Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-12-28
BY ERNEST N. SMITH

Christmas presents are such peculiar
things in many ways-particularly If
| you are not sure until the very last
moment just where they are coming
from. They are certain to be vel
come in the latter case
1t is all very we'll for the tousled
children to fall into warm beds the
might before" secure in the thought
that Santa Claus will come to their
house because he came in years
lgune by ~
II is all very well for father to smile
| indulgently at the thought that
mother has used the money be earned
to buy something he doesn't need or
care about.
And it's likewise comforting for
mother to know that father has some
how or other got the surprise" that
passing months.
say there's a certain delight in be,
ing sure -but consider for moment
those. outcasts who cant pick any
thing off their family tree. because
there isn't any family and there isn't
any tree. Consider how unexpected
must be the pleasure Of the one who
lives by his wits, and who is an adept
at making the word come threeS at
sundry and opportune times.
These are the people who d0ubly
enjoy Christmas because until the last
they have no means of knowing
whether they'll enjoy any day, let
along Christmas.
About Al Brown
Al Brown came walking up Third
Istreet the other night. cold, cherries
and hungry. The winking, blinking
lwhirlfng electric store signs had nc
beekoning CLEAN for hint
Knocked.
/ Along came man driving su1as
wagon overloaded with Christmas
trees They looked warm and com
PORTABLE, and for lack of anything
ipuf'poseful to do Al swung aboard
without so much as "by your leave
1 sir. = Nestled among the furry
branches he surveyed the passing
world until the wagon drew against
the curb with a bump, and the drives
lplconscions OF the extra load dropped
OF and walked briskIy through some
swinging doors. As Al slowly con
ltempiated the situation, genuine luck
in the shape Ola rotund country Nor
chant approached and after passing
Inspection remarked to AL: want
ID sell enlg The speed with which
AL slid off the load nearly set the
branches afire.
i II developed in an ensuing rapid
nfsS, 49, ff,<i, t1,,t 49, . =
ed to ship some trees to his nearby
town. and would like to make ar
rangements to have them delivered
at the railroad station.
I'll tell you paTdner," said Al
glancing nervous1y toward the swing
ing doors, I'D rather sell out now
cheap than stick around here every
night until Christmas. These here
/ trees ell sell fer $40, but I'll close EN-
out now fer SIS.
/ And the deal was strick, only the
man had $40 bill. "You hold the
team while change the money in
this here saloon said AL, and be
also went through the swinging doors
/ He ranged up alongside the driver
of the wagon and invited him to have
drink. 1t was like asking a duch
i to swim.
i A couple were quaffed, then as the
4 driver turned toward his load Of
green's AL slipped out side door
He had scarcely gone ten feet wher
there was loud commotion around
the corner, and a "BulIn went charg
ing by.
i Al waited only until a man came
i nrIot1F4A
information that "a fat buffers beat
ing the III oute'n Christmas tres
peddler when he slipped away int
the darkness.
Late that night he was arrested
for drunkenness and then the stor.
same out.
4 The Makin's.
Got the makin's pal?' inquired {
laborer of man idly smoking Gig
arctic on corner. Sure was tht
reply and the tobacco sack was pass
ed over. An instant later the ownel
o. the sack hearing whizzing noiss
behind him turned and beheld thu
man and the sack disappearing from
view. He had short sharp insbec
ton of his person, and then with ;
mournful cry of stop Thief wen
charging after. When the man, and
ten more. and some small boys, and
two cops" stopped breathless, anl
and quarryless, some blocks furthei
on, the originator of the sprint vouch
safed the information that he had two
tobacco sacks-one for his tobacco
and one for his money.
And he still had the sack of tobacco
I've formed a holiday shopping
club. said pompous gentleman il
my Office not long ago Its the great
est shopping opportunity of life time
l have $4,000 women who have al
ready signed up with my club. Eacf
woman has contributed $40 as an in
itiation fee. Now when she wants t.
buy anything she comes to me and
write her check for what she wants
good only on your store. You get thu
cash at once, and the woman being ;
member of my club pays me back b!
the month, without any interest"
And where do you come in?'' 1 in
nujrnd "a