The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1914-03-05
GETTING The
BEST OF FATHER
Old Man Falls Victim to
WiIes of His Grandson.

WiIes of His Grandson.
| You know pa wouldn't consent to
Del's marriage with Jim. wouldn't al.
low the wedding ut 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 q 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"
"i'm afraid, my dear, he'll send it
right back to you."
Maybe he will, and maybe he won't.
Anyway. I'm going to try it. I'm 60
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 l are going to get up early
and take it round. You are to let us
in. Wen place it right where pm 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 could, so it was all arranged
that they should bring their gift the
next Sunday morning. On that day
we breakfast Mt 8 o'clock, and pa does
not have to so downtown to business.
When Sunday came the sun was shin
ing bright and beautiful. the birds
were singing in the yard, and there
was Il delicious freshness in the air.
was thankful, thinking that if any
thing could put pa in good humor it
would be this beautiful morning. A
little before 9 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 lie 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 l
went upstairs to keep all 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 Il pleasant day." l said, ''for
a family party to go for drive
There's no family party except you
and me-" he said. "s.i
| l knew that he was pining for
Del, but ! didn't say anything more
for fear of making him ugly. saw
by the clock that it was five minutes
to 0, and 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 it's stead was the
statue of a little boy about five years
old. 1t was Of white lnarble-that is.
so far as we could judge-:lnd held out
pair of little arms to us.
"Great guns" pa exclaimed.
Little darling"' said l. What a
! pity it isn't aliver
How Go, 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
I never saw pa SO overcome in my
life. He Rugged the hoy SO tight that
! thought lie 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 be
folded Del in his arms.
Jtm-big Jim. mean-seeing through
a crack in the pantry door that the
plan had been a 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. I had
taken pains to have nice breakfast
though didn't believe Dcl's present
to her father would break through his
crustiness. but hoped that it would
and We would aIl take nnr SUNDAY
morning meal together. After the
breakfast We sat in the library and
talked while pa and Jim smoked.
MA. said pa to me. didn't Won say
something about family party going
Tor drive? ! reckon we'll have ont
the horses"
| Pm md lin, ,r.,pt o,t g. A..