The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1913-02-06
MYWIFE'S
BIRTHDAY
BY CARL SARGENT CHASE


know how busy | am and how the fur
nishing of gifts for members OF the
family dStreSSeS me. Bobby must
have a birthday gift for you as well
as me, and | must provide his as well
as mine. Will you please relieve me
Of the responsibility by buying some
thing for me TO give you and some
thing for Bobby to give your"
This was not displeaSing to my wife,
for she Is frugal woman and would
rather buy gifts for herself than that
l should buy them for her, fearing
that would be too extravagant in the
matter. Besides, she has for some
time provided the family gifts for
birthdays and Christmas. However.
there is one feature of the matter that
needs careful attention. Our boy, Bob
by. aged ten. is not taken into the
secret. He is supposed to assume that
buy his and my own gifts for his
mother
On this anniversary. being very much
engaged. after throwing the burden on
my wife's shoulders l did not even
take the precaution to have the usual
consultation with Bob as to what
should procure for him for his mothers
birthday. The day before the anniver
sary came round | suddenly remember
ed the matter. reminded him of 1t and
asked him what he would like to give
He prefers to pay for his gifts out of
his own money and, having an eye to
business. suggested candy. well know
ing that nine-tenths of 1t would go into
his own stomach. He gave me the
money for the purchase. and straight
way Informed his mother of his choice.
telling her just what kind Of sweets
he preferred for her, or. rather. for
himself.
My wife left a box containing my
gift for her in my closet. and so busy
was | that never thought to look at
It The afternoon before her birth
day we walked out together, and dur
ing the walk she dropped in at a candy
store and. finding a better article than
Bob had suggested for less money.
bought it. carefully instructing me as
to the reasons | should give Bob for
the change from his order.
That evening l took Bob into my
study. shut the door so that his mother
could not Overhear our conversation
and showed him the candy, explaining
at the same time why the change had
been made. Unfortunately l told him
double the price paid. He heard me
through then said:
Papa. didn't suppose you would
allow any one to make such a guy of
you"
what do you mean?' asked. quite
taken aback.
ITO charge you so cents for half a
pound of candy"
Not being able to explain the matter.
tried to get out of it by directing his
attention elsewhere. so | took the box
my own present for his
mother from the closet and began to
open it
Now. it suddenly occurred to me that
was ignorant Of the contents of that
box. While unwrapping it Bob asked
ne several times what it was.
You shall see." l said. But the i'm
patient Bob did not see, for there was
l knot In the string that bound 1t
which found it difficult to unite, so
Kept repeating. You shall see, my boy,
what it is if you will only be patient"
When l got the cover off discovered
hat the gift had been packed in ex-
,elsior. and was obliged to hunt for
t This caused more delay, during
which Bob continued to ask what is
t." and | to reply You shall see."
But l was cornered after all, for when |
produced little round glass recep- |
acle profusely gilded. with hole In |
he cover. didn't know what it was.
what is it. papa?" again Bob que
led, this time with new meaning, |
or he had never seen one Of the kind |
,efore any more than ] had.
Here was a pretty predicament j
lad bought a present for mother with
'ut knowing to what use it was to be
,ut That was a dead giveaway. l
ooked it over, turned it upside down
nd took off the lid, but for the life Of
ne | could not make out for what 1t
vas intended Finally hazardeJ:
"Why, don't you know what that is,
Bob? Why, it's "a thing lady puts
n her bureau to hold powder, and
hat hole in the top is for the handle
f the thing she puts the stuff on her
ace with. The handle sticks out
trough the hole"
Having said this directed Bob's at
ention again to his own present, and
e asked me IL it would be allowable
or him to take just one.
Having staggered through the matter
With Bob and come out whole by the
kin Of my teeth. went to his mother
nd said:
"For heavens sake! Why didn't you
ell me what was the gift you had
ought for me to give you and what it
Tas fOrw
81 did, but you forgot"
"What is the thing anyway? / told
lob it was for face powder"
"It's a hair receiver"
"What's a hair receiverT
SITS to put the hairs in that come
ut Of a woman's head when she
ombs her hair"
'Do they go in at the hole In the
,p?"
0Of onurcov