The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-21

Like Haround al Raschid and his grand vizier of blessed memory, Bettina and I started out yesterday to see what Bag dad. alias Birmingham. was doing in certain high places to welcome the holi- day season.
 We both felt that the Christmas spirit was woefully lacking in us, and was in sad need of being poked up, as it were, by some outward and visible means.
 'swhat shall we do7'' said I. as we stood in the crowded thoroughfare, where men, women and children were hurrying and scurrying hither and thither like so many sheep in a pen
 we might buy Christmas tree." said Bettina, who has always been noted for her originality.
 Anybody can buy tree," I said pet tishly. ''The most foolish person can go into the market place and purchase one. The only way anybody could have any fun getting a Christmas tree would be to go to the woods and fell one."
 Show me a woods" said Bettina firmly.
 There isn't any" I replied facetious-
  Come. let us away to buy the tree"
 Soon we arrived at the market place, there to find that all of Jefferson and much of many other counties, had arrived in tue tree line. There were fir trees and cedar trees, and pine trees, and 'tan- nebaume' of all sort, and lowering around them, with malice intent to buy. were as- sorted ladies and gentlemen. who almost counted the needles on their branches, 50 particular were they about them.
 T had no idea that choosing tree was such an art, had you?' I asked Bet tina
 From the looks of these people it winter bonnet" she replied.
 "A dwarf tree" said a funny little old lady standing near us, just at this point, and attracted our attention immediately.
 Turning to us like we were some of her long lost kin, she continued:
 "I haven't any idea where we will find room for 1t, but we must have a Christ mas tree''
 "Indeed,' I said chumily, not needing Bettina's nudges and her mutttered ''who's your friend?"
 "You see it can't possibly go in the living room, it's so small, and we can't put it in any of the bedrooms. Oh, maybe it can go in the reception hall"
 "The very place." I said, though never having seen the reception hall or the lady before.
 As if making her decision according to my remark. she promptly said to the mar ket man:
 motioned toward Tom Thumb of a tree. with pointed top. like German of- ficer's imperial"
 "I hope. none of the children will i'm pale themselves upon it," said she to me in still more confidential and friend ly manner
 Whereupon was about to remark that didn't see how they could. unless. of course. they happened to be Llliputians, when the lady turned away and Bettina observed:
 She's not crazy, but merely a poor creature with lot of hobby horses, saw dust dolls, Irish mails and things to buy, and she does not known how she will ever get them in four rooms. a bath and no closets"
 Have you noticed how the fashions have changed in Christmas trees?' con- tinued Bettina. as we gazed about the market at tho various kinds. "Of course I have" said "When , was a little bitty. everybody wanted their bush to be the highest imaginable. and now the desire seems to be to get the very smallest one that is able to be out without it's mama" |. Don't you suppose that is done on ac- count of SO many people living in flatsr'