The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-13
Peggy Goes A-Christmas Shopping
With Her Big Brother, Tim
ny DOLLY DALRYMPLE

SO l bundled him quickly into book shop
to buy a new set of kipling that l knew
she'd set her heart on"
Here's the very thing for mother" he
exclaimed as soon as he had gotten Sally's
gift off his mind"
What is it?" Peggy asked quickly.
why it's a de luxe edition of Tenny-
son." he said promptly. 1.-THE little brown
copy she's had for years is falling to
pieces. and this large, handsome edition
is just the one she'd like"
Don't be a goose, Tim" said Peggy
you know mother wouldn't read Tenny-
son from anything in the world, but that
little old marked copy she's had for 40
odd years" Get Sally set of Kipling
done up and give the saleslday the address
and come on
Don't you think I've made a mistake
about Sally? Don't you think she'd
rather have had some sort of sewing
Thing-a-bob?" he began to reflect, as ne
put his hands in his pocket jingling the
loose change as If he had year to con-
slider matters in.
II told you she wants the set of kipins.
| She adores Kipling and, besides, you know
that Sally always expects you to give her
| books. You've done it for years, and she
would be disappointed if you didn't"
"All right" he acquieseed." I've got
five other presents to buy, SO let's hurry
eide on the Tennyson for mother?"
Distinctly nor said Peggy. and led hin
away like a lamb to the slaughter
Suppose you just take the money and
get the rest" suggested Tim as they
! started for another shop. "I'm wool
gathering when it comes to Christmas
presents"
would you decoy me into this shopping
expedition and then run away and leavs
me to battle with the crowd and you just
go to your club and sit about comforta-
bly, and worry not at all?'
Now Peggy, you know What 1 mean,'
he tried to explain. Girls know a lot
| thing, so be trump and just buy the
whole shooting match for me and I'll be
your debtor forever MORE"
So
OF course Peggy did as she was told.
Last evening when we assembled
round the fireside and | told Tim about
my purchases" Peggy was repeating, "he
grumbled and growled at everything until
/ gently reminded him of the old adage
that beggars mustn't be choosers and In
this case he certainly had not had any
of the trouble of shopping, while / was
worn to a FRAGILE"
But why on earth did you buy those
doilies for Clara?" he asked "They are
entirely too practical for a Christmas
present"
II know Clara would far rather have
the doiies than something utterly use
Jess" Peggy answered. Last year you
bought her a very expensive jabot and
she never wore it, but kept it until this
year. and / saw her fixing 1T UP in holly
paper the other day to send to somebody
for a Christmas present this year"
rs that the way women behave?" asked
Tim astonshed.
"They do when men send them useless
presents" said Peggy, "and they ought
to-"
"Then next year and until I get myself
a perfectly good wife | shall delegate you
to do my Christmas shopping for me-
Tim said with a satisfied look as lie
glanced at the change Peggy handed
back and then he added, And besides.
you've been very economical, so l ought
to be happier than ever.1 fffn
1t isn't too late this year for a lot OF
bewildered, perplexed men to profit by the
idea of this little story. judging from the
number / have encountered within the
last few days in the shops. wearing a
bored and worried expression.
If they'd only confess that Christmas
shopping is Nbeyond them I'm sure they
could find some nice energetic woman In
their families who would execute their
commissions and save them many a silly.
useless purchase made In desperation at
the eleventh hour