The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-12-06


only a few seasons ago-and excoriat-
ed me for bringing you q wrist-watch
instead OF q. vacuum cleaner"
"Oh, that" The Widow dismissed
the accusation with shrug and
wave of her mum. THAT was before
the WAR! The world was getting old
and gray and cynical. 1t was a bach
elors'. world. But THIS-this is
brand new world. rejuvenated world.
a gay young world-and nobody with
g mental bald spot has any place in
it., This is. playboy's world-and
Christmas is the time for everybody
to learn to play again!"
"Aha!", cried the Bachelor blithely,
as he turned the car up the avenue.
Back to the tops and toys and kiss
ing games! Let's cultivate the gentle
art of being foolish! Well, what shall
we do? Drive to a tea-room and play
tit-tat-toe on the tablecloth?"
NO" laughed the Widow. We'll
60 straight home and look at all the
junk and things I've bought That will
be foolish enough for one day. I'm
afraid I've been awfully reckless. Do
you think Aunt Prunella will like the
pink chiffon boudoir cap and silver
vanity case?"
What" The Bachelor stared at
her for a full half minute. then ex,
ploded into violent laughter. your
Aunt Prunella-in pink chiffon bou-
doir cap! Ye gods!" T.
! "She can use the vanity case for
her pepsin tablets, anyway" conclud-
cd the Widow cherfully. "And I've
bought some English sporting prints
and a Russian humidor for dear old
Uncle Abner, the anti-tobacco crusad-
er, and gold flligree fan for Mother,
and some embroidered blue silk paja-
mas for the cook, and"
stop, stop" commanded the Bach.
elor. If you value my lfe-don't say
another word! Have you taken fool.
ish POWDER"
The Widow nodded TRANQUILITY.
YES" she admitted. ITS the young
and foolish season-and I'm determin.
ed to make everybody around me feel
as young and foolish as possible. 1t
IS an art, you know-being foolish
suppose I OUGHT to have gotten
useful presents. but"
"Oh, yes, OF course you 'ought'!" pu,
In the Bachelor. That's why you
ndnt-being woman. But, this year
Of all years."
This year of all years everybody
needs to be shaken out Of the glooms
declared the Widow stoutly "This
year of all years everybody needs a
tonic for the jaded spirits, and &
stimulant for the tired heart A tor
of coal MIGHT have done Aunt Pru
nella more material good than pink
boudoir cap, but think of the spiritua
exhilaration she'll get out of some
thing pretty and riotously young! A
pair of mittens MIGHT have beer
more appropriate for the washerwo
mans little boy than a pair of skates
but he wouldn't admit it. A pair Of
shoes might have been more useful tt
the cook than embroidered blue sill
pajamas, but think of her soul!"
Her SOUL" The Bachelor gasped
"Oh, yes, OF course-her soul!'
And It's peoples souls We want tt
feed at Christmas time," resumed thu
Widow, ignoring the flippancy. at.
the CHILD in every human being thai
we want to bring gifts to-as the
| Wise Men brought gifts to the Child
OF old!" and she gazed mystically out
OF the window through the purple anG
gold twilight. Everybody has thu
soul of child somewhere in him." she
continued, after a little pause, lever
| you. Mr.. Methuse1ah-if you'll onl,
try to find it!''
| Him! I don't have to try!" the
Bachelor retorted, II know it, ever,
time let you drag me out Christina.
shopping and lure me into toy stores
and 1nyeigle me into helping you trim
Christmas trees! And me-" he adde's
impressively, almost thirty-thre,
years old!" -.
"My!" exclaimed the Widow, open
ing her violet eyes and regarding hin
with mock admiration, What a bi,
boy it's getting to be! But it will
come in and help me unwrap the par
GELS, won't it," she cooed, as the ca
drew up before her door.
! 1T will" agreed the Bachelor, will
assumed indifference, gathering vi
his burdens and following her docilely
"Why-why. what in the world il
this"' cried the Widow. gingerly pick
Ing up huge, bulky parcel, as tn,
Bachelro flung the last of his load O,
the rug before the fire. Il didn't o,
der an-an ANIMAL" and she drew
forth a spotted horse and gaily paint
ed wagon from its wrappings
! That?" the Bachelor tried to Tool
innocent. "Oh. that is just littl
tnlng bought all by my lOney-loney
when you weren't looking. See! |
you wind it up. it GOEs!" and b
knelt incontinently down on the rug
and began tinkering with the toy.
And here's an aeroplane!" exclain
ed the Widow, in blank astonishment
And train of cars, and-WHER]
did you get all this trash, Mr.. Out
ting?"
TRASH" repeated the Bachelor, Il
an injured tone. "That isn't trash
It's a train of cars, for-for a littl
boy!"
For whose-for what little boy?
stammered the Widow.
"Oh. for nice little boy for you
; washerwoman's little boy-for an
little boy who will let me wind it u
and show him how to play with it,
explained the Bachelor lamely.
Bobby" The Widows eyes gre,
misty, and she choked with somethin
between sob and laugh. "Oh, Boil
by! You beautiful heart Of a Chris
; mas child!" And she leaned owe
and dropped an airy kiss on top of tn
! Bachelors curIv hr0wn hood tho