The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-20
EVENING CHAT
BY RUTH CAMERON.

Il have a Christmas idea," writes one of
my letter-friends. "Often when the old
folks get their family raised, there are
things about the home that sadly need
replenishing- If the children would all
club together and do something worth
while each Christmas, this condition Of
affairs would not exist long.
Il know a family of children who have,
with the help OF the old folks, grown to
be somebody and strut now. The old
folks have had a long, hard pull. That
home needs replenishing inside and out.
and think it is a shame. Certainly the
children must remember their parents
with some Christmas gift Why not do
something worth while, instead of keep
ing up their own appearances and forget
ung the little mother, who must be so
tired of that rickety dining room table,
and the father who must long to be able
to paint the old house
Il Know of another home that sadly
needs d good bookcase. 1 warrant you
that one OF the children who earns SPLEEN
did pay, will spend more on trinAets for
her girl friends than would buy a very
good bookcase
Most heartily, endorse my correspond
ent's ideas on this subject, except on one
particular. She suggests that the re-
plenishings for the house shall be given
to mother, or to mother and father, for
Christmas Perhaps you think that's as it
should be. don t Let me tell you OF
family conclave some friends of mine
once held, and the custom which came of
it.
father and mother in this family. The
four children were all wage earners, and
for several years had bought father and
mother some thing for the houSe-one
year a sideboard, another set of china,
etc For each other, they bought dis
tinctly personal things, which each one
particularly wanted.
At the usual Christmas conference this
year, one of the children suggested that
for mothers gift they paper the living
room. Two of the others approved. but
the third objected. ~ s, I know it needs
terribly" she said, but I want
to get mother something personal like we
give each other She needs pretty silk
waist, and that's what L m going to give
her. l don't see why she should always
be put of with a GIT FOR the house. For
three years, We've given her something !
we all used and called it her Christmas !
gift. You know We'll enjoy that paper as !
much as she You know one of the /
reasons We particularly want it. is that !
we going to have that New Years /
party That's our party and not mothers s, /
and 1 don't see why we should give the /
paper to her and give each other things 1
we want for ourselves
1t was new point of view, but after
some discussion the family conclave un-
animously admitted the justice of it. /
Whereupon the originator of the discus
sion promulgated another idea Now
Why" she questioned, "Why shouldn't we
club together for that paper and call it
a gift to the house besides what we give
to mother and father? If the house is
shabby, it's partly because we children
nave made it so, and l think we owe it
something for harboring us all these
Tears."
The idea was laughed at al first, but
accepted in the end And not only did
he house get Christmas present that
7ear, but every year since then it has had
some gift
Don't you think this custom is rather
jolly idea2
do.
AS my correspondent points out, while
he children are growing up there are
Usually so many expenses that the home
rows shabby Now when the children
AVE become wage earners, what more
lifting than that they should help re-
Gather the home nest?
But | think it is much better II they do |
lot do this at the expense of mothers |
christmas gift
Here's hoping that the Christmas gift |
o the home will become a Christmas Gus
ON in more than one household. and that |
he little mothers shall occasionally re-
Give something all for themselves in 5
tead of for general use. !