The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-12-20
CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS.
AMUSING AND PATHETIC SCENES IN
THE STREETS AND IN THE STORES.
Eager Eyes That Covet the Wonderful
Things in the Windows--A Sad Incl
dent-The Boy at the Door and the
Baby-In the Throng.

bh0 1hEobSs
'say, Mike, git onto dis. Air't 1t great pa
And Mike straightway and decisively re-
piled, "Dat takes de cake, Jimmie"
They were not possessed of either an ex-
tensive or Of an elegant command of language,
these ragged little wanderers of the street, but
nevertheless nothing more expressive, nothing
SO completely covering the subject matter
could have been uttered.
The scene which secured the admiration of
the urchins was one of the many holiday
dressed store windows, which at this season
OF the year SO delight the souls of both the
big and little folks. Inside the great store
crowds filed every available foot of passage
room and surged here and there about it, all
bent upon one errand, the purchase of Christ
mas goods 1t is very good-natured crowd,
but every blessed one of those composing it
wants to be waited on at once, notwithstand-
ing the fact that the supply of clerks is not
equal to the demand. OF course, you meet
almost every one you know, but now there is
time only for nod, perhaps shake of the
hand and word of salutation. There is a
peculiar charm attending the watching Of
Christmas buyers, for in their midst you will
find, as you will in most gatherings of
the kind, every form and condition of
human nature, pathos and humor, sorrow
and happiness. In one Of the big stores
the city one day last week, HERALD
man beheld a sight which shocked be-
yond expression those who witnessed 1t.
Before counter, piled high with stock of
toys such as fill with wonder and delight the
little souls for whom designed, stood richly
clad woman and her son, little fellow of
perhaps or Z years The mother was in
state of intoxication which clouded her mind
and thckened her speech. But the mother
love for her child stood out clear and strong,
and in her thickened, rambling speech she
sought to assure the child to select whatever
he wished. Child-like, the little fellow was be-
wildered by the inexhaustIble stock displayed
before him, so much so that he could not fully
decide upon just what he would most like.
With all the keeness of child's intuition, he
realized that his mother was helpless to assist
him. What the outcome was the HERALD
man knew not, for he hurried away from
spectacle 80 at variance with the Christmas
spirit pervading all else.
AS he passed out of the store, a scene was
witnessed so full of pathetic humor that the
horrible one preceding 1t was. forgotten. At
the door sat bright little chap, whose duty
it was to roll back and forth the door for the
ingress and egress Of customers. Just within
the door some mother or nurse had left baby
carriage in which rested an infant but few
months old. The little fellow at the door had
evidently been requested to care for the baby
while it's mother or nurse made purchases else
where in the store. The baby. startled per-
haps by the crowd and noise, was restless and
seemingly On the verge of breaking forth into
infantile sobs All this the little doorman
fully realized, and, between his duties, would
lean over the little one, pat It's fat soft cheeks
and whisper boyish words of encouragement
to it, Then the wee soul in the carriage
would forget its fright and laugh and crow in
perfect contentment. A most pleasing sight
1t was, and many busy, perplexed Christmas
buyer stopped for moment to encourage by
word and smile the little man In his labor of
love.
Entering another great store, THE HERALD
man stopped before counter behind which a
little girl, not more than z or 8 years of age,
stood selling dolls. 1t was late in the day,
and though she struggled bravely on in her
work, it was plainly seen that the frail little
body was unequal to the strain, and so re-
marked lady to one of the clerks standing
behind the same counter "Yes," replied the
young lady addressed, "she is rather young
for such work, but she is a determined little
thing and begged our manager to allow her to
work, telling him that her father was dead and
her mother was sol poor. Yesterday she tainted
twice, but insisted upon coming on to-day
Everybody is taken by her brave efforts, and
the consequence is that her sales are very
large"
Passing on, an amusing discussion was
heard between two little darkies standing be-
fore counter devoted to display of Christ
mas books for children. Their object eyi-
IDENTIFY was the purchase OF a book for
Christmas offering to their sister The young
sters were apparently about 10 and 10 years
OF age, respectively, and the sister, judging
from their conversation, 8 or g. Their selec-
tion had been narrowed down to choice be-
tween the sad history of "Little Red Riding
Hood" and the thrilling adventures OF "Jack