Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-12-16

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.
Jaw, gee, look at II stop at the sta
lions There. she's of the track now J
No, she amt. She's back on again"
The second child was reading a sign.
"They says that in this here shop
that it's the land where the dreams OF
children come true Dye suppose
they's kiddir'?"
The third child. 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 Ike 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 chldren's department she took
them.
II was revelation TO her 10 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 10 their hearts CON
tent
ats true-what they's said" the
children agreed afterward. "in there IL
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
afterward, these children had 50 loved
trip into the gayety OF children's
shop, were there not others who would
like 10 journey forth into the world of
toys. too?
She thought II 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 you? Well. I won
dered if any Of your children would
care 10 go with me tomorrow and take
trip through the children's toy shops
They're most attractively fixed rp this
year and some OF them have special
attractions. a Santa Claus and many
other wondrous features -
So Gertrude Harding called for the
children. There were - who were
able to 60 and of that IL the ajority
were motherless.
Such an afternoon as Gertrude
Harding had. And such an afternoon
as the children had.
Those in the shops seemed especial
ly anxious to do what they could fol
the children who were so obviously
from a home or hospital. The mechan
teal toys even seemed to put more
spirit into their performances Ger
trude Harding thought.
AS they were coming home seyera
little hands found their way into both
Of Gertrude Harding's hands. One
clutched little finger. another hat
hold of her thumb so II went.
\ Mrs" one of them ventured. let.
pretend we're all children from kin
dergarten and that you're our teach
er. Don't let's pretend we're from {
hospital. chr
! "Yes let's pretend that" she an
| swered them. "Or how would IL do I,
pretend that was your mother an'
| that you were all my children"
would you-honest-would yoI
| pretend that?" one asked and the 9th
| ers looked al her eagerly. hoping. hop
| ing, hoping she would not refuse.
"That would be the best pretend
Of ALL" she smiled nj them.
So they pretended" and so the.
went back very happily from Their
Christmas shopping trip.
Once again she took them. On tn
day before Christmas. II was har'
getting through the crowds. but IT wa
worth every effort.
In one OF the shops gayly dressed
clown led the children In q process
sion. Once IN a while he turned ant
winked at them as though 10 say:
I'VE know what fun all this I,
don't we? We're To the secret or tn
fun that children can have az Christ
mas time that the grown-ups kno'
nothing Of They must just let Us z
along and share our secret tOgethe
ehr'
And then the clown beat upon hi
drum and the children all marchc
stiffly behind.
When magnificent Santa Clau
asked the children 10 sing with hii
and the voices Of the hospital childrc
sang out with the rest Gertrude Har,
ing felt herself swelling with pride.
Later when Santa Claus perceive
that one Of the hospital children ha
an unusually lovely voice he aske
him TO sing alone
j And there in the shop he sang. sen