Christmas Eve to the Wonder Shop

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 23 December 1933, Page 11

Christmas Eve to the Wonder Shop

(By Edith Brierley) Mr Harris, who kept “The Wonder Shop,” as Hie largest tov shop in the town was called, stretched himself wearjly, yawned mightily, then naused to mok round bciore lie switched oii the electric light. It was late on Christmas Eve: so late that it was nearly midnight. The last hurried shopper had left hours ago, the last tired assistant had gone home; only Mr Harris remained, and he, too, would soon be going to bed. lie looked round the shop, and noticed that all was in order. The floor was dirty, there were little Hits of string and packing paper lying about, the tall Christmas tree in the corner hud had most of its toys removed; but,, on shelves and counters, there were still dolls and soft, cuddly rabbits, bears, pussy cats, and dogs. Mr Harris yawned again, then, satisfied that everything really was all right, lie. muttered, “Thank goodness! That’s over for another year!” and went to bed.

In The Wonder Shop all was very, very still and very dark. For nearly a month a big Christinas bazaar bad been held in the shop, and every day it had been thronged with eager little boys and girls, gazing at the treasures. You cannot imagine, the lots of beautiful toys there, had been in The Wonder Shop: the most gorgeous dolls, with their clothes able to be taken off and put on again; dolls’ bouses, shops, farmyards, gardens; darling little furry animals, big elephants, and wee mice; motor cars and engines, aeroplanes, submarines, yachts, and all the loveliest things imaginable. For hours Tlio Wonder Shop had echoed with cries of delight and shouts of admiration, and chatter, chatter, all the time. There had been all kinds of exciting side-shows, too. A Puueli-and-Judy bad delighted many ; others bad explored the Magic Cave, bad rides on the miniature railway, actually seen Father Christmas take gifts from the huge Christmas tree, or had a lucky dip in the big bran tub. Now it was all over, and most of the toys and dolls bail been sold. The old clock in the church opposite struck twelve slowly.' When the last echo of the last note bad died away there was silence again. Then a little squeak broke the stillness, and what sounded like a sigh. “Oh-o-!” whispered a small voice. “Oh 1 how tired I am!” “I wish I bad been sold !” said another soft voice. “Oh !I do wish somebody bad bought me!” “lie said, ‘For another year, said a big doll tearfully-. “Docs that mean we have to stay here another year. The largest elephant (the oldest toy in The Wonder Shop) laughed. “I have seen two Christmases, lie said, “and what will happen will be this: the biggest of you will be packed away until next Christmas, and the others will be on view all the year until they are sold.” “'Ob, dear,” said a little furry terrier. “How dull that will be! Hasn’t it been thrilling this last weak?” “Perfectly lovely,” said a baby doll; “but I do miss my twin. She’s gone, to be a present to a little girl. I wish I bad gone.” So it went on: little whispers and sighs of regret' from, all over the shop. Suddenly there was heard the roar of an aeroplane overhead. It came nearer . . . nearer. ... “Funny night to practise night-fly-ing,” said a tin soldier. “Hush !” said the fairy doll on top of the Christmas tree. “I can just see it’s coming here. I am sure it is stopping on the roof.” All the toys ceased talking to listen. The engine bad stopped, but there was a terrible clatter in the chimney. _ At last, amid a cloud of smuts and cinders, a figure arrived on the hearth at the end of the shop. It was Father Christmas himself! “Where’s the light—where’s the light: Hurry up, young man!” the toys heard a deep voice say. Then a big electric torch was switched on, and all the toys saw Father Christmas, and with him was Jack Frost!

“My goodness !” said Father Christmas. ' “That was a. near tiling. Here I am, miles away from my workshop, and the time is haif-past twelve, and I have no toys left. No toys left! Do y n hear, Jack?” “Yes,” said Jack in a squeaky little voice; “but you didn’t know there would bo so many children in the big hospital here, did you?” “No,” replied Father Christmas. “It has put me all wrong. It is the first time m my life that I have nqt had enough toys to go round. Dear, oh ! dear, wha't should I have done if you had not noticed this shop? You have sharp eyes, Jack.” Jack smiled, for he was glad to have pleased Father Christmas. “Well, we had better he fillintr the empty sacks,” said Jack. “What shall I put in them, sir?” “Let me see,’ ’answered Father Christmas. “I shall want lots of dolls, for there are many little girls in the hospital ; and those, furrv toys, rabbits, bears, cats and dogs; and don’t forget that little terrier——l know a jolly little chap who wants him, for lie wrote to me about it. That liaby doll must go in, of course, and those tin soldiers. Oh! please put in the big elephant, and don’t forget the fairy doll.” For a few minutes Jack and Father Christmas were very busy checking the list of names and seeing that everyone had a present to go in the stocking.

Just then the church clock struck one. Father Christinas jumped. “Wo must hurry,” he cried. “In with all the toys, We’ll find a home for every one. Won’t Mr Harris have a shock when lie secs the shop in the morning !” and lie chuckled nappilv. “But I’ll make it all right with him,” and lie look two ten-pound notes from his pocket and placed them on the counter. “There! that’s a nice little Christmas present for Mr Harris, too.”

Meanwhile Jack Frost was busily packing thf? socks until they were bursting. Not a toy was to be seen in the shop. “It is going to be a job getting tliciP up the, chimney. I’ll just pop up now and start the engine, and then perhaps you’ll push from the bottom while I’ll pull from the top. W’e’ll get them lip somehow,” Jack said determinedly. At last, with a- lot of difficulty, Father Christinas and Jack Frost got the sacks up the chiniliey, piled them into the aeroplane, and were off to the children’s hospital. The Wonder Shop was quiet and dark once more, hut how'empty it was! Not even a hall or a game was left! Meanwhile the toys were having such an exciting time. Very cautiously. Father Christinas was packing them into the waiting stockings hanging at the, foot of the cots in the hospital. Ho did not make a sound, and not one hoy or girl awoke. When all the toys were packed in Father Christinas and Jack Frost hurried away in their aeroplane to the Land of Christmas Trees, where they live, and where Mrs Christmas had a nice hot breakfast awaiting them. All tile dolls and the toys felt happy at last, and when, in the morning, they were greeted with shouts of joy and hugged and kissed, tliev were, glad they had not been left in The Wonder Shop to wait until another Christmas.