Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-12
The Night Of the Children.
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BY James Oppennelm. author OF Dr.
Rast" and Wild Oats
tExclusive Service The Survey Press
Bureau).
Christmas was in the air. The frosty.
starry night turned golden in the city
avenues. Up and down the pavement
the crowds swept laughing. talking,
I iostling-cheeks rudy with the wealth
er. eyes sparkling with the lights. AS
I they moved, there unrolled beside them
the endless film of brilliant shop-win
dovs. cramned with riches and thru
the swinging doors eddies of people
were sucked in and elected At the
curb the toy peddlers shouted. the
chestnut stands sent up their smoke
II seemed as if the millions of the city
had turned out to mingle in street
festival of JOY and brotherhood. Peo-
pie laughed at one another. a wine of
good humor drenched the air. It was
as if on this night hate and strife and
greed had been sloughad off: as II the
/ race said. Come let US be happy with
one another. We are all here together.
Let US meet and nlingle in JOY and
! good will and peace
! It was the Might OF the Children. Far
thru the sleeping city the million chill
/ Gren were in their beds and it was for
them that these people met. For their
!. children they We're sweeping the shops.
/ that Christmas morning might dawn
| with the candles of the pine, and hang
/ ing bulgy stockings and the mysterious
new toys And it was the thought Of
! the children possibly. that made these
/ men and women SO isht-footed. so
| bubblingly joyous, so innocently happy.
1t made children of them and they
mingled with each other, like laughing
rollicking boys and girls.
There was one vast department store.
| nearly 2 block square and six stories
! high. which sucked in vast masses o.
/ the crowd Pendant from its ceilings
| hung white moons of light, and under
these a density Of humanity slowly
swirling about the sparkling, laden
! counters. The air was over-Warm with
breathing. and tingied with the excite
ment of shutting shoes. rattle of pack
ages, and hive hum Of talk and excla :
nations. The place was electric with
the push of many wills. the clash OF
desires the impeded hurry, the draw
ing near of closing time: 1920 had
come and gone and yet the crowd was
unsatisfied: it hungered and strained
and camored and struggled to get its
fill.
One counter especially was besieged
At this were sold little scent packa ges
of snow for Christmas trees. Behind
this counter stood Mamie Riggs. II
wears old, thin, emacated, bloodless
her face pale and drawn and wrinkled
her eyes boodshot her lip strembling
AS she made out checks, and received
and made change, and handled the en-
: velopes her hands visibly shook. Faces
crowded near her, leaned close, arms
lifted fingers jerked near her eyes.
This snow?"
eyes ma'am."
"How much? ~
give cents"
'Only one for five?"
"Only one
"How much in package?'
II don't know. ma'am."
Don't know"
At least five voices interrupted:
'See here. I want half dozen o
these" Where's my change" g
can't wait al! night" isn't there an!
one to wait on me?" "Say. I'll speal
| to the fioorwalker if I don't get proper
!, lattention."
Mamie answered as best she could.
Just a minute. You said five? Six
| Change hasn't come I can't help it
ma'am!-Yes, it's FIVE a PACKAGE
Snow! yes!-Tll wait on you in a min
ute!"
She spoke evenly in q monotone. Bu
tshs was dNnaA1 work mechanically