The guardian., 1941-07-12
Sauce for the
Gander
By MABLE /. CLAPP
Mcclure Syndicate-WNU Service.)

jewelers. and was tied up with a
ribbon" said Sammy grandly as he
raised the lid of the shining new
washing machine with all the eclat
OF a French general bestowing the
medal of the Legion of Honor, and
permitted Susie to gaze within its
depths. "And I really do think" he
went on, "that we're showing
mighty good sense to make our pres
ents practical instead of superficial
until we're more on our feet. And
now, DEAR" bending for a hasty kiss,
81 must hustle or I'll be late" And
two minutes later his car roared out
of the driveway.
Half an hour later her mother
walked in and found her weeping.
'Well," inquired Mrs. Jarvis, not
unduly exercised over the condi-
ton Of her offspring, whats the
matter now?"
'Sammie," sobbed Susie, "g-gave
me a washing machine for my
b-birthday present"
Goodness" said Mrs. Jarvis. "I
thought you wanted one."
"And year ago he gave me a
vacuum cleaner and last Christmas
a robe for the car" walled Susie.
"WeI?" interrogated her mother
patiently.
"He-he said the washing machine
would pay for itself in six-six
months, wept her daughter. "He-
he said he got it with some extra
money he'd earned. He-he didn't
have to touch the savings account. 3"
"Wel, of course that is bad news"
was Mrs. Jarvis dry comment.
"I don't want my birthday present
bought that way" howled Susie. "I
! want him to walk and save car fare.
want him to go without his lunches.
I want him to rob bank. And then
then I want him to ta-take all
that money and spend it on some
glorious, beau-beautiful utterly use
less thing for me. Not for the house
or the yard or the car or for us.
But for met" And she subsidized into
the cushions of the davenport in a
fresh outburst of tears.
you're just like your father"
said her mother. "I remember once
I didn't have a decent pair of shoes
to my name and he went and got me
an opal ring for birthday present. ="
IT th-think that was wonderful" "
insisted Susie stubbornly. "He prob
ably went without something he
really needed to get something real
ly beau-beautiful for you"
'I went without something need
ed" corrected Mrs. Jarvis, "and
there's nothing at all wonderful
about having your feet right on the
ground. However, that's the way
he was and that's the way you are,
and I suppose you can't help it,
though l will admit that giving a
washing machine is carrying it a
bit far. However," she concluded
thoughtfully as she gathered up her
gloves and bag, 'he's given you
what seemed to him the best kind OF
birthday present and of course you
have the same privilege when it
comes to him." With which Par
THAN shot she departed.
Samny's birthday two months
later saw its Towering. The break
fast table on that momentous occa-
sion was gay with flowers. There
were honeydew melons and waff1es.
And beside Sammy's chair stood an
immense package done up in bright
paper and gay ribbon. It must be
the golf bag he had wanted, Sammy
thought with a quickened beat of
his heart; the leather and canvas
one with the Upper fastening.
Wasn't Susie an old peachl
He united the bright ribbons and
unwound the paper, and as the last
wrapping fell away, there stood re-
vealed in all its glory of red and
green paint-a lawn mower!
cts the best lawn mower on the
market, and the clerk said it car
ried a ten year guarantee" ex-
planned Susie briskly to somewhat
dazed looking husband. HE figured
it out, and by your moving the lawn
yourself it will pay for itself in two
years. And best of all, darling" !"
she went on with enthusiasm, II
didn't draw a cent out of the bank.
l saved it out of the household al
lowance. And that" she explained
happily, "is why we've been having
stews and hamburger instead of
steaks and chops. Honey, you do
like it, don't you? l knew you'd
feel just as you did about my pres
ent, that it should be something
useful"
What could poor Sammy do? Ex-
actly nothing. Nothing but assure
Susie that life's one ungratifed de-
sire had been the acquisition of a
lawn mowerl But the dazed look
on his face was gradually being
replaced by one of understanding.
Light was dawning.
On the happy occasion of Mrs.
Samuel Thornberg's twenty-fourth
birthday, some months later, car
from the florist, in mauve and vio-
let, stopped before the door in the
afternoon, ard fiunky in uniform
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