Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 December 1902 — The Boy's Frankness. [ARTICLE]

The Boy's Frankness.

It happened over in a city mission last year, and it made such a sensation in its own way that it bids fair to become one of the Christmas classics of the neighborhood. They were having the Christmas tree in the Sunday school room, and the beautiful green cone-shaped fir was ablaze with lights, glittering with gay decorations and loaded down with tokens of affection. Jimmie Smith, a freckle-faced youth of some eleven winters, sat with some of his chosen companions on a bench just in front of his parents, nearly in the center of the hall. The Smiths—these particular Smiths, at least —were comparatively recent additions to the church family, but they had already achieved a mild sort of popularity among their new acquaintances, for they dressed well, apparently lived well and were, seemingly, in every way “nice people to know.” Their gifts to each other on this public occasion had been expensive and elegant enough to fill the minds of all present with respectful admirar tion, in some cases shadowed by a faint cloud of envy. Mrs. Smith had received a flashing solitaire diamond ring from her loving lord, and had presented him with a gold match safe and a silver paper cutter; and sooii after the name of their only son and heir was loudly proclaimed by- the stentorian-voiced young man who played the part of an Aaron for the rubicund and smiling dispenser of presents. A good-sized morocco case was young Smith’s regard for plowing his way to the tree. “Jimmie Smith, from his father and mother,” the young man read from the card attached as he handed the gift to the boy, who, grinning .widely, hurried back to his seat. / “Hully gee! Mebbe it’s a baseball!’* suggested one of the “Dauntless,nine” as a crowd of small boys closed In around their extremely interesting looking covering. But it wasn’t. It was a large solid silver, gold-lined mug, with Jimmie’s name ornately engraved on its glistening front. Truly a fine present for any boy, but Jimmie some way didn’t seem to appreciate it. Quoth he loudly and clearly: “It’s the same darned old mug that Uncle Frank gave me when I was a baby ! 1 don’t see what in time you two old folks wanted to fool me this way fori % And some way the glories of the diamond ring and the gold match safe and the silver paper cutter seemed far less dazzing. after that Innocently la. dignant little speech.