The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-12-26
Teddy's Gift


"Pop." he said, can have quar-
ter for Christmas?"
Mr.. Robbins, drawing on his worn
mittens, eyed his son in amazement,
What do you want with quarter"
he demanded.
For Christmas money" Teddy's
lips came over the words as if to say,
There now! It's all right, amt it,"
But Mr.. Robbins put his hands on
his knees and stopped and looked at
his son. "You little rascal" he
said, "wantin' a quarter to spend on
Christmas. and where do you think
a quarters to come from?"
Cant I have it?" asked Teddy
weakley.
mot much, you can't" replied
Robbins, mot with provisions as
high as they are"
"Twenty-four cents would do"
said Teddy, II got one penny"
Mr.. Robbins picked up his saw
buck and threw it over his shoulder.
Sorry, sonny" he said, "but could
not spare you five cents"
Teddy went into the house. His
mother was looking from the kitchen
window. HAS your pa gomez" she
asked "Then help me bring the
tubs up, Teddy; and then you go in
to your room and get that basket out
from under the bed"
Teddy knew the basket. He had
brought it in the night before from
the Martens house across the street,
and in the dark his mother had wait
ed for him at the front porch, and
had hurried the basket up to his
room and had had him shove it far
out of sight under the bed. For
though provisions were high and
though the gasoline wood-cutters
interferred cruelty with the wood
sawyers business, Mr.. Robbins was
unwilling that his wife should do the
laundry work, which was all that she
knew how to do; as she sent Teddy
to the Martens for their basket of
linen and washed it during Mr.. Rob-
bins absence, and dried it when she
could.
"Can I have a quarter?" asked
Teddy, while he watched her get the
clothes ready.
"a quarter!" she said, ''for; what
Teddy"
For Christmas" he explained.
ri wish I could, Teddy" she said,
"but the dollar I'll get for this wash
has all got to go for the extra stuff
I've been gettin' at the grocery. Your
pa has to have it to keep up. his
strength, and it'll be on the bill Mon
day an he'll see it if I don't pay it
first, and this is the last wash before
Christmas.
Teddy considered. What you 60
in to give Pa for Christmas?p he
asked.
you know she, answered" the
comfort I've been knitting"
What am 1 goin' to give him?'
Teddy inquired.
"You and 1 are. going to give him
the comfort together" his mother ex
planned. 81
What am gcipg to get?" asked
Teddy for the twN-Ifeth time.
1t was wonderful to see how the
worn, tired woman turned to the
child a face almost sparkling. 81
know" she said, "but amt tellin'."
How many things?" he inquired
determinedly.
"Three!" she said triumphantly.
"Fron. you or pop?" he continued.
1.-TWO from me and one from
papa" she said. "Now I shan't tell
you another word"
The clothes were washed and dried
on the snow. In the evening Teddy
helped his mother to gather them up.
He himself picked up the handker-
chiefs. They were, he explained the
littlest and the incest, and he wanted
to pick them up.
"She's got enough handkerchiefs
to have a little store with" he said
wonderingly, as he worked.
That night the clothes were hid
den in the cold, unlighted parlor.
While his mother was busy in there
with them, Teddy slipped over to his
father, brooding by the kitchen stove
Pop" he asked, what are you go
ing to give Ma for Christmas?"
"Me?" said his father, "Well, I,
wasn't going to give her anything
this year"
Teddy stared, "Nothin?" he said.
II can't" said his father, 81 can't
do it. I amt got the rent yet"
"Then she amt goin' to have no
Christmas?" he said.
Don't you think about that, SON
NY" said Mr. Robbins. kindly" she
won't care. Mother don't care, you
know"
Mother don'H care" thought Ted
dy. But father must care. Wasn't
his mother knitting his father muf-
fer? Of course knitting didn't cost
anything; it was pity father didn't
know how to-, knit, So mother
wouldn't get a present. could it be
possible that she wouldn't care? II
wish I could get her something" he
said to himself.
The next day it rained, so Mr..
Robbins did not leave the house. The
clothes, still in the basket in the
parlor. could not be touched.
Late in the afternoon Teddy crept
up the ladder into the little garnet.
He found basket, collar box, a
Powered calico curtain, and a worn
hat of his mothers. These he
brought down and hid in his room.
Next morning he drew out the
things, and tried. with stiff fingers,
to make something of them. He had
a work-basket in mind. He lined the
basket with Powered calico, tying it