Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-03-20
WINIFRED BLACK
WRITES ABOUT
BAREFOOT TIME.
Copyright. 1921, by
Newspaper Feature Service. Inc.

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 weeping
willows didn't look like 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 to show signs Of spring.
There were no leaves and it was
not yet really budded, but there was
something promising about the color
Of the lilac bark, and though the wind
swept the rain against the window IN
great splitting gusts, the little boy saw
bright.
Oh" he cried aloud, barefoot
time is coming after alp And he be-
gan to hum and whistle under his
breath, both together, in an odd little
way he had-and all that day he was
light hearted and happy.
Bare foot time-What lot it does
mean to the little boy!
He does hate shoes so-they make
him feel lame, he says-and he is 50
sorry for the horses when he th:nks
of their heavy iron shoes. How can
they walk at all?
And heavy coats he hates, and muf-
flers and rubbers, yes-even caps.
What the little boy really likes, is
to nut on pair Of overalls and a
shirt and run out into the garden and
play pirate. or Indian or aviator all
day long without a thing on his head
or on his little, brown. active feet.
Idea of Freedom.
/ know exactly how he feels, don't
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 overcoats 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
handcuffs- every time he looks at them
he thinks of his lost liberty.
Dear little boy! Isn't he lucky TO
live in family that believes in real
boys, and in letting them have a
barefoot time? ....-
Some day he'll grow up. and then
he'll have to wear shoes all summer
no matter how hot it is. And he won't
mind it so very much for custom does
strange things to us all =
But he will have to shave every day.
and wear a stiff high collar, and ray
pretend he likes it, and be polite to
people he cant endure, and 60 to
dinners that Lore him to tears, and
make speeches that bore everyone Use.
l wonder il he will ever wish for
barefoot time when those days come.
I'm wishing for It right now-''bare-
foot time''-the time of loosening con-
ventions, the time of do as you
please"--the time Of natural, simple
living, without the telephone buzzing
every instant, without the ringing Of
the doorbell, without the engagement
list without the thousand and one
little handouts we put around our own
wrists and keep there just to show the
world that we can afford to buy them.
Barefoot time.'
In Later Years.
When my barefoot time comes, I'm
going to twist my hair in a knot. and
put on a loose gown and pair Of
sandals. and have my lunch out on
the back porch and invite the PUPPY
to be among those present, and have
some Il 1884 cake" and some hasty
pudding and milk in the blue bowl, and
some ginger cookies from the brown
earthern jar. And I'm going to reach
up and pull down a spray of lilacs
and bury my face in them. and forget
all about clubs and programs, and
visiting lists and obligations of every
sort, whatsoever and whomsoever-
and I'm going to take my barefoot
time" clear from the soul out.
Whew, what gust. What are you
trying to do, Sir Boreas, shake the
house down?
Will it ever be real summer again.
Yes, see-the lilac is beginning to
bud.
Hurrah! Barefoot time" is on the
way!