The Detroit times., 1909-12-27
CHRISTMAS EVE SKETCHES
By Milton R. Palmer

They were walking home, evidently
from last shopping tour, she With
her head up and radiant smile, most
expressive of Yuletide happiness. upon
her face. he with his bowed over an
armful OF packages and the look of d
man who has just finished a shopping
Marathon two yards behind his wife.
The wee snow-hakes sllted into his
ears and lighted on his nose. melting
into tiny drops that dripped of onto
the packages.
Isn't that tree just simply too beau
tiful?' she exclaimed glancing at /
snow-encrusted maple.
"Mmph,' assented be noncommit-
ally.
1T is just glorious" she went on.
Christmas never quite seems right
unless there is snow and a lovely,
quiet. shimmery snowfall on. Christ
mas Eve is the most poetic thing"
"Yep.-and I've got 10 get up early
and shovel the doggoned stuff of the
walk" replied her spouse. vainly put
fing in an effort TO dislodge the &C
cumulating moisture on his nose.
He was the envy OF all the married
men on the rear platform Of the car.
True. mis- overcoat was somewhat old
and shabby his hat had lost the orig
inal sickness of its nap. and his
gloves were decidedly old. But he
proudly clasped a handsome little fir
tree to his side and the grin that Occa-
sionally fitted across his countenance
spoke volumes of the thoughts that
were coming to him Of the JOY of the
children when they should see that
clump of evergreen Illuminated and
decorated with It's array OF presents.
Tell me where you got IL, friend,
remarked the next man on the plat
form. I've got kiddies OF my own
and I've hunted this blessed town
over and can't find tree
There's none left, replied the
owner of the fir. Il was lucky. Two
weeks ago the fellows in our shop put
an order in with commission man
and we ell had our trees waiting for
us. And they cost us only half what
the market price was yesterday when
they were pretty near all sold out
around town.
II didn't know any commission man
and I guess nv kids1l have TO be sal
isfied with the Christmas tree al the
church." replied the second man. as
he slid of at his corner.
You know just do hope that the
old canceling machine will slip when
II comes TO this package. conflded
the plump girl in the line at the post
office stamp window to the slender
girl next to her. II the mailing time
shows and Name sees It, | know she II
catch on and IL would be just like her
TO say something to some OF the other
girls about IT, You know we both
belong to the same club OF girls and,
OF course. all OF us girls make pres
ents for one another every Christmas.
We'll don't know how ii was, I'm
sure. had my list and Names name
was on IL all right. and knew what
was going 10 make and all that
But you know. Just forgot her some
how and after me remembering all
the other girls too. And never
would have thought OF IL il her pres
ent for me hadn't come in early. Yes.
and do YOU know, ! had 20 get away
from the office half an hour early so
could hustle around and buy some
thing for her. Told the boss had
headache.
And now, IL the date shows on the
package. and the hour. she'll jus.
know that | sent her present after j
got mine And she'll say ! waited 10
see II she was going 10 give me some
thing. Aint this Christmas stun
enough TO sizzle your
"Oh. fudge, YOU can't remember
everybody" said the thin girl.
IL was pay-as-you-enjer car. one o.
the kind with straps I'm the front end
and none in the rear end--to encour-
age the forward movement OF the hoi
polloi. But when Mrs. Jones got on at
Grand River-ave., the front end OF the
car was jammed full of people with
their arms filed with bundles and the
strapless rear portion held concourse
of equally burdened folks who swayed