The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1910-12-09

Used to do the
family shopping. Among the thou
sand and one commissions handed
over in immediate response to the
thoughtless good-nature was the or
der for purchase of "The FOOLS
Calendar" We set forth, list
three-times-forty long In our groan-
ing, much-abused handbag, and
entered the first shop come upon.
in our sub-consciousness feeling that
we, like the rest Of the jostlers,
fitted in pretty well with the title Of
that calendar. Down the aisle came
q rattled-looking, hair-disturbed, gen.
orally disturbed gentleman whose
province seemed the directing of fren-
1ied fanciers to the respective de-
partments of their fancy but the
Christmas spirit so possessed him he
was not quite himself, not able to
place his "Madames" and "Sirs." AS
vhort-skirted, rose-wreathed Matted, we
steered his way, he glanced with
wrinkled brow and questioning worry
to what might be our demand. do
you sell calendars here?" We asked
In heat OF hurry, to which he replied
glibly, Eyes, Sir" and never knew
he was not using the usual form OF
address to a woman. He led us then
with rapid step to the calendar
square, where spread out and uprose
floor, roof and pillars of calendars,
II would seem every time-chronicler
for every taste. And then feeling very
like a fool ourselves. we asked in a
low voice, "Have you The Fools Cal
endar2'" NO" says he. But" and
a CLEAN OF keen intellect lights his
eye, I'VE have Saints and Sinners"
We wanted to shrek with laughter,
we forgot all the hurry and not-money-
enough or time-enough. 1t paid for
all the crowding and mobbing and
back-ache and heart-ache of the day.
Funny enough was the woman en-
countered in mid-afternoon entering
the much-advertised, much-crowded
book-room OF department store In
haste to get at the forty-eight centers
and thirty-niners; she was high and
broad and muscular, an Amazon that
need not have put on extra effort to
make her way--but the spirit of
Christmas-the modern-was strong
upon her,--and as we passed her on
the way out into blessed out-of-doors,
even in our hurry we could not but
notice her wild look, her painting
breath, her elbows out on defensive
and offensive the way in which she
marched on, unswervingly, unrelent
fngly, like an avalanche, toward the
bargain books.
Overheard at the book counter
s'Don't you think a nice little book
Hike this is a good present to give?"
"A little book? What Is the name?"
''Why don't know, but it's a nice
little book In clean white binding.
believe I'll get dozen. dozen,
please, and see that they're all fresh"
The calendar square again Wom-
an madly struggling; another Amazon.
this one brow-beating a pale-faced
girl afflicted with cold and, wearing
q too-much Christmas air: Cant you
get me envelopes to put those calen-
dars in?"-dimensions of calendars IS
by "a inches-"ft's so hard when you
get home to hunt around and pack
things. wouldn't have bought the
calendars II | hadn't thought you
would pack EN-. Say. take that new
1ne out Of that nice box, hang It up
Ind give me the box Not allowed to?
the diff, they'll never know"
Ahs Ia % al 30 be-
Amazon's will
A large, canny, prosperous gentle
nan at q candy store, carefully select
ng and considering purchase of 25
,ents worth of Kindergarten mixed,
Brave foolish, big-hearted shop
girls many spending their present
III, and drawing on the future. to
make Christmas for the army at
lone.
We do generous deed. one that
,alls for large sacrifice. We have
zone down town all saddled, all ,
,ridled, for the days work. three neat :
ong pencils neatly sharpened to long
,oints. when we become one of mob
the enclosure where blank
looks, tissue-paper, holly-stickers and /,
III that are confirmed firm the greedy .
lands OF thousands hungry to get !
heir share for the urgent necessity
i doing up gifts with approved ornate
The clerks here all pale
nd grippe-y looking; one, so wee and .
,al1id. has momentarily lost her rea-
on because of the loss of her pencil.
| line OF people wait with feverish
mpatience. scowls deepen. muttered
Srowls are heard. the wee. pallid girl {
rows more pallid and grippe-y look e
ng. With mighty effort of the will.