The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 20, 1903, Page 16

16 -~ THE SAN FRANCISCO SU AY CALL—CHRISTMAS NUMBER. ige ¢t came to be ange Bobbert her n ory . ve 1 - 2 s v Fra } s 2 ege. A 1 . earth e the figures < G A s the good es the wall Perk the border tha suck oh your 1 wish nurse. I was h fuss when I d a tree for them have the fun of it. 1 uncertain. In his was estrained him, and temportzing *air. y done this It's supposed to a surprise nephew & there wouid- prise, . would “Oh, if_you stay out, I s'pose,” “he-daid Any n any, “trees—" Fhe defense was feeble; ‘and “he new it > Oh, all righ d Bobbert, “testily, Jerking the from' the high fender. “And they'ré Popping eorn-over. in thibre AT the fire v Helena said at fat one- 1stache” &5 he‘one with ™ should think a that at How & 1 know what they said 1 heard 4 How? + & “I heard.’ 2 - How d1d you hear?” & MRS« f5y,; “Through the keyhols!” .Bobbert,set his jaw and twisted a piece’of™the baby’'s dress nervously: fin “And since when.have you-adopted that method of obtaining information, Robertson?" “I don’t care! I only did 2 moment! I don’t care if it'is sneaky—I ‘might Just as well be sneaky if I'm not going to Annapolis! If I do anything at all, everybody says: ‘Oh, dear! I'm afraid you'll never be a lieutenant after all, They never do so!’ And if I say I'm Soing to be one, they say, ‘I wouldn't ©ount on 1t, Bobbert,” till I'm just siok $is If_you™ 1 heard’ it rpop.~"And that’it ywis “s0’ g %' 2 that ¥ He® e - would AWsNldn’t e m 1 going to Annapolis? n't care about the old tree tha and tired! Am I? I ¢ f T knc how do I know? It on clrcumstances,” foot. His uncle e tree was towering A gilt angel held ropes t siraggled artistically bound pack- : candles dotted the ends. Aunts and uncles chattered and laughed and quarreled while Bobbert’s father and bbling over with delight and d vague Christmas good about holding the same ightening the same red at the same rope of an grand, Frank? This,is really ve ever had. How are the Do they suspect anything?” —nothing whatever,” he as- “Bobbert thinks the odor and popcorn is to be at- to the window boxes, and I doubt that supposes you're 1 down hefe. It's how ab: 1! Wel begin to suspect- »ur penetration t is only nine, this performance 1 credit only ihe ‘times, so it wouid be odd if he houid h y exact idea of what you g, but he probably has a u are tire but h > He And we never had so many are three boxes here, at this. What do you think h bas sent him?” ved at him a set balls attached tly colored ld! W e juggler's beauti- inter- More would ther Robertson’s bird "t dare e book. that's a on Bobbert, 1 ostrich from does he?” that's what Father Robertson cried in He nodded @ “Pity he can't come in and help, ggested, “he’d enjoy this rumpus. d at him in consternation. v, Franpcis Robertson, wha you thinking of Have Bobbert on his own Are you craz I suppose it wouidn't do,” he admit- 1, “but you see that's just whal a ttle fellow likes—all the noise and fuss running about and the—smell he added vaguely. “The smells? mother. “The hemlock and the Be? and and demanded Bobbert's candy and th new smell of all the t 3s,” he - sisfed. “In short,” said the ne with the yvellow mustache, looking up. from a box of many-colored bhaubles with which he and Aunt Helena w play - ing in undisguised joy, “just what we like!” “Precisely,” remarked Uncle Frank “Really,” said Aunt' Kate, somewhat stifly, 'if Bobbert and Babe should help abolt the tree, I can’t quite see whom we’d call in to see it this even- What are we.working so hard to please ourselves?”” “Oh, no! great heavens, no!” cried “Untle Frank. Bobbert's father appeared “with an armful of steel rails and.'crosspleces. “What do you say to this; Robertson? he called delightedly. - “Jove!.these are Threé switchessto the thing, u ought to see the engine! Therg's#a. parlor car, & smoker and two passengers., See the tender? Jove! I call that pretty good. Ring the bell, Egte. Look at that piston rod, Frank!” 3 hey clustered about him excitedly. ‘ather sent it round just now: tell what he paid for the iRg. You clamp it down to the carpet “Mght through it goes. There are sz:!