The Caldwell tribune., 1920-12-17

see daughter or son
or small chubby child Of
her Own-One of those she
had dreamed of and who had never
stepped outside Of her dreams.
Yesl She, Gertrude Harding, was q
born mother" to whom no children
had been born.
But 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-
chase after quite a delay and left the
shop.
Outside were three small children,
their faces close against the window
pane. their eyes cleaning. their small
nl-clad bodies tense and Quivering
with emotion.
"Aw. gee. look at It stop at the sta
tionsi There. she's Of the track nowi
No, she amt. She's back on again"
The second child was reading sign.
They says that In this here shop
thaf it's the land where the dreams Of
children come true. Dye suppose
they's kiddin'f"
The third child. q little girl, who
was clutching what once had been q
doll was looking at one In the shops
window.
ri ]. could Jes' touch her hair" she
dghed.
"Would you like to 60 inside the
shop" Gertrude Harding asked the
children.
They looked at her abruptly. "D'ya
mean 1T"
And through the shop. straight to
the children's department she took
them.
Il was revelation 10 her to realize
the JOY that was derived by these
children from the intimate contact
with toys they knew they could never
ewn.
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.
TITS true-what they's said" the
children agreed afterward. "in there It
10 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.
II. Gertrude Harding told herself
afterward, these children had so loved
a trip into the gayety Of a children's
shop. were there not others who would
like to Journey forth into the world Of
toys. to02
She thought 1t over. And did not
stop there. She rang up a certain
number and asked for the matron.
"You're the matron Of the Children's
hospital. aren't you7 Well, won
dered II any Of your children would |
care to go with me tomorrow and take |
a "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 featuresI
So Gertrude Harding called for the
children. There were ID who were |
able to 60 and Of that 10 the majority
were motherless.
Such an afternoon a. Gertrude
Harding had. And such an afternoon
as the children had.
Those in the shops seemed especial
y anxious to do what they could for
the children who were 80 obviously
from home or hospital. The mechan.
ical toys even seemed to put more
spirit into their performances Ger.
trude Harding thought.
Az they were coming home several
little hands found their way into both
Of Gertrude Harding's hands. One
q little finger. another had
hold Of her thumb: % II went.
Mrs." one Of them ventured, "let's
pretend we're all children from a kin.
deryarten and that you're our teach.
er. Don't let's pretend we're from a
hospital. chr
Yea lets pretend that" she an.
swered them. ~Or how would II do to
pretend that ] was your mother and
that you were all my children7"
"Would you-honest-would you
pretend thatT" one asked and the 9th.
ers looked at her eagerly. hoping. hop
Ing. hoplng she would not refuse.
THAT would 10 the best pretend
OF ALL" she smiled at them.
So they pretended" and 20 they
went back very happily from their
Christmas shopping trip.
Once egain she took them. on the
Itsy before Christmas II was hard
Eeising through the crowds. but II was
worth every effort
In one Of the shops . gayiy dressed
rlown led the children In q process.
'ioD. Once IN while be turned and
vinked at them ~ though to say:
I'VE know what fun all this 10.
ion'i vet We're In the secret Of the
uR that children can have at Christ.
10 time that ths grown-ups know