The suburban citizen., 1901-03-16

y
lines about his mouth and the crows
feet about the eyes told Of life that
had been none too easy, and yet there
was that subtle air of prosperity about
him, too, that in turn told its tale.
Outside in the street the sun beat
down on the white sidewalk with a
glare that reflected even into the care
fully shaded shop Behind the count
ers the young women stood or sat in
small groups. They looked cool and
pretty in their light summer frocbs.
On the counters were toys, heaps piled
on heaps, 1t seemed to the man, al
though the arrangement was orderly
enough.
For a moment he stood in the door
way. After the glare Of the street the
shop seemed almost darkness. Grad
ually the forms Of the young women
were outlined to his sight and then he
saw dimly the things on the counters.
An officious and oDsequious young
man came forward rubbing his hands,
Within a minute the man was in
charge of a cool-looklng young wom-
an, with a pretty smile and a gracious
manner. Almost before he knew it
the man was talking with her and ex-
planning things that needed no eXpla.
nation.
Il want to get a er-er-er, a toy,
you know" he said
yes, sir" said the young woman,
Here is a very pretty doll How
would that do" and she brought out
a wonderful creation with eyes that
opened and shut, and long blonde
curls. 1t was dressed in a pale blue
silk gown. "How do you like that"
asked the young woman, holding the
doll up for inspection Then she
pressed a hidden spring.
Mamma. mamma, papa, papa"
said the doll
Great Scott! what's that?' almost
shouted the man.
II was making the doll talk replied
the girl.
do they make dolls that talk"
asked the man.
"Why," said the girl, with plying
smile, "they did that ten years ago"
did theyY" said the man; well,
you see, it's a good many years since
I've seen any toys"
"Shall l send it home" asked the
young woman.
mo" said the man, 81 don't think
that would do at all, l suppose you
think I'm a pretty old man to be buy
ing toys" he continued, irrelevantly
"but you see, I've been so busy trying
to get rich that 1 never had time to
think Of getting married till about two
years ago. Been out West all the
time" he continued, half sadly, "and,
somehow, l didn't see many things like
that out there"
Here is something else that you
might like, sir" interposed the young
woman, as she brought out a wonder
full locomotive and train Of cars. She
pressed a spring and the engine bell
rang, the whistle blew. and off the
train started on the circular track.
"Is that what they call a toy?" asked
the man.
THAT is certainly a toy" replied the
girl, with a laugh.
81 wish l could remember some OF
the things l had to play with when l
was a boy" mused the man; 81 don't
suppose you could get a Noahs ark,
could you?' he continued doubtfully
"Pll see, Sir" said the young wom-
an, "but they're awfully old-fash-
ioned"
"Mebbe so; mebbe So" said the man
absently.
The young woman walked to the
rear Of the shop and soon returned
with the toy in question.
Yes, there it was. The Noah's ark!
1t hadn't changed a bit in all the years
that had fed. The same old gablcd
roof one side Of which opened like the
lid Of box. The same square win
dows, the same narrow ledge around
the bottom, and the picture of the
dove, bearing the branch Of olive
painted on the side.
Slowly the man opened the box and
began to take out the little figures.
His hands actually trembled with de-
light. The wonderfully made green
trees, standing on the little brown
bits Of wood that are meant to repre-
sent mother earth. The quaint figures
Of men and women; the soldiers with
their little wooden stahfs. And then
the animals. Where has their like ever
been seen before?
He spread them out before him and
looked at and beyond them, and the
shop and the glare of the Sidewalk,
without vanished from his vision.
Green fields stretched before him, and
deep in their hollows nestled the little
white house with the bright green
blinds and the red chimney
In front Of the house was a narrow
| little walk bordered on each side with
sweet peas in bloom How they
smell! He could even smell them here
in the shop Then he looked up. The
girl was wearing a bunch of those