The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-12
mind to ask for that"
 The Lure of Childhood.


 The little girl at his side, her nose pressed flat against the pane, was de- svouring an important doll, Wh1cn Sas in a boudotr of its own, sururounoe9 by most Luxurious furniture, ana stared at itself in a mirror with an air of doll-like boredness:
 Isn't it the most perfectly sWeer lining you ever say, Fraule1n ?' she appealed And the darling furniture You can have your old railroad, Rod dy. Maybe I'll let her ride in it some
 Ride in it! Huh!" answered her brother. What about the tunnels How could that dress get through 'em ?"
 ed already to a representation of San ia Claus gIimpsed mome mentar1ly in the rear of the shop. The representation was as faithful as such usually are, consisting of the traditional makeup of wliskers. wig, and long red coat.
 Say" she exclaimed, "do you s'pose fathers got a new mask Tor this year? We pretty well smashed the
 As they walked away, the three of the other wor1d-the world over east of Third Avenue stared after them with a certain shocked aTnazement. One of the three was a girl, a rather slatternly little girl with wtspy hair and pasty complexion. The other two were boys, one older by several years bitten air of the juvenile East Side gangster It was the little girl who spoke first, although not until all lust vacated and pressed their noses flat against the glass.
 Did yuh hear what they said % she gasped.
 DO yuh think they'll get all that ?'' she demanded.
 The smaller boy twisted uncomfort- hi fnQ a Rainaf the stone wall under the window
 seWhat d'yuh think, Pete? ?' he de- manded of his senior.
 Dunno" terse1y responded the lat
 The slatternly little girl drew a deep breath. to every place never believed that. I know he couldn't come to our house, himself, cause there ain't no chimney 'at ever seed. But know he comes some places"
 The smaller boy expressed decided doubt.
 JAW, cut it out, kid,'' commanded his brother What are yuh kickin' whole show before us here, an noth- in to do but make up yuh mind what yuh want?"
 fected rapture, the other two picked and plotted and quarrelled with the avidity of real owners. Once the two hOVS almost came to DlOWS over the nossession of a dancing-bear, and the sIattern1y little girl was moved to tears by a contemptuous reference to a. stately dolP s-house she had set her heart upon.
 Dreams Real to Them.
 When they finally moved away, leaving three smudges at varying lev els on the glass, their eyes had the far-away expression of all dreamers. The poverty which was grinding the youth out of them had sloughed from fheiT shoulders For the time be- ing they lived is the possession of all those gorgeous toys.
 After them came a tired-looI1ing woman carrying a baby in her arms and leading little girl of six or sev- en. The woman would have passed the window without stopping. Her face was set in a strained, gray look. She plodded slowly forward. as if ev- cry step involved a separate thought and action. But the child she was leading stopped dead at sight of the window, and refused to abandon what was probably her first view of such wondrous beauty. After five min utes, the little girl turned docilely to the mother. and they went on. But their manner had changed complete ly In place of the downcast, weary look. the woman stepped forward firmly, with an air of cheerfulness and the child she led by the hand walked with head over one shoulder, staring back at the wonders that had