The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-24
Christmas EDe

07TlHBRE isn't a crack or crevice into which we will poke our heads
 today that won't be filled with eager, anxious people making eleventh hour" Christmas preparations, for in consequence of not needing the shop carly slogan, they find themselves far in arrears as to their holiday arrange ments.
 If it is more blessed to give than | to receive, why is the face of the Christmas shopper such distressed one?" I unused yesterday, as came upon my friend, Betsy who looked as l if she was trying to decide the weight fest of questions-like woman's suf- frage or whether husbands should sew on their own buttons--or something equally as important.
 What question of national welfare are you now engaged upon?" I asked as accosted her in one of the fash ionable shops.
 "Oh, but am glad to see you" she said happily. Maybe you can advise me about what shall do about a Christmas present for Ann You see. [ am going to give her pink silk work bag-you know the one Mag gave me last Christmas, and I've never used. 1 thought I would just give it to Ann have bought some scissors to go in it, and the question I want to decide is whether I might keep these nice new sharp ones and put my old ones in the bag for her.
 Why, I never heard of such thing" I said disapprovingly.
 Well, I wish you might behold the things she gives me-" said Betsy. They are the worst I ever saw. Cheap and shoddy. Why the belt buckle she sen; me last year was so rank that the stones were knocked out in the post be- fore it ever got to me-"
 Which pair of scissors is in the bag now" I asked.
 -The old ones, of course" she nodded
 You will never have strength of character enough to send them" said as took her arm and we proceeded to another shop to select various and sum- dry gifts.
 Isn't it funny thing about buying Christmas gifts" said as we proceed ed, that the moment you have bought CiO WA1Sli oCCulo cilluCutly SulIaDl6l TOT certain person the very next mo- ment it impresses you as. being exactly the wrong thing.
 And for that very reason I think it is terribly unkind that the shops won't exchange Christmas things before Christmas, for every blessed thing I've bought loathe and want to take back now"
 T don't suppose they really could do that" I said hopelessly.
 T am going to remedy things this way,' said Betsy. who has the most scheming mind ina ginable "The things I've bought for Sara, for instance. I am going to give to Martha and vice versa and so on all down the list of these that don't fit.''
 That's a bright idea said approv- ingly, as I always do of Betsy's sug- gestions, and I'll do it, too"
 As we entered one of the large apart ment shops, Betsy and caught sight>of masculine acquaintance of ours who as we stopped. came over near us, pre- sumably Con our part) to join us.
 But we soon discovered that there was nothing complimentary in this proximity, for he quickly pulled out of his pocket a list as long as my arm and began running over it, checking things with his pencil and with no more thought of us than if we had been on the planet Mars or had become nice lit tie polar bears for the winter.
 I neglected to say that the counter at which we had all three cast anchor was the jewelry counter and pretty soon one of the clerks came up and the young man being nearer her engrossed her attention before she got close enough for us to speak.
 of you have time to wait on me-" we heard him say, T should like to ask you a question" and then consulted his list again.