Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-11-27

ldlllllHl " OHu 1iAf LONn IL Adr lis
fire engine and its s~prinkIing cnrt. like
these. appearing Internationally. the
figure had seized on the Imagination
Of the children and grown in associa-
ton until it belonged to everybody by
sheer use and won't 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 graced
the window of the exchange. bearing
Over his shoulder a little bough Of
green for a Christmas tree. this season
he stood treeless and instead bore on
his shoulder a United States flag. On
a placard below him Simeon had la
b~oriously lettered:
HIGH COST OF LIVING
AND TOO MUCH FUSS
MAKES FOLKS WANT A
SANE CHRISTMAS.
ME TOO. s. C.
"Ain't that neat?' said Simeon.
Ebenezer looked. whats the Gag
for?' he inquired dryly.
well" said Simeon, "he had to car
ry something. | thought of a 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 Think
"Oh, 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 thatll express nothing
and express it forcible. In business a
minus sign said Simeon. lis as good
as a 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.
"Hey!" he shouted at Abel. back at
the desk. Cant you keep up with
Simeon'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 o~vercoat. was blowing on his fin
gers.
81 amt much of any heart to- said
he. "but the night before Christmas |
guess'Il do about right for mine"
"What'll you put up?' Ebenezer ask
ed, closing the door behind him.
.Well, sir said Abel. II amt made
up my mind full yet. But I'll be bill
blowed If I'm going to let Christmas
go by without saying something about
it in the window"
might before Christmas'l be too
late to advertise anything" said Eben-
ezer. IF / was in trade" be said. clos
ing his eyes,. I'D fill my window up
with useful articles-caps and mittens
and stockings and warm underwear
and dishes and toothbrushes. And Id
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.
II amt much on such.' be said
lightly. and then looked intently at
Ebenezer. ".Ienny's been buying quite
a lot here for her Christmas he said.
Ebenezer was blank. ''Jennyg" be
said. Jenny Wing? | 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. II 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 graveiy. All Old Trail
Town knew that and honored Bruce
for 1t.
"Headstrong couple" Ebenezer add
ed. $50 Jenny's bent on having Christ
mas. no matter what the town decides.
is she?" he added. Its like her. the
mink"
Il 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 .Ienny's come home forg'
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
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