Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1917-01-04

DOLLAR Itll get for this walsh has
all got to- go for the extra stufn
I've BEEN getting at the grocery.
Your pa has to have it to- keep up
his strength and it'll be ON the
bill ON Monday an he'll see it If
z don't pay tit first. And this 10
the last wash before Christmas.
Benny considered, What you
gotn' 10 give pa tor Christmas?" he
asked.
You KNOW" she answered. Zine
comforter I've been knitting
What am / goi,n' to- give him?"
Benny inquired
You ana | are golng TO give
him the comforter together" his
mother explained.
What ann / going to get?" ask
ed Benny.
Ut was wonderful to see how
the Wo1n, Tired woman turned to
the child a face almost sparkling
II KNOW" she said, but / ailnt
telling"
How many things?" he inquired.
Thrice" the mother said trium-
phalntly.
From you or pop?" Benny quef-
Jed.
1.-TWO from me and one from
papa." she said. Nov l shan't
tell you another word"
The clothes We're washed and
dried. Toward evening Benny help
ed his mother take them from the
line. He noticed how many hand
kerchiefs there were
'She'S got enough handkec hiefs
to have a little store with,'' he
said wondsringly.
That might the clothes were hid
den again while the father was at
home.
After supper while his mother
was folding them for the ironing,
Benny Slipped UP to his father.
Pop" La asked. what you goin
to give moth etr for Christmas"
ME" said his father. Il amt
planned to give her anything This
year.
Benny stared. ''Nothin' 3" he
asked.
Il can't said Powers, Il hahn
got the r~nt tolc the month yet
Benny looked at him mutely.
Then she amt goin' to have no
Christmas HI said.
Don't YOU think about THAT.
sonny," said Powers kindly. She
don't care Mo hers don't care, you
know"
Mothers do 1T ctre.' Benny
wondered at uhis. But fathers must
care. Had mot his mother knit his
father a comforter? Father would
get "a present and he would get
three. And mother wouldn't have
any. Wouldn't she ere? Was lit
po S bile she wouldn't care?
Il w:sht l could git her a little
something" said Benny.
The next day Benny crept UP the
ladder irto the attic. He found q
basket, a collar box, a flowered
cal co CIR aAn and an old hat of hi,
~ ,l'e No ~
and hid in his room.
This next mo ming he walked and
dressed EARLY HE drew out the
4 things and tried with stiff fingers
to make of them some thing He
had wo, k asllet in mind. He
lined the basket with lowered call
leo, tying it to the edges with bits
of string, fast ming here and there
punches of the faded forget-mie- nots
Then he had an Inspiration. Hits
penny would buy something; i'll
would buy a sheet of white tissue
lpapen to- wIrap the basket in, to
look like 'boughten" present.
That day aus his mother irolned
Benny counted the handkerchiefs
fine, delicate things, traced in
ia mt enrbroideries. edged with ex-
quisite lace.
There were twenty-olne in all, sc
dainty that they would make gifts
for a queen, so many that she
could hardly know each one when
she saw it or miss it when she
didh't
Mother" he said, "who's going
to take the clothes bach?"
Il guess you'll have to-" she an
swered. Your pa is likely to- gel
home before / more'n get done"
After supper when his father
was leaving to go down town Ben
NY followed him out i'm the hal
and gave him HIS Denny for c