LITTLE JIM SHOWS XMAS SPIRIT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 64, 18 December 1946, Page 3 (Supplement)

LITTLE JIM SHOWS XMAS SPIRIT

Santa Claus had been very kind to' little Jim and brought him all kinds of the nicest toys to play with, and Jim loved them all and was always glad to let baby brother look at them and play with them at any time, which you know is quite unusual for a small boy. But there was one of his presents which Jim loved better than all the others put together—a box of beautiful big blocks. He had been playing with them most of his playtime ever since that happy morning when he had opened a pretty box and squealed with delight over the contents. Tea was over. Mother was sitting in the big chair sewing buttons on one of Jim’s small garments, Daddie was reading the newspaper, baby was trying to crawl on the floor, and Jim was building a grand big building with his pretty blocks. By and by Master Baby crawled over in Jim’s direction and, stretching out his chubby little hand, made a grab, and what do you think? Why, down went Jim’s beautiful building which he had so patiently arranged. This was really trying, but to make matters worse Baby thought he’d like to play with these nice square things too, so he seated himself down and took command of affairs. You see, Baby didn’t know that this was not face, as he was only a tiny fellow much too small to understand that some things don’t belong to him. Poor Jim felt so sad that two big tears came out of his big blue eyes and ran down his cheeks, though he tried ever so hard not to cry, because Daddie said big boys didn’t cry. Now his lip started to tremble and he went over to where Daddie was sitting. “Why,' son,” said Daddie, “you’re not crying, are you?” “Well, Daddie, baby’s got all my blocks and I wanted to build a big house,” answered Jim. “Yes, but he’s only a little chap and you’re my big boy. You wouldn’t want to make him cry, would you?” “No,” said Jim, and he meant it, too, for you see Jim just loved his baby brother and would’nt hurt him for anything, or make him cry. “I know 'what I’ll do,” he cried gleefully, and away he ran, returning a few minutes later with a whole armful of toys which Santa had put on the Christmas-tree for him.

Kneeling down on the floor beside brother, he held out his beloved Teddy. “Here, Baby,” he said, “you can play with Jim’s Teddy,” and Baby stretched out his fat hand once more and took Teddy. Then Jim handed him all the other pretty things. But would you believe it, Baby didn’t want anything but those blocks, and being such a small boy, when he saw Jim taking them he opened his mouth and just cried and cried.

Poor Jinn He didn’t know w;hat to do. He mustn’t let little brother cry—only a coward would do that. He thought for a while and then his dear, sunshiny little face broke into a smile and going up to Baby he said in the most soothing voice: “There, Baby, don’t cry any more. You’re too little to un’er’tan (Jim meant understand). You can have Jimsie’s blocks and Jim’ll go and sit on Daddie’s knee and help him read the newspapers.”