Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-12-17

The man sticks his head out from the
cover for air. His head is hardly out
when it is struck by great rubber
ball. and then, like July storm, when
a great cloud breaks. there comes from
above downpour of rubber balls.
footballs, baseballs. jackballs. tennis
balls and balls of every description.
They beat on the bed and pummeI
the man like hail on bed of roses.
He lies still and groans. The shower
ceases. and then, with the noise of a
hurricane. there comes rushing through
the air what seems an African ty-
phoon.
1T is the hoops, the hoops cry the
wooden soldiers.
And so it Is. The air is filled with
every kind of hoop, and they roll back
ward and across the bed like a storm
dashed sea. The man screams in pain.
Some of the hoops have bells on them.
and they ring in his ears as the sharp
edges OF the bent hickory cut his face
He is weak and pale. but does not
give in.
Then there is clang of bells and a
blowing of whistles, and with rush
the entire toy fire department makes
for the bed. Following them come
the tin locomotives, wildly ringing
their bells, and back OF them the toy
trolleys. The bed looks like side
street during four alarm fire
Now the hose connections are made.
and scores of streams of water beat on
his face. From the foot of the bed
comes cloud Of steam from the en-
gines, while hot and blazing above are
sparks from the trolleys as they grind
along the brass Of the bed He fights
hard. but finally succumbs and falls
weak and exhausted. The tiremen ring
their bells and start back for the fire
houses. while the soldiers keep back
the crowds of brownies. Indians. rub
Der men. tenpins. jumping jacks and
walking monkeys that were 3clinging
around the ropes.
The man watched all this carefully.
Then he covered his eyes with his arm.
Somehow 1t all faded away. He seem
ed to be climbing over wall. He
reached the top and, looking down
pathway, saw a summer house. About
1t the Iilacs fell in great clusters,
Looking through the doors, he saw be-
meath a vista of the cedars and waving
naples rows of flower beds, and she
was there among them clipping train
ing and guiding over trellises the ten
der blossoms she loved so dearly. In
the summer house and on the floor he
saw a boy.
He was lying on the floor while his
chubby hands placed about the fort of
sand the little soldiers he took from
box The man sighed. He opened his
eyes and looked about him. 1t was the
inside room on the sixteenth floor. 1t
was very quiet He looked In the
glass and saw tear in his eye. 1t
ran down his cheek, and another came
In its place and followed 1t. Then he
threw open the window. Like a tenn
pest In rushed the notes.-the blowing
of the horns, the clatter of the rattles
and the laughter of merry people. He
dressed hurrfedly From his satchel
he took portfolio and. taking out
/
bling his hat rushed out of the room.
Cash this for me and in hurry
said the man to the night clerk.
The clerk went to the safe and
brought out roll of bills. He counted
1t, but there was not enough, and he
opened the petty cash drawer and gave
the man all that was there.
flx, of N n
his pocket. "I'll be back In the morn
ing"
The man rushed into the street.
Just half block up lot of little boys
were looking at cart full Of rubber
balls. The man handed the peddler a
big bill and said. Give all of these to
the boys" The peddler looked sur
prised, and the boys yelled with glee.
Across the street were lot Of little
girls, tired and worn from the day and
nights work of running at the cry of
"Cashv' but just happy at looking In
the windows Almost like mailman
the man pushed them into the store.
and soon each had great doll and
shawl and candy and so many things
that are good before they knew it
Across the street was a man selling
boxes Of tin soldiers.
"Ahw said the man. with rem
Iniscent sigh. He jumped on box
and yelled for all the boys around to
come near him. and as they did he
handed each box of soldiers and
then paid the man twice the cost.
What is it?" said the man
ut is Santa Claus gone Wild" said
a policeman who had children at home.
The man rushed on and into mar
ket. 1t was very late. and the poor
were buying the leftovers for Christ
mas dinner. The dealers were PACK
ing up the best to save for the New
Years sale.
"Open up!'' cried the man as he -four
ished roll Of bills And as the multi
tude Of pale and worn went by those
In the faded alpacas he reached out
II