CHRISTMAS EVE.

Thames Star, 24 December 1921, Page 4

CHRISTMAS EVE.

A BUSY SCENE. * OBSERVANCE IN THAMES.. It seemed that all Thames must be shopping, for' the main street was one long, moving throng of pedestrians. There were fond mothers with ex- . cited children, who stood with eyes glued to the shop windows, viewing the many toys and novelties that so delight the heart of the small boy or ."•irl. There, were squeakers clutched &Z'S~'-'' ''■■•"\>. *£.<;£'■'■>■(, d bishop, ,•'' the' L old thJB W*' fjiipther and peepfed into the' AUauilTi. of thef open shops. Here one saw a tall, bronzed farmerboy, who held innumerable parcels and the hand of a girl. They looked into a jeweller's window, and then he '-disappeared within 0 its porto bring some token for the Yule 9* 1 -~ A woman felt the J •■"tare of :•• - '..'■■Join display o: ■•/?' " shop \Vij iow, and went'in \'~ r'uy. 11 . throng moved and halted spasmodically; some entered this shop and some that, each intent upon his own purchases. In the book shops an eager crowd of juveniles turned over the leaves of books, or hunted through piles of greeting cards, for just one they had in mind; There were more matronly ladies who looked at the top shelves for a book for the boy. There were mechanical toys running about the floor. Here an engine puffed steadily along, a tramcar ran along aVminiature track. Toy watches, steam boats, golliwogs, the youngsters viewed with glistening eyes. There were requests of mothers for this and that, as the parties passed slowly by the shopfronts. ■ It was Christmas "Eve, and; " as the children toddled along, hold-" ing their mothers' skirts or their fathers' hands, they cried out like an Eastern mendicant, as they raised their voices in suppliant requests. Father ! Christmas was going "bo visit many homes, so, perforce, fathers * concealed dolls and trains, ships, and aircraft 'neath already bulging coat orMn a pocket. There were oranges and strawberries. Some children were crying, but nearly all were laughing, and talking, and the-night was babel "Mother., will Santa Claus— *' . ths voice trailed off /as the youngster caught sight of another wonderful display. "Mother, is Santa —" the voice was lost in the hum of mamy iroircps, as the 'moved jrpri:' .