The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-02-04
BOBBY's FIRST FIGHT
Il Was Over the Existence Of
Santa Claus and He
Lost Out.
By LILLIAN OUcEY.

mOrSel had been disposed OF.
The eyes Of the mother and father
leaped together swift look that ask
ed and answered volumes. Then theil
eyes veered to Bobby.
"W-we?" It came In . chorus.
TON Bellows and l." Bobby spoke
largely. as became one who. at . droT
OF the hat as it we're. had put all child
ish nonsense behind him. Bobby wa
six. Being the only child. he was dim
ly aware that all he said carried
weight.
Don't believe in Santa-eh?" The
twinkle In Mr.. Crawford's eye belied
the solemnity of his tone.
Nope" Bobby gae back with un.
compromising pOsitiveness.
"Humph." was all the father said.
but where. sonny" the mother
began. when she caught the look in
her husbands eye, which reading
Alright she knew to mean: Leave 1t to
me Justmine." (Her name was Jas.
mine. and this was his fond version
Of IT,
so you and Tom Bellows don't be-
lieve in Santa CLAUSE" the man just
fed the conversation.
Nope. It's just make-believe to
fool kids"
"A little more of that pudding. Just
mine. It's bully. Id be willing to bet
every Christmas present I'm going to
get that you made 1t yourself"
Il did" Mrs. Crawford laughed a
little. And the question of Santa's
identity suffered momentary eclipse
for she plunged Immediately into a
minute account Of the divers paths
that same recipe and Travelled before
It reached her. During the recital a
large part Of Bobby's big minded com
placency left him
ITS just the fathers and mothers
They buy the presents" Bobby almost
chOkod in his haste as chance made
his mother pauS" I'VE heard it all
Mother Daddy Listen, Tom and
| were hiding in the next room It
was Toms aunt the one that goes to
college Santa Claus isn't any more
real than fairy story. And-and
nova days they don't believe in bring
Ing up children TO believe in him or
fairy stories either So we don't be-
licve any more And we're going to
tell all the other boys tomorrow
It was curious. but in spite of the
interest his face had portrayed. Bobby
suddenly noted that his father did not
lend himself to the conversation In
stead-and In absolute silence he
slipped hand into his inside coat
pocket
The hand came out with an envel-
ope. which was wordlessly handed to
Bobby And to Bobbys complete con-
sternation he saw it was the very let
ter he had written to Santa week or
90 ago. Bobby looked hard at his
father.
What's the use OF It now" Mr..
Crawford spoke kindly. though in
tone Of flnality that put the foolish
letter In its corner and incidentally
Bobby also.
Bobby. however. tried Joke on him
delivered with all his newly acquired
grOwn-upness. Oh! II was fun al
right-to believe"
Take 1t how you like. Santa Is
mighty good fun" Bobby felt seized |
with sudden panic.
"lll-lll tell you what's in the let.
ter father It was only a spluttering
boy who spoke now "a bicycle like
Ted Carson's train Of cars that run
on track, play circus. scouts
uniform and and good drum"
The words had fairly tumbled out Of
the boys mouth.
II say. SON." he suddenly exclaimed
az II the remembrance had Just leaped
into his mind. Look In my right hand
overcoat pocket. I've got something
for you. man came into nv office
today selling the dandiest book for
boys: The Adventures Of the Giant
Gagoo' And the pictures are great
said to him: Here I've got a little
chap Just wild about that kind of a
fairy story-give 1t to me Such A
bright little shaver he can read Thorn
himself now"
Put Bobby was of before the com.
pliment could touch him THE Adyen.
lures of the Giant Gagoo," Why il
was title to coniure with, Return.
Ing ne found the dining room empty
Were In here sonny" his mother
called softly from the Icing room.
Put we've only the logs for light. so
read at the table in there"
Reing so anxious to begin Bobby {
made no demur He spelled through
he first page Half way down the
second something his father said to {
IFS mother made him prick up his
,ars
Il remember il so we'll Mr.. Craw /
ord was saving II was Just about
'obby's age too quite as determined 9
o air my suddenly acquired knowl. a
dge Father | said. I don't believe Y
I Santa Claus any more I'm too big q
Father was a slow man. Not he u
eve In Santa He was astounded h