The Lakeland evening telegram., 1920-12-24

born mother" to whom no children
had been born.
But this year she had forgotten
something most important to be done.
And it was only several days before
Christmas.
She went down town. made her pur.
chase after quite delay and left the
shop.
Outside were three small children,
their faces close against the window
pane, their eyes cleaning, their small
ill-clad bodies tense and quiverins
with emotion.
"Aw, gee, look at It stop at the sta.
tons! There, she's Off the track now
No. she amt. She's back on again."
The second child was reading sign.
"They says that in this here shop
that it's the land where the dreams OF
children come true. Dye suppose
they's kiddin'?"
The third child, a little girl. who
!. was clutching what once had been a
doll was looking at one In the shops
window.
IF could jes' touch her hair" she
sighed.
"Would you like to go inside the
shop" Gertrude Harding asked the
children.
They looked at her abruptly. "D'ya
mean it?"
And through the shop. straight to
the children's department she took
them.
1t was revelation to her to realize
the Joy that was derived by these
children from the intimate contact
with toys they knew they could never
own.
They had gone inside one Of the big
shops and had been treated as well as
anybody; they had not been afraid.
They had looked to their hearts con.
tent.
ITS true-what they's said" the
children agreed afterward, "in there 1t
is the land all right. where children's
dreams come true" For the reality of
Fairyland had been expressed by the
marvellous and magical toys and games
and gay decorations of the Christmas
shop. @
If. Gerirlde Harding told herself
afterwurd, these children had so loved
q trip into the gayety Of a children's
shop, were there not others who would
like to journey forth into the world of
toys. too?
She thought II over. And did not
stop there. She rang up certain
number and asked for the matron.
you're the matron of the Children's
hospital, aren't YOU? Well. | won
dered II any of your children would
care to go with me tomorrow and take
trip through the chldren's toy shops2
They're most attractively fixed up this
year and some Of them have specia
attractions, Santa Claus and many
other wondrouS features :"
So Gertrude Harding called for the
children. There were IS who were
able to 20 and of that 15 the majority
were mntherless
Such an afternoon as Gertrude
Harding had. And such an afternoon
as the children had.
Those In the shops seemed especial.
~ anxious to do what they could for
the children who were so obviously
from home or hospital. The mechan.
ical toys even seemed to put more
spirit into their performances Ger
trude Harding thought.
AS they were coming home several
little hands found their way into both
of Gertrude Harding's hands. One
clutched little finger. another had
hold of her thumb: so II went.
Mrs." one of them ventured, "let's
pretend we're all children from a kin.
dergarten and that you're our teach.
er. Don't let's pretend we're from .
hospital. ehf"
"Yes. let's pretend that" she an.
swered them. "0r how would II do to
pretend that ! was your mother and
that you we're all my children?"
"Would you-honest-would you
pretend that?" one asked and the 9th.
ers looked at her eagerly, hoping, hop
ing. hoping she would not refuse.
THAT would be the best pretend
Of ALL" she smiled at them.
So they pretended" and so they
went back very happily from their
Christmas shopping trip.
Once again she took them. on the
day before Christmas. II was hard
getting through the crowds, but 1t was
worth every effort.
In one Of the shops a gayly dressed
clown led the children In a process.
sion. Once in a while he turned and
winked at them as though to say:
"We know what fun all this is,
don't wei We're IN the secret Of the
fun thar children can have at Christ.
mas tine that tie grown-ups know