The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-23
A WoMAN's SEARCH FOR CHRIST
MAS GIFTS.
Experiences d. the Shops and at the Bar
gain Counters that Mako Her Glad that
tho Holiday Comes Oaly Once = Year.

Experiences In the Shops and at the Bar
gain Counters that Mako Her Glad tina,
tho Holiday Comes Oaly Once = Year.
A little woman. fresh. trim, and becomingly
dressed. left the elevated railroad at Fourteenth
street and set out for a mornings shopping.
There was stern intent in her eye. that is, using
the word stern in the sense Of steadfast. Mrs.
Fred Adams had never looked stern in her life,
and that was one reason why Mr.. Fred Adams
was so fond OF her and had given her as much
of his earnings as he could afford to lavish on
Christmas gifts. they both regretted that the
sum was not larger, moro in proportion to the
number OF presents IL must procure. but Mrs.
Fred felt quite equal TO the task Of investing II
jrdiciously: indeed, was rather inspirited than
depressed by the undertaking before her. She
gloried In shopping! To be able to make a little
money go q long way impaired such satisfac-
ton, she thought. Anybody could get nice
things II they had q plenty TO buy with, but II
took genius, positive genius, TO discover bar
gains and see TO It that one WAS not imposed on.
~ saw the lovoliest slippers at X's-that ia,
for anybody who can wear patent leather .
young lady had said to her q few evenings be-
fore. and she had 30 dilated on the beauties of
these slippers that the Christmas shopper
directed her steps to KS, thinking q pair would
be q good present for Nellie. her siIteen-year-
old daughter. There were a good many names
on Mrs. Fred's list, but Nellie and Tommy, tho
two Oldest of the Adams children. were upper
most In her mind.
There was a perfect crush at KS. The benches
were lined with shoppers with their feet ex-
tended for fts. ContrivinRt to detain q clerk for
q second as he was returning with another size
TO the woman he was waiting on. Mrs. Fred as
certAined that the price Of the slippers was 81.
She thought Of the sum she had to invest, and
of the number II would have to DO divided by to
make II go round, and decided to relinquish the
idea OF slippers. though the little Cinderella
like affairs with their dainty French heels, were
a great temptation. A manicure set might do
instead, she thought, and directed her steps 10 q
certain large establishment whore she would DO
likely TO do we'll in that line; but this gift too,
proved TO be out OF her reach.
Well! while she was In among the pretty
things she would select somsthing for the Bents,
and have them OF her mtnd. at any rate. The
Bents and the Adamses had made their bridal
trip together years before, and had exchanged
presents ever since. The Bents were
now far better on In worldly goods, and for that
very reason Mrs. Fred was anxious TO make
them q particularly nice present, presumably
bearing in mind the Scriptural saying regarding
such matters. Those bisque figures were pretty.
Mrs. Fred didn't remember seeing any Just like
them at her friends. She had carefully in
spected the assortment OF dancing girls. piping
shepherds, fauns, flower girls, hunters, druids,
and the like, when she suddenly remembered
that at VS., two blocks away, she might
DO able to procure the same article for
less money; so away she tore TO Y.'s. A
placard announcing bargains In boys caps
arrested her attention as she was going 10
the elevator. Here was . good chance
20 get a cap for little Fred. She paused
on the outer edge OF the throng Of eager
shoppers, anxious to procure caps for their own
little Freds, or Franks, or JOes, and waited her
chance to slip within the charmed circle when
one OF the lucky purchasers should withdraw.
came up and stood behind her. Those Immedi,
Ately in front were OF large stature. and for
seams up the backs OF their coats. Finally she
managed 10 squeeze In between two stout wo-
for their change. Planting herself in front OF
the counter, she pulled oyer the caps within
asked the saleswomAn nearest her II that size
was In stock.
lin = few minutes" the girl answered, strug-
Cling TO serve two customers at once and count
There was nothing for 1t but 70 wait. In
standing behind gave Mrs. Freds hat a nudge
that nearly pulled her hair down. besides lab
blng the sharp hAtpin into her head. She looked
around. much annoyed, but the tall woman was
oblivious OF her grievance, and that seconds in
attention lost her the chance OF being waited
Ou- ouc 9 10 bCol "a GOuAus
recollecting dlsmAlly that she had on false bAngs
~ that particular time, and that they were more
than apt 70 DO all awIJ. IL she ever got out OF
that crowd abe would 20 70 the dressing room
and M them After three or four more women
taller than herself had reached over, ~inVolun-
tArly punching her hat than which there can
DO nothing more exasperating, abe finally man
aged 70 secure 3 s~aleswomAn's attention. and
learned that the last cap Of the siLo abe wanted
had just been sold.
Pushing her way through the thronE behind
her, after some delay In getting into the elevator,
she reached the dressing room. where after an
interval she had a chance Of viewing herself In
. mirror. She looked decidedly the worse for
wear. Her bangs were all on one aide and there
Was q mOrtifylng rent In her veil just In front OF
her left eye. Pressed for time a she WAs. shs
had 70 take on her gloves and M that veil.
Excuse me, but your dress is torn" an
nounced a voice behind her. as she WAS trying
20 arrange the square Of net 80 As 70 conceal the
damage. Thanking her infOFmer ana STOPPING
70 Investigate. she found that about a quarter u
: yard Of h]ouneing had been ripped on the foun-
TudsF sex abe might Just then have uttered an
lmDrecAtlOn more emphatic than elegant; but
being merely an AmLAblA phllOsODhie nttis