«"—(wu feet of railing—how’s that? »eurves and three.switghes—regu- 7 mfiun'g. vouEndw. “We'leplt i-rfgne foug! : hithe library deross the hall ghd loop it bekuin grofit: of. the',consepya toty. - YWhatido ipusay 77 L Y *“Wor't ihebe ‘dalighted! aunts. ¥ 3 oy - P00 “Can ‘we get it down before even- ing?" said Bobbert’s mother nervously. “Well, I shoufd 'say so!” The fat one with ' the yellow' mustache selzed an armful of rafls and began to study the Jolnings; Bobbert's father and Uncle Christopher explained the switch work- ings eagerly to each other; and Bob- bert's mother flew about wondering how the rugs could stand it, and plo- turing Bobbert’s joy as the train puffed out from the base of the tree. “This is great!” Uncle Christopher cried, as the rails went down with wonderful celerity. “Haven't had such fun in an age! Half the fun's in get- ting it ready The fat onec with the mustache glanced up and caught Uncle Frank’s eye. “Perhaps he'd rather—"" 3 Bobbert’s mother shook her head at them. “Now stop right there,” shesaid merrily, “if you're going to suggest that he should come down and help! You don’t seem to see my plan at all, Frank. I want this thing to be perfect —I want it all to burst on him at once. How can we put it down in the evening when we're all dressed? And there wouldn’t be time, anyway. Oh, Chris, you didn’t get him that, too? See that lavely dpg collar! And the chain, too! Now Don will Jook respectable.. Just step upstairs, won't you, Frank, and keep Bob on that floor till supper? Minna will bring it to him up therg Hév see the rails, you see, if-he comes di chndy, you'll certainly be sickW¥No, I don’t{mean ill—I mean.plain‘sick.” o "Di you mean;to 88y you're. n torlef that child out into_ the room. ~He'll 'be so disgusted there'll be no managing him.” Bobbert's mother looked plaintive. "I wish to heaven, Frank,” she said, “that you had some children of your own! Perhaps you wouldn’t be so ridiculous then. How on earth is it going to hurt Bobbert, to-night of all nights, to stay in the nursery a few hours, just so that ‘we may all toll for his own particular amusement? Tell him,a story or some« joing .Uncle Christopher had wound up the tache, who shrieked at him to “stop it ‘8an to mount the stairs two steps at a intb the hall. jEilena if¥6u and, Mr.;Ferris eat any more of that broken. ning-. thing.» We'll Barély have tim A burst of laughter intérrupted her. uncle, surveying him critically, “but I looked up at the ceiling and swore as don’t know that I blame you. Minna's hard as she could.” coming up.soon.” ’ Vhat in the — ¥ “Well, she better.” Bobbert scowled “She said: ‘O Lord at the baby, who smiled sweetly back. Damn!” ™ “You're bad,” he said, shortly. _“On” “Oh, nein,” 'she smiled. “And she got her litile hands mighty “Oh, ja;” heé scowled. “You're always well slapped, too. She must never say chewing “theé ‘wrong thing. Look "at it again, must you, Baby?"” your shoe, all wet! What'll Minna The ‘Baby laughed impishly. There REDLT = 50 . + ‘was no telling what mose she kne “She ‘screwed her face into wrinkles At exactly half-past 6 the library and shook her head, wrlngigs ‘her- doors flew open With a bang, the piano hands'with® Minna's “gesture.™ “Pful, struck up a brilliant march and Minna pfui doch! ’s .ist abscheulich!”. she escorted her charges pompously down scolded. * the stairs, the baby in white, with a “I-don’t believe you'll get a present bewildering number of pink bows, Bob- at all,”she continued. \ bert in a blue sailor sult. e did she say?” train and started it on what extent of i e rail was' already laid, to his own great comfort .and ;the- disgust of Bpbbert’s father and the fat one with the mus- off,” and,nervously waved their hands at the engine as it hove:’down upon the unfinished curve at the hearth rug, while Aunt Helena waved a.red .flag wildlysand Aunt Kate‘began'to pass round a hat for, a,purse for !'the brave girl: who risked her life so"gallantly to save the train.” . Y Y He left them with a chuckle and be- flight. ‘“What are they doing in' the hall?” Bobbert demanded, abruptly, clutching’ the baby's skirts with one hand apd: stpporting himself in a peering attitude withg the other. “What Joakes ‘em, sc that way? wnw‘flflwfigfi‘ - .brakes? Is.it.a gamie?. i elena laug] n u wa, [she us'ally cries gxpe. Just saving himself from falling be .get p'es't! Babe get big Around the gleaming tree stood a upon a huddled group at the top of the . ring of aunts, uncles and grandparents, t a one! Notla one!” he persisted. flushed and happy. “Merry Christmas, Bobbert! 'Merry Christmas, Babe! How do you like it? ¥ Isn't jt.grand? See the angel? See the #aypopedtn? - Don't.look at the floor yet! (NU, vit%isn’t" time so sogn. Chris will Istart lit.) Well, was: it .lovely," bless 4 Mer little heart? Wunderschon, lieb~ ra chen, ¢nicht ‘wahr?” 3 s /Bgbbert smiled ~ perfunctorily. at the £ L. U~ tree, /blinkéd ‘a- liftle, leaped -througn 1 # :w g4 the ringrof bright-fracked relatives, .“Days,before - yesterday t. < She, and; felliupon a red-faced, apologetic said shejwas going, to, be:. wheén Bhié. 