Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-27

cited state OF mind. He had been given
TO understand that he was to have
/ something far above the ordinary toys
| and candies which children expect on
| that great occasion. While his mother
/ was helping him to undress, notwith-
| standing the fact that she had assured
| him that to know what this especial
gift would be would spoil it all, he
i piled her with questions concerning 10
is IL made of wood or OF metal?'
| 'Is it soft?" us it hard?" lis it on
| wheels. or does it stand on legs?' His
/ mother was obliged to confess that it
\ stood on legs. rs it a hobby horSe?'
/ lis it a woolly lamb that will bleat
when you bend it's head?" rs 1t a
| music box:"
These questions being answered in
| the negative. when Tommy had got
into his pajamas his mother told him
! that he must ask no more of them. but
/ kneel and say his prayers. He obey
ed, but tackled on TO his prayer re-
| quest that he might know at once what
his Christmas present was to be.
The morning light was coming in
through the windows when Tommy
lay dreaming. He dreamed that the
family were all IN the breakfast room
looking at that wonderful gift he was
to receive 1t was a toy dog. 1t stood
on q table. and all of a sudden it be-
gan to bark. Then it ran around on
the table just like real live dog.
What a wonderful thing to see toy
dog that would run about and bark.
Tommy could hardly believe his senses.
Then all of a sudden he was awak-
ened by the sound of a dogs bark-a
real bark this time, not one in a dream.
Tommy took in great deal at once.
He saw all the stockings bullying with
what Santa Claus could get into them
and the mantel covered with what he
could not get into them. And while
Tom was looking at those things he
was thinking of the toy dog he had
dreamed about that had barked and
run around. and he wished that when
he went downstairs into the dining
room he should find just such a Christ
mas gift.
"Yerpw
Tommy's eyes opened wide with sur
prise and anticipation. Surely that was
4 bark, real bark. from a real dog.
ears. He listened, hoping that he
would hear it again. And presently
he did. In one jump he landed on the
floor. Could 1T be possible that real
live dog was downstairs and that 1t
was to be his Christmas gift? AS he
was in his pajamas, without shoes or
stockings, he ran downstairs and,
bursting into the dining room, stood
for few moments with eyes as big
as saucerS. There stood a little dog,
staring at him just as he was staring
Mt the dog. 1t was puppy, about
eighteen inches long and foot high.
of the hunter breed, with a pointed
nose. long ears, slender legs and an
eye almost as intelligent as Toms.
Being satisfied that Tommy was his
friend he made several jumps and
landed in the boys arms.
Tomlny's father was sitting before
blazing coal fire reading the morning
paper.
"Oh. papa" cried the child, sis he
mine?"
YES, Tommy. he's yours. He's your
Christmas gift from mamma and me-"
"Oh, my, How / love him.
He Rugged him, he petted him, he
caressed him in all those ways n child |
will caress a pet, now and again stop !
ping to exciaim. Hes mine, all mine
1t was impossible to persuade Tom !
to go back to his room to be dressed !
without the dog, SO the dog was taken
upstairs, Tommy carrying him in his !
arms. In his chamber Tom put him |
down on the bed and covered him up |
SO that he wouldn't be cold. for the
room was chilly. but the dog wouldn't
stay there, and, jumping down, ran
about the room.
The other children We're rifiing the
stockings they had taken from the man
tel, plunging their little fists down into
them and Juggling at articles that were
not fitted to go into a stocking. But
Tom paid no attention to the children
)r the stockings or what was being
taken out. He had a live toy. and the
nanimate ones did not interest him.
What was a jack-in-the-bo box or a magic
antern compared with real beautiful
log that he could hug and run with.
hat would bark and stand on his hind
egs with his fore paws up against his
Master?
Toms mother had a hard time dress
ng him. With one leg in his trousers,
lie must hrg his dog: with one arm In
sleeve ot his jacket, he must pat him:
While his hair was being brushed he
must take the brush from his mother
nd smooth his dogs coat. But ali
bings have an end. and in time the
added to by a dog-gath'
red in the dining room for breakfast
'om insisted on giving his part Of the
neal to the dog, but his mother as
ured him that only especial food could
g yet go down that precious throat.
No sooner was breakfast over than
amily conclave was held as to what .
'om's dog should be named. While
n2restions were in order. II was uR- :
ierstood that the final decision should |
Ia oh hot oh II