Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-05-09
THE
CLOTH
OF
GOLD

NADlE sat erect IN ner nolner
big rocker. "Take off your coat"
~ Mrs. Thomas babe her.
But Sadie shook her head. A
package wrapped in white tissue pa
per and tied with ribbon lay in her
lap. Mrs. Thomas watched her daugh-
ter nervously finger the dainty bow
knots.
"Why don't you open your birthday
present, Sadie?" she persisted, rails
ing the window shade, as IL to obtain
a better view Of what the tissue paper
concealed.
II can't" Imply responded Sadie.
"You say it's from Charlie?"
Eyes. It's the very first time since
we've been married that he's gone
shopping alone. If haven't gone
with him always I've told him
what to get. We've needed funds so
badly of late I thought could do
without birthday present this year.
I told Charlie So"
"And he wouldn't let you" inter-
rupted mother. "Bless his heart"
"But, mother, 1 know 1t is some
thing terrible. He's been acting so
silly"
"They do" mother laughed. upon
occasion" Then she turned vigorous
ly upon her daughter. "Sadie, this
may be something nice. Let's open
it."
Sadie remembered too well the very
day this Stiffness had come to haunt
Charlie. They had been sitting in the
lamplight after supper one evening
weeks ago, Charlie reading aloud.
Suddenly he had peered over his bone
trimmed spectacles. "Darn pretty,
Sadie" he had commented irrelevant
ly. 81 mean," he had explained, shat
thing you're working on, Sadie; why
don't you ever sew with gold thread?"
SWELL" she had pondered, "they
use gold thread only on special
things"
every special" y,
"Well-yes."
"You don't say" he had chuckled.
"Why, Charlie, what's the matter"
For Charlie had been smiling, grin
ming, exulting. He had got up out Of
his chair and had set about investigat-
ing the far corners Of the living room
in a queer, disturbing sort Of way.
Charles equanimity. To what I'M
known region had it retired? "Charlie,
what is the matter with you?
Charlie"
But all Charlie had chosen to say
had been, "Wait until your birthday"
"Well," smiled Mrs. Thomas, Sup
pose you open it, Sadie. 1 see your
father coming up the street. Better
open. your present before he gets
here" q iiAl i5t Wa
Sadie united the ribbon, straight
ened the paper at the ends and in a
wink there it lay-some sort Of tapes
try creation from which every now
and then a network Of gilt threads
gllnted 1t blinked mischieyously,
boldly. Stiff-necked and brazen, in
the modestly toned living room 1t
seemed to vaunt itself as next In
glory 10 lne Suh'
Dear, DEAR" sighed mother as she
felt the stiff, coarse texture between
her fingers. "and the gilt comes off,
too"
"What will l ever do with it?" de-
plored Sadie, as she dropped her head
to the arm of her chair and wept
"He must have bought 1t from some
crazy drummer" ..H r.H.H
"Perhaps," soOthed mother.
81 never saw anything like 1t be-
fore" continued Sadie. "I'm sure 1t
cost lot. It looks like 1t, doesn't 1t,
motherT
II fear So" agreed Mrs. Thomas.
"And, oh mother, we can't afford
Injuries" walled Sadie, particularly
such ugly, useless ones. I'd like to
hide 1t away, or take 1t back"
snow, Sadie" began Mrs. Thomas
in sterner voice. brace right up. You
tell Charlie it's lovely. II you go
weeping and scoIding around him like
as not he'll let you go without any
present your next birthday"
"But mother"
sadie, you listen to me. Men get
over these notions soon enough. You
must expect few white elephants in
your lifetime. Wait till Charles as
old as your father. You'll be looking
back on this birthday as the very
happiest you have ever known be-
cause Charlie went off all by himself
and had a glorious time choosing your
present"
"And it's $3.50"
ugly, you mean. Yes. know It's
ugly" and Mrs. Thomas voice trailed
Into laughter "Thank goodness, it's
yours, dear. not mine" and her glance
fell here and there over her we'll
ordered living room into which a
white elephant of any denomination
would have been calamitous lntru-
sion. "Sadle. you mustn't disappOint
Charlie about using 1t, either. Put 1t
In the parlor."
"Oh. mother--thls garlsh thing"
"Too many wives" decreed mother
to daughter. put their husbands
gifts out Of sight. It's an insult, dear.
Don't ever do IT, Show Charlie you
appreciate his thought and his gift"
Happy birthday" called Daddy
Thomas. us he stomped the snow from
his feet In the back entry. "Well,
declare" he peered through the door
way. Cooking over mothers birthday
IL l.uN a.