Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-12-21
FILLING the Xmas Stocking
suggestions For Puzzled Parents, By Bertha Bellows
Streeter, In Woman's World

Ihe first essential for the success
hi filling of the Christmas stocking is
getting exactly what the child has
been longing FOR, Some grownups
think they have secured the necessary
when they have read the
der at the child's disappointment as
ne views the contents of his stocking
on Christmas morning.
why, didnt c ask for a train of
cars they inquire i'll amazement.
Yes" the boy sobs, but not this
KIND OF cars. l wanted freight cars;
ana oil cars and cars You can dump
and open doors and put things in.
nont want this kind you can't do any
thing with"
And the little girl is disappointed
with the doll you thought left moth
ing TO be desired.
It's got black hair,' she walls. land
me n wanted has curly golden hair
ana lovely blue eyes and her cheeks are
SO pretty n pink, 1t wasn't a bit
hice OF Santa Claus to bring me that
sld thing!"
Children are terribly unreasonable.
you say to yourself, and then you try
10 convince them that the cars and
me doll are just the best that old
santa could do. He was all out Of
me other kind is the final
ma the children, with the philosophy
or their age. accept the inevitable and
make the best they car of it.
Scouting for Gifts.
If o have discovered the art of
filling a Christmas stocking, no such
teartache Will reward your efforts in
giving joy to q child on this morning
ot all days. Before YOU buy a single
present you Will take the child in your
APP and ask her what she really wants
for Christmas. You nay have to tell
Der that Santa has not much money
70 spend this year and will not be able
TO bring her more than one or two
gifts that cost very much.
And if You had to narrow your list
to that, sweetheart, what would you
choose" you ask,
1t may be a doll carriage, a book, a
game. a pretty new dress, but what
ever 1t is, do not fail at this time to
secure an exact description of it. You
may find It necessary to make a few
suggestions in order to bring the
article within reach OF your purse, but
II these are tactfully made the little
girl may not suspect the ideas are not
her own n by the time Christmas
has arrived the mental picture you
presented to her then is the one that
exactly fits the gift she finds in her
stocking.
An artist in Christmas buying will
be very sure that this is the case be-
fore he buys that gift. He will have
the color of the eyes and the hair, the
size of the doll and at least a general
description of the garments she is to
wear when she lis enthusiastically re-
moved from the Christmas stocking.
He will know all about the other o "
in which she is most interested. he
says he ANTS &c know even if Santa
cannot bring Them all.
The Gratifying Results.
1t is a delightful conversation both
brings them close together as few ex-
periences in life can. And the child
goes off happily to bed to dream Of
the anticipated pleasures, while the
smiling artist makes note of his dis
cOverieS in q little memorandum he
keeps expressly for this glad season
OF the year. Tomorrow night, he saws
to himself, he viii catch Bill and sound
him as to his hearts desires, or If it
should happen that such a CONVERSE
ton with Mark or Mary would come
in naturally enough, he will take one of
them instead. But they must be taken
one by one. with nobody to distract
them from the important disclosures.
II was on Christmas day of last year
that a boy whose father had so dis
covered his secret wish told every child
he knew: Come on in and see my
train of cars. HI, man, I've got eight
cars besides an engine and Il coal car"
rs that all YOU got for Christ1nas?'
sncredulously inquired a boy who meas
ures pleasure by The number of gifts.
All Amt that enough. man? It's
just exactly what / wanted,' was the
amazed reply Of the satisfied ngs
Blu are there 10 be no surprises in