Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1920-12-29

her own-One of those she
had dreamed Of and who had never
stepped outside of her dreams.
Yes She, Gertrude Harding, was
born mother" to whom no children
had been born.
But this year she Ind forgotten
something most important to be done.
And 1t 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 quivering
with emotion.
"Aw, gee, look at it stop at the sta
tons There, she's off the track nowl
No, she amt. She's back On again."
The second child was reading n sign.
"They says that In this here shop
that It's the land where the dreams Of
children come true. Dye suppose
they's kidding"
The third child. little girl. who
was clutching what once had been a
doll was looking at ope In the shops
window.
IF could jes' touch her hair" she
sighed.
"Would you like to 60 inside the
shopw Gertrude Harding asked the
children.
They looked at her abruptly. "D'ya
mean it2"
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 we'll as
anybody; they had not been afraid.
They had looked to their hearts con-
tent.
"1t's true-what they's said," the
children agreed afterward, "in there it
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. Gertrude Harding told herself
trip into the gayety Of children's
shop, were there not others who would
like to journey forth into the world Of
toys, too7
She thought It 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 your Well, Won
dered If any of your children would
care to go with me tomorrow and take
trip through the children's toy shops?
They're most attractively fixed up this
year and some OF them have special
attractions, Santa Claus and many
other wondrous featuresw
So Gertrude Harding called for the
children. There were Is who were
able to 60 and of that 10 the majority
were motherless.
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 obviou sly
from home or hospital. The mechun-
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 It went.
MRS." one of them ventured, "let's
pretend we're all children from kin
dergarten and that you're our teach
er. Don't let's pretend we're from a
hospital. eh7'
"Yes. let's pretend that" she an.
swercd them. "Or how would It do to
pretend that I was your mother and
that you were all my chlldren?"
"Would you-honest-would you
pretend that7" 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 Mt 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. 1t was hard
getting through the crowds. but It was
worth every effort.
In one Of the shops n gayly dressed
clown led the children in process
H., 1o nd