The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-06-07
A DAUGhiI;;,1'S
PEACE OFFERING
Unusual OK Softels an Co.
durate Father.

You know pa wouldn't censent to
Dels marriage with Jim. wouldn't al
low the wedding at the house or allow
either Del or Jim to come here after"
ward. This was because Jim had
been wild and hadn't settled down. 1t
was hard ON us all. for Del was my
only child, she had always been her
fathers pet. and his treatment almost
broke her heart.
The years went by, and pa instead
of softening appeared to harden,
though Jim made Del a splendid hus-
band and grew rich. They had one
child, boy, the prettiest little chap
you ever saw. One day an artist sa "
him in his bath and was so struck
with his little form that he asked
leave to copy him into a picture he
was painting. The picture was Il sue
cess and brought the artist a fine req
utation, all on account, everybody
said. of the little figure in the corner.
One day Del said to me, ma. In
going to send pa present"
I'm afraid, my dear, he'll send i;
right back to you"
Maybe he will. and maybe he
won't. Anyway. I'm going to try il.
I'm going to put it in the dining room
so that he'll see it when he comes
down the first thing in the morning"
10
"Jim and I are going to get up ear
ly and take it round. You are to let
US in. Well place 1t right where pa
will see it the first thing when he
comes into the breakfast ROOM"
l didn't believe it would do any
good, but told Del | would help her
in any way l could, so it was all ar
ranged that they should bring thpr
gift the next Sunday morning. IN
that day we breakfast at 8 O'Clock, ard
pa does not have to go downtown to
business. When Sunday came the sun
was shining bright and beautiful, the
birds were singing in the yard. and
there was a delicious freshness in the
air. l was thankful, thinking that if
anything could put pa in a good humor
it would be this beautiful morning. A
little before Jim and Del drove up
to the side gate, which was hidden
from the house by trees, though that
wasn't necessary, for pa was shut up
in his shaving room. where he couldn't
see anything, and Jim carried an OBJ
long box about three feet in length up
to the side entrance. | let them in,
and they went to the dining room.
while | went upstairs to keep an eye
on pa.
"What q pleasant day." ! said, "for
a family party to go for drive in the
country"
There's no family party except you
and me-" he said
l knew that he was pining for Del.
but l didn't say anything more for
fear Of making him ugly. l saw by
the clock that it was five minutes to 8,
and I went to the banister and cough
ed to give Jim and Del warning, then
told pa that breakfast was ready. He
got up with sigh, and we went down
stairs together.
We both stood mute looking at what
we saw in the bay window at the end
of the dining room. The marble bust
that always stood on the pedestal had
been removed, and in its stead was
the statue of little boy about five
years old. 1t was of white marble
that is, so far as we could judge-and
held out pair of little arms to us.
"Great guns" pa exclaimed.
Little darling" said 1. what a
pity 1t isn't alivep'
"How do. grandpa" 2" cried the statue,
and. tearing off its white face, it dis
played the rosy features of Dels little
Jim. Jumping Off the pedestal, all in
his white tights, he ran up to his
grandpa. who bent down and took him
in his arms.
/ never saw pa so overcome in my
life. He hugged the boy so tight that
l thought he would crush him. Then
Del came from the pantry and put her
arms around them both. Del was
laughing and crying, and pa was try
AiS W hCNp LIOLu uOluB pOlu' utn ne
put little Jim down, and without no.
ticing that his clothes were covered
with the white powder that had made
the boys tights look like marble he
folded Del in his arms
Jim-big Jim, mean-seeing through
a crack in the pantry door that the
plan had been a success, came into the
room, and pa put out his hand.
That was the happiest breakfast par
ty any of us ever sat down to. had
taken pains to have a nice breakfast.
though l didn't believe Del's present
to her father would break through his
crustiness. but hoped that it would
and we would all take our Sunday
morning meal together. After the
breakfast we sat in the library and
talked while pa and Jim smoked.
MA" said pa to me. didn't you say
something about a family party going
for drive? ! reckon We'll have out
the horses"
Pa and Jim went out to the stable.
while Del and got up lunch. Then
we started for the country. There
was room for Jim and Del on the back