posted 09-19-2011 09:59 AM            

quote:

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Gifts for the Future

How many girls can always tell what they want when some one says, "What would you like for Christmas?" or when the same question is asked before their birthday? Often a girl will ask for something that is really of very little use to her just because she has no idea what she does want. A very good scheme to prevent this and achieve a most delightful result was devised by a thoughtful mother before her daughter was old enough to make any plans for herself. In fact, she began her plan when the girl was a very little girl indeed. But it might be started at any age, so the girl whose mother has not thought of such a thing for her can herself suggest it to any relative who is in the habit of giving her presents. The plan is this: The mother went to a large silversmith's shop and selected a standard pattern of table silver, one that was regularly kept in stock. She bought for her little daughter's birthday gift two silver spoons, giving the child some inexpensive toy, as well. When Christmas came she followed the same plan and continued it every year, each time giving two or three spoons, forks or knives, always of the same design. By the time that girl was grown up she had a complete set of table silver and had not missed anything on the various Christmases and birthdays. There were plenty of other persons to give her the less useful little trifles and her father to supply any real want, not to speak of grandmother, who always provided some delightful gift.

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posted 09-20-2011 04:42 PM            

Adult daughter has the equity of 20+ years of the existing set to trade in towards something that is more to her own liking.

Or maybe it was just Moms way of starting a hope-chest.