The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-10
Today's Short Story

Il flow of water shut off by the turn ing of a faucet.
 "I came to say how so4ry I a mthat l broke your little boys plaything," Miss Ellen explained. You see, didn't know it was fishing line and the hook had inadvertently caught in one of my roses, and"
 "Oh, that's all right" said the wo- man, indifferently. "Eddie's always into some mischief, and if his feelings get hurt it's his own fault" r. The interview with, her neighbor did not last"five minutes. But it had open ed Miss Ellen's eyes. And during the days that followed she kept them open -and saw number of things.
 She saw the woman who had been so slatternly at home go out dolled up in cheap finery. She saaR forlorn, neg lected-looking small boy hanging lone- somely about hours at a time. Again her impatient rebuff of the child running eagerly to meet her-the cross way she jerked him loose from the packages he wanted to help her carry.
 It made Miss Ellen boil
 "She's ruining his disposition chok- ing all natural affection in the child's heart-the eager little buds of love that ought to unfold like flowers to the sum- shine"
 But Miss Ellen felt herself helpless. She had had no experience whatever with children. Nor was she endowed with the natural gift of winning a child to her as some women are.
 G. akn A,.,o Ysws.~ -:Lu needed each other, lived apart. The lonely child, who needed love and moth- ering; the lonely woman, who needed the wholesome sadness that only child's prattel and laughter can give.
 Then one morning Miss Ellen went downtown to shop.
 It was morning of Encouragement. For as she came out and spied the neigh bor child swinging on his gate with heroic effort she put her awkward shy ness aside and attempted to make friends. In response the naughty imp thrust out his tongue at her and com pletely routed, Miss Ellen took flight.
 She was not angry, but the hurt of it and her sense of defeat followed cher all the way downtown.
 Her shopping led her to Avery's, the leading dry goods store. But at it's entrance she came to an abrupt stand still, astonishment in her eyes, a smile growing in shininess upon her lips.
 Out of the wide-open door was pour ing a flood of children, in all assorted sizes. Little-girl children with bobbed hair, small pigtails, puffy curls. Small boy, children, dark headed, red headed, tow headed, all with small faces full of importance, with uplifted eyes focused upon a great, glorious balloon attached to the string held tight in the proud small hand.
 Never had Miss Ellen seen, such bal looms! So big and beautiful and color full. Like the bloom of the bright spring gardens. rose-red, morning glory blue, green, violet. yellow.
 And when she finally edged her way inside at a dozen different counters were punched great clusters of balloons yet to be distributed as though the bal loon flowers had been gathered into enormous bouquets.
 Do you wish any to take home to the children, madame T-asked the clerk when she had made her pur- chase.
 I'm sorry," said Miss Ellen, "but haven't any children. Not even any little nephews and nieces.
 Then came an inspiration.
 But if I may" she eagerly added, "Td like to take cone to a little neigh bor boy"
 Sure; pick out the color you like best"
 With careful deliberation Miss Ellen chose. #
 It was q sight for laughter-and tears. The middle.aged spinster woman solemnly vending her way home, with eyes riveted upon huge rose-red bal loon juggling at the string clutched for dear life in her hand. if the string should slip out of her fingers If the beautiful, radiant bubble of fairy magic should burst before it worked its charm!
 She turned down her home street and saw as she had hoped the little neighbor boy swinging on his gate.
 Eddie P she called out to him in an emboldened voice. Eddie, see what I've brought you!'
 And the magic worked. In a light ming flash the child was off the gate running toward her, captured with