The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1914-11-27

OF the children and grown In assOcia-
ton until it belonged to everybody by
sheer use and wont. 1t was a papier
mache Santa Claus, three feet high,
white bearded, gray gowned. with tall,
pointed cap. rather the more sober St
Nicholas of earlier days than the roll
licking, red CARRIED st. Nick Of now.
Only whereas for years he had gracedI
the window of the exchange, bearing
over his shoulder little bough Of
green for Christmas tree, this season
be stood treeless and instead bore on
his shoulder United States flag. On
placard below him Simeon had Ia
boriously lettered:
HIGH COST OF LIVING
AND TOO MUCH FUSS
MAKES FOLKS WANT A
SANE CHRISTMAS.
ME TOO. 8. c.
"Ain't that neat?' said Simeon.
Ebenezer looked. whats the flag
forT' he inquired dryly.
>"Well," said Simeon, "he had to car
~ something. l thought Of toy gun.
but that didn't seem real appropriate.
A Japanese umbrella wasn't exactly
in season, seems though. A flag was
about the only thing could think of
to have him hold. A flag Is always
kind Of tasty, don't you thinkY'
ooh, it's harmless" Ebenezer said;
harmless
mo hustling business" Simeon pur-
sued, "can be contented with just not
doing something. 1t amt enough not
to have no Christmas. You've got to
find something that'll express nothing
and express it forcible. In business
minus sign," said Simeon. lis as good
as plus If you can keep it whirling
round and round"
This Ebenezer mulled and chuckled
over as he went on down the street.
He wondered what the emporium
would do to keep up with the ex-
change. But in the emporium window
there was nothing save the usual mill
end display for the winter white goods
sale.
Ebenezer opened the store door and
put his head in.
"Heyw he shouted at Abel, back at
the desk. "Can't you keep up with
Sime0n's Window"
Abel came down the aisle between
the lengths of white stuff plated into
folds at either side. The fire had just
been kindled in the stove, and the air
in the store was still frosty. Abel, in
his overcOat, was blowing on his fin
gers.
II amt much of any heart to-" said
he, "but the night before Christmas I
guess'n do about right for NINE"
"Whatn you put up?" Ebenezer ask
ed, closing the door behind him.
"Well, sir" said Abel, 81 amt made
up my mind full yet But I'll be bill
bowed If I'm going to let Christmas
60 by without saying something about
it I'm the window"
might before Cbristmas'll be too
late to advertise anything" said Eben-
eyer. IF was in trade" he said, clos
ing his eyes, "rd I'LL my window up
with useful articles-caps and mittens
and stockings and warm underwear
and dishes and toothbrushes. And I'd
say, Might as well afford these on
what you saved out of Christmas
You'd ought to get all the advertising
you can out Of any situation"
Abel shook his head.
81 amt much on SUCH" he said
lightly, and then looked intently at
Ebenezer. "Jenny's been buying quite.
a lot here for her Christmas" he said.
Ebenezer. was blank. jenny" he
said. Jenny Wing? I heard she was
here. amt seen her. Is she bound
to keep Christmas anyhow
"Just white goods it was" said Abel
briefly.
Ebenezer frowned his lack Of under
standing. 81 shouldn't think her and
Bruce had much of anything to buy
anything WITH" he said. II s'pose you
know" he added, that Bruce, the
young beggar, quit working for me in
the city after the-the failure? Threw
up his job with me and took, God
knows, what to do"
Abel nodded gravely. All Old Trail
Town knew that and honored Bruce
for It. ...
"Headstrong couple" Ebenezer add
ed. $50 Jenny's bent on having Christ
mas, no matter what the town decides,
is sheY' he added. Its like her, the
mink"
81 don't think it was planned that
way" Abel said simply. "She's only
buying white goods" he repeated. And.
Ebenezer still staring, Surely you
know what Jenny's come home forT
Abel said. -.
A moment or two later Ebenezer was
out on the street again, his face turned
toward the factory. He was aware
that Abel caught open the door behind
him and called after him, whenever
you get ready to sell me that there
star glass, you know Ebenezer an
swered something, but his responses
were so often cultural and indistin-
guishable that his will to reply was
regarded as nominal anyway. He also
knew that now, just before him. Buzz
Miles was proceeding with the snow
plow, cutting a firm, white way.
smooth and sparkling for soft treading,
momentarily bordered by a feathery
fiux that tumbled and heaped and then