The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1960-12-23

Dads Gift
BY BERTHA. R. HITDELsON

dare! They were paying fol
their small ranch type home By
the month. for juniors appen
dectOmy. and for JAMES teetl
Strengthening. Besides house
life. ant car insurance. church
contributions. and taxes they ha6
little money left for ordinary
living. let alone for running
bills at department, clothing
and other stores that display
enticing wares for the weak
Weak in the sense that wher
there is not enough money fol
even necessary things, spen6
anyway!
On this special day in Deem
Der, Phil and Lucy sat on Their
back steps mulling over a prob
lem. They had, long ago, bought
toys for the children's Christ
mas. But they had forgotten
someone. Dad Carson. What
can We give hnn?"
Socks. or bermuda
guess" Phil suggested, relight
ing his pipe for the fourth time
since beginning their converse
ton. Phil had foregone Gig
arettes in order to stop one big
money leak and resorted to pipe
smoking for consolation. The
transition had been difficult. fol
he was forever forgetting to keep
his pipe lighted.
Money Conscious
Lucy, watching, remarked
I'm even getting so money con
sciOus that I'm glad when your
pipe goes out. Uses less tobacco
and luckily the matches are
free. Yet the economical socl
idea leaves me cold and she
shrugged disdainfully. TOO or
binary. l don't see why nice
gifts for men are SO expensive
If Dad were a woman, l coule
get r tzz little pair of ear
rings, or fancy handkerchief
for not m ore than a dollar
That's about all we can afford
AS for Bermudas! You know
Dad. He'd stick them in the fire
rather than wear such cock
eyed stuff as he calls them.
Shaving lotion. then
| He'd buy that himself. We
must give him something unus
ual yet costing nearly nothing
| if possible. /"
An Idea
Hes fond of jelly. And why
not half dozen glasses?" Lucy
suggested, happily, pleased that
she had at last come up with
an idea. You know Nom Car
son doesn't make jelly any more
or can fruit, or bake. She says
she's graduated from all that
From now on she's taking things
easy. And she deserves to, al
though | do feel a little sorry for
Dad with his farm bringing up
To hear him tell it, his mother
even fried chicken for break
fast. Sometimes he had fried
chicken three meals day. Not
that l would want it, but he
likes to eat. A habit formed
when young, and, "they say
habits grow stronger as one
froWs Of d e r. But the jelly
wouldn't do. Not homemade.
A Winner
Phil suddenly took a long puff
on his again-unit pipe. II know
what! You're such a good cook,
why not offer to bake him some
pies? Any kind he likes. AS
many as he wants"
Wonderful Why didn't /
think of that?'
Because my brain happens to
work a little faster than yours,
my dear" Phil said, smiling
fondly. We. get nice card
and announce our gift. What
could be better?'
Nothing! But it's good thing
you smiled when you made that
brainy remark" Lucy told him,
smiling as fondly at him as he
had at her. Nov for sweeping
and busting until 1882" She
leaped to her feet and started
into the house.
Paul slowly stood up, groan-
ing, And me to work"
They went their different
ways, unashanled of the gift
they were to offer, and content,
despite the problem of the high
cost Of living in the year Of 1850.
After all, there are satisfactory
ways of beating it if you but use
your brain.