The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1914-03-19
GETTING THE
BEST OF FATHER
Old Man Falls Victim to
WiIes of His Grandson.

Dels marriage with jim, wouldn't al
| low the wedding at the house or allow
either Del or Jim to come here after
| ward. This was because Jim had been
wild and hadn't settled down.
The years went by. and pa instead
of softening appeared to harden.
though Jim made Del splendid hus-
band and grew rich. They had one
child, boy. the prettiest little chap
| you ever saw. One day an artist saw,
him In his bath and was SO struck
with his little form that he asked
leave to copy him into a picture he
was painting The picture was sue
cess and brought the artist fine
reputation. all ON account. everybody
said, of the little figure in the corner.
One day Del said to me, ma. I'm
going to send pa present.
"Tm afraid, my dear, he'll send it
right back to YOU
Maybe he will. and maybe he won't.
Anyway, I'm going 70 try it. I'm go
ing to put it in the dining room so that
he'll see it when he comes down the
first thing in the morning"
How are you going to send it?'
Jim and are going to get up early
and take it round. You are to let us
in. Well place it right where pa will
see it the first thing when he comes
into the breakfast room"
| didn't believe it would do any good,
but told Del would help her in any
way l could. SO it was all arranged
that they should bring their gift the
next Sunday morning. On that day
we breakfast at 8 o'clock, and pa does
not have to go downtown to business.
When Sunday came the sun was shin
ing bright and beautiful the birds
were singing III the yard, and there
was delicious freshness in the air.
was thankful. thinking that if any
thing could put pa in a good humor it
would be this beautiful morning. A
little before Jim and Del drove up
to the side gate, (which was hidden
from the house by trees. though that
wasn't necessary, as pa was shut up
in his shaving room. where he couldn't
see anything, and Jim carried an OBJ
long box about three feet in length up
to the side entrance. | let them in, and
they went to the dining room. while
went upstairs to keep an eye on pa.
He had finished shaving and was sit
ting by the front window looking out,
but instead of being happy the bright
morning seemed to make him all the
more melancholy.
what pleasant day. said, "for
a family party to 60 for a drive
There's no family party except you
and me-" he said: ~
l knew that he was pining for
Del, but l didn't say anything more
for fear of making him ugly. saw
| by the clock that it was FIVE minutes
to 8, and l went to the banister and
coughed to give Jim and Del warning,
then told pa that breakfast was ready.
He got up with sigh. and we went
downstairs together.
We both stood mute looking at what
we saw in the bay window at the end
of the dining room. The marble bust
that always stood on the pedestal had
been removed. and in its stead was the
statue Of little boy about five years
old. 1t was of white marbIe-that is,
so far as we could judge-and held out
a pair of little arms to u.s.
"Great guns" pa exclaimed.
Little darlingr' said l. What a
pity it isn't alive.'
"How do, grandpa cried the statue,
and. tearing off its white face it dis
played the rosy features of Del's little
Jim. Jumping off the pedestal, all in
his white tights. he ran up to his grand
pa, who bent down and took him in
his arms.
l never saw pa so overcome in my
life. He Rugged the boy SO tight that
l thought he would crush him. Then
Del came from the pantry and put her
arms around them both. Del was
laughing and crying, and pa was try
ing to keep from doing both. Then he
put little Jim down, and without no.
ticing that his clothes were covered
with the white powder that had made
the boys tights look like marble he
folded Del in his arms.
Jim-big Jim, mean-seeing through
a crack in the pantry door that the
plan had been success. came into
the room, and pa put out his hand.
That was the happiest breakfast par
ty any Of us ever sat down TO 7 had
taken pains to have nice breakfast,
though l didn't believe Del's present
to her father would break through his
crustiness, but hoped that it would
and We would all take our Sunday
mornins meal together After the
breakfast we sat in the library and
talked while pa and Jim smoked.
MA" said pa to me, didn't you say
something about family party going
for drive? reckon we'll have out
the horses"
Pa and Jim went out to the stable
while Del and got up a lunch. Then
we started for the country. There
was room for Jim and Del on the back
seat. while pa had little Jim with him
In front. Jimmie hadn't ever ridden
behind horses before and was wild
with delight. talking to his grandpa
and begging him to let him drive till
| m consented