The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1920-12-07

or small chubby child Of
her own--One of those size
hao dreamed OF and who had never
stepped outside Of her dreams.
Yes! She. Gertrude Harding, was a
'bOrn moiher" to whom no children
bad been born.
lIut this year she had forgotten
something most Important TO be done.
And Il was only several days before
christmas.
She went down town, made her pur-
rhnse 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 Quivering
with emotion.
Jaw. gee look ut II stop at the sta
tiOnsi There, she's of the track nowl
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
tbey's kidCln'f"
The third child, little girl. who
was clutching what once had been a
doll was looking ut one in the shops
window.
"If could jes' touch her hair" she
sighed.
"Would you like to go inside the
shopT" Gertrude Harding asked the
children.
They looked at her abruptly. "D'ya
mean III"
And through the shop. straight to
the chlldrens department she took
them.
II was revelation 10 her to realize
the Joy that wns 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.
ats true-what they's said" the
children agreed afterward. ''in there II
Is the land all right. where children's
dreams come true" For the reality Of
Fniryland had been expressed by the
marvellous and magical toys and games
and gay decorations Of the Christmas
shop.
II, Gertrude Harding told herself
afterward, these children had so loved
n trip Into the gayety OF 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 mntron.
you're the matron OF the Chlldren's
hospital, aren't you? Wen. won
'dered II any Of your children would
care to go with me tomorrow and take
trip through the chIldren's toy shops?
They're most attractlvely fixed up this
year and some of them have special
attractions Santa Claus and many
other wOndrous features
So Gertrude Harding called for the
children. There were 10 who were
able to 70 and of that Is the majority
were mOtherless.
Such an afternoon rs Gertrude
Tlnrding had. And such an afternoon
,as the children had
Those In the shops seemed especial
Ay anxious 10 do what they could for
the children who we're so obviously
from home or hospital. The mechnn-
irul Toys even seemed to put more
h.t
trude Harding thought.
As they were coming home several
lilI'e hands found their way into both
NJ Gertrude Hardng's hands. One
clu'chch little finger, another had
hold ~ her thumb 81 II went.
Mrs" one OF them ventured, "let's
prycnd we're all children from kin
drrlwlHen and that you're our teach
or. Don't lets pretend we're from q
hospital, ch?"
Yes, lI's pretend thnt," she an
sw"r"d them. "Or how would II do 10
pretend That | was your mother and
that you were all my childrenT
would Ou--huneSt---w would you
pretend ihutT" one asked and the 9th.
"r, looked ~ her eagerly, hoping, hop
m hOplnr she would not refuse
THAT would he the hest pretend
Of All" size smiled M them.
81 ,hey pretended" and so thPJ
went back very happily from theil
Christians shopping trip.
Oucr again she took them, on th'
day hrfmr Christmas. II was hare
wIiIug through the crowds but II Wal
worth every effort.
In one Of the shops gnyly dressed
clown led the children In n process
sion. Once In while he turned ant
winked NJ them as though 10 say:
I'VE know what fun all this Is
don't WEI We're In the secret OF IN
tnn that children cnn have NJ Chris,
mas time that the grown.ups knoS