'man standing with the group of de- got up,sand . they -kept atiher to ng-u.hled ‘servants near the door. ‘x wouldn't.;jahd. she;said. she would: “Hello, David!” he cried. “When aid 3 't ' can) be; the worst:you-ever saw.”'r. you come back? Are you going to stay? set, T'll sell 1t to-niged ; 8.7, Wors: echoed. the baby. Did you know I could swim? Will you I hate ‘em. Al I.want's & Boat, and L5~ “. all " day> ‘were afrald she’ tell me a story to-night?” can’'t have that. 1 don't ses why 1 would be, and she wasn't, and she was- David, whose only fault was too great can’t go out,. if it is snowing. I never n't, and she wasn’t. Not till she went an attachment to the cup that cheered can do a single thing I want, any- to bed. And she sald her prayers—that him too frequently, and who had been Ry . - - - one she says, ‘Herr Jesus, mild und— devoted to Bobbert, coughed deprecat- “You are a little cross,” observed his spmething—Du’'—and then she just ingly and explained: “Only dropped in Her eyes filles she implored him earhigstly. “Piease, Babe get big p'es’ 'Ni T N ‘Stop _teasing your: .sjster, Bobbert. ourse she'll get a:present’. Wh: : N 3 & cause she lyore.flm at on earth’ do You mean “I mean. what St W n«#fl‘\ht Bwear?’ | “I'm tired of sf downstairs,” he y; thing—if I get a T'd rather be for the tree, Mr. Bobb, your papa haw- in’ asked me Iin with the rest, and a fine tree it is, I'm sure. I expect most ¢’ them presents will be for you, Mr. Bob ™ David prefixed the title of respect in publiec, but his private relations with Bobbert had been ything but formal. Aunt Kate, dan with impatience, had begun to detach the presents from the lower boughs, and soon they were piling up around him “Master Robertson Wheeler. Master Robertson Wheeler—oh, Bobbert, that's & whopping fine present. Miss Doro- thea Wheeler. Siehst du, mein susses kind? Master R n Wheeler. See what Uncle Rite u, Bob! He forgot how you ha . They were thanking, eat! A “And the candy morrow. Now, tree!” The engine rattled pro uncles and aunts fe P “There! I told you enough! Bee, whe t joins on! Wil she tak the rug? See, switches work! T er! Here, this wa Mr. Ferris is going t rk the s Isn’t it wo t Grandpa Wheeler. through the hall. ( work that switch, can you Kate work the switch ar.” Bobbert watched it usly. forward to the third switch “Want to see how T'll work it for you explaining, at once. er’ll keep till to- see! Under the ty forth. The n't oiled He ran Bob? Here eed, at first. Yes, Mr. we had more fun than a littl this ready, I assure you. Quite com- plete, isn't it?” Uncle Christopher began to juggle with the Japanese fit, to the intenss delight of the ts. The aunties and Mr. Ferris played with the engine, hanism to the won- Grandma Wheel- ench dissecting mother happily laughed at th o the dog co before her father, d balls in the air, a woolly lamb w her free arm. The merry moments passed. Suddenly Grandfather Wheeler looked up from the bird book, which he was sharing with { Frank. “But where is Robertson Jr. inquired mildly. They stared. “Why, right here,” they said. But he was not right there. Uncle Frank looked about compre- hensively at t latives and smiled a superior smile. Then his eye fell on the bird book s lap, and the smile changed its quali He glanced at the ring of servants. “And where is Dav he added. Sud- denly he sprang to s feet. “Come on!” he said. “We'll find him. Don’t make a noise—walk softly, now.” And still holding the presents, they trooped after him through the hall, Uncle Frank paused a moment, nod- explaining its dering grandfathers. er marveled at the F puzzle. Bobb guarding the can baby, who, harn lar, pranced a waving the color ssed ded, and ma room for Bobbert's father, while the grandfathers crowd- ed up and the aunties peeped’ under and over. On “the floor b kitchen hearth s little space & long black h Between them pieces of coal fi in what appea terns “I shall atta break. You'll see fieet can Mr old Spanish enough. Can “Wait and s “This coal makes it? A lot of coal w ent, 'wouldn’t it stairs hold of any. self, David?” re the well swept David. Beside him, squatted Bobbert, in his hand. nged large d, arranged ed to he ninepin pat- Arxe y “You bet T am, Bob. Put your flag- ship in line.” 2 I, I will. She was out for repairs. When I go skating, Davi 1 never use any o stick. I wanted a black one next to a boat. ¥ were lovely to give it to me. 1 b big enough for a boat next year, hope. “Well, now it's daybreak. Lieuten- thick and fast, he’lamps into ouraginrg their officers and crews. Ship aftér ship sank to rise no more in a clotter of coal on the hearth. Under cover of the noise Uncle Frank led them away, silent, through the empty rooms, to where the deserted Christmas tree sheltered only Minna, cooing German cradle songs to her sleeping baby. “Now look here,” he said. “Let's be sensible, dear people. We'll go on en-~ Joying our presents and sports, and let Bobbert enjoy his. Why not, sh?™