South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-03-26
Winnitred Black Writes

A little boy stood at the window
looking out into the driving rain.
The tall NAPLES at the gate were
grim and stark, and even the weep
ing willow didn't look like aa willow
at ALT was so bare of leaves and
SO ugly
The wind moaned in the chimney,
and in the corners of the garden
there were still little patches of
frost, but at the corner of the house
the lilac bush began 10 show signs
of spring.
There were no leaves and it was
not yet really budded, but there was
something promising about the col
or Of the lilac bark. and though the
wind swept the rain against the
window i'm great splitting gusts, the
little boy saw the lilac bush and his
eyes grew very bright.
"Oh," he cried aloud. barefoot
time is coming after aun' And ne
began 10 hum and whistle under his
breath, both together. in an old lit
tie way ne had-and all that day he
was ight-hearted and happy.
Barefoot time-what a lot it does
mean to the little boyi
He does hate shoes so-they make
him feel lame, he says-and ne is
so sorry for the horses when he
thinks of their heavy iron shoes.
How can they walk at all?
And the heavy coats he hates
and mufflers ard rubbers-yes, even
caps.
What the little boy really likes
is TO put on a pair of overalls and
a shirt and dun out into the garden
and play pirate. or Indian, or avia-
tor all day long without a thing on
his head or on his little, brown, ac-
tive feet
Idea of Freedom.
know exactly how ne feels,
don't you?
1t is not only the weight Of the
shoes he feels, it's the idea Of them.
To him. shoes and hats mean rain
and snow, and overcats and colds
in the head, and staying in the
house, and going to school and
studying how many eight times
nine is. and trying to pretend TO be
interested in what bounds Labrador
on the north.
His shoes are like the prisoners
handouts every time he looks at
them he thinks of his lost liberty
Dear little boy, Isn't he lucky 20
live in a family that believes in real
boys. and in letting them have
barefoot time ."
Some day he'll grow up. and then
he'll have TO wear shoes all sum-
mer no matter how hot il s. And
he won't mind it so very much, for
custom does strange things to us
all.
But ne Will have TO shave every
day, and wear a stiff high collar,
and pay dinner calls, and 60 TO the
opera and pretend he likes il. and
be polite to people he can't endure, |
and go 10 dinners that bore him 20
tears. and make speeches that bore
everyone else. l wonder Z he Will
ever wish for barefoot time" when
those days come.
I'm wishing for Il right now
barefoot time"-the time of loosen |
ans ADllr Nl4AADAl1r TIC A4AAAr VI An ci1 J
YOU please"-the time Of natural 7
simple living. without the telephone
buzzing every instant, without the
ringing Of the doorben. without the
list, without the thou
sand and one little handouts We
put around our own wrists and keep .
there just TO show the world that
we can AFFORD 10 buy them.
Barefoot time!"
In Later Years.
When my barefoot time comes. 4
I'm going TO twist my hair in
knot, and put on a loose gown and a .
pair of sandals. and have my lunch
out on the back porch and invite
the puppy 10 be among those pres
ent. and have some "1-2-3-+ cake
and some hasty pudding and milk
In the blue bowl. and some ginger
cookies from the brown earthen jar.
And I'm going 10 reach uI and
pull down a spray Of lilacs and bury
my face in them. and forget al.
about clubs and programs. and visit
ing lists and obligations OF every
sort. whatsoever. and whOmsoever-
and I'm going 10 take my barefoot