Goody!' or "Rully!
according to your sex. Surely the reason
that whole excursion stands out SO vivid
In your mind is that 1t was lifted out OF
| the ordinary by being "sprise''
Wen, then, since we've decided that you
like surprises as we'll as I do. I'm sure
you'll want to hear Of a new kind of sur.
lady. told us Of the other afternoon
The author man was glum. No, IL
wasn't because the magazine market was
as Dad as the stock market. No, it wasn't
anything else We could suggest Very
well, then, II we must know, 1t was sim
ply because he was sick to death Of him.
self and his vile temper. Just the other
day he had made up his mind more firmly
than ever before that he would control it
and just this morning he had failed
egresiopsly.
That's the way it always is" he con-
cluded. lover and over again I make up
my mind that I will do better next time,
and even while I'm making that promise
cry I'll say every bitter, unreasonable
thing that comes into my head. I'm al
most ready to chuck the whole thing"
We were all silent for minute We
knew that the author man had considera-
Bile provocation for temper but we
couldn't very we'll say that
Molly spoke finally. Did you ever try
giving yourself surprises David?" said
she.
Don't know what you mean. Molly
said the author man with the lifelessness
Of complete disbursement
Well. you know explained Molly.
its this way. I used to have just the
same feeling about getting up in the
night that ! would get up when called in
the morning. and even while / was prom
Using I'd know | wouldn't. Well, one
morning when ! was lying there thinking
into my head Why not give yourself a
| surprise by getting up this minute?' And
SO did. jumped right out of bed and
1t really was a pleasant surprise to my
self. And a nice one, too, for had time
enough to dress in comfort, go out in the
garden and pick bunch of pansies for
my desk. And I've done 1t lot since
given myself surprises about different
things. I mean. You don't know how
much putting it that way helps. When I
come home tired. throw myself on the
couch. and don't feel a bit like helping
mother get supper, I'll think. This is a
grand chance to give myself surprise by
| hopping up quick and setting the table
| do 1t, and when / sit down to supper
can tell you. l feel better than if
hadn't"
| BY the time Molly had reached fhis
point in her peroratiop the author mans
! guinness had vanished. He was looking
down at her with the beautiful smile OF
amused tenderness that we usually KEEP
| for children.
Molly looked up and caught the smile
| You are laughing at me-" she accused.
| Indeed, I'm not" said the author man
| ION the contrary, I'm going to surprise
myself the very next time get q
| chance"
/ Truly" cried Molly. rapturously. Sh.
I: thinks the author man very wonderful
and regards his approval as a sort Of &C
colade.
Molly" broke in the wants-to-be-cynic
1 who had been listening with unwontet
attention-"I say. Molly. five times you'v,
promised me you'd take that tramp t.
Bears Hill and then put 1t off. Now
want to go this afternoon. and hope
you are going to surprise yourself by put
the author man. "But why don't you
Molly? l feel just like tramp and III
come. too IL may
"oh. will you, Dayid?" cried Molly will
But whisper while I tell you a queer Sc
cret. l don't think the o-be-cyni,
was the least bit pleased.