George's grandparents, who see him only about once a month, and then, in term time, for only a short time, have long believed the boy to be maligned by his parents, especially with regard to his alleged preoccupation with mercenary matters. But then, they have always enjoyed giving at least as much as he has enjoyed receiving, pre-Christmas mood they regarded George with extra kindliness and generosity, "I don't know what to give the children," said George's grandfather to George's mother, "so Ti give you money to get them something." As her son needed new party shoes, she bought him a pair, which he wore twice and then wrapped up for presentation io himself at the family distribution of gifts on Christmas Day. With the remainder of the money she bought a watch and some gloves for his sisters, The first presents to be opened were those labelled "Not to be opened until December 25" that had been taken out of storage. As a large box of chocolates emerged from its wro pings Eleanor said of the donor "Ao, isn't he good?" but George, simultaneously, said "Ao, isn't he rich?" George's grandfather blinked, glimpse ing his grandson's true colours, it seemed, for the first time, In due course George received his pair of shoes and offered gracious ust what he wanted, he ass grand fat Then he glanced speculatively at his mother, Something, she saw at once, was up-his tranquillity, When one of his parcels was opened to disclose a schoolboy's diary she remembered that there was also a small diary on the Christmas tree for him, It would be nice, she thought, if he gave the second diary ta his grandfather, who did not seem to have received à new one. yo Change There was no opportunity to suggest this extra gift until the tree had been denuded of its small packages, but a little later she intercepted George on one of his journeys to the shelf containing nuts and dates and raisins and chocolates, "Why not give grandfather the small diary from the tree?" she whispered. "You can't use two," "What did he get off the tree?" he whispered back. "We could exchange, couldn't we?" "A tobacco pouch," fe was told, and answered "Oh very glumly.
His mother said no mor Children Who Outgrow
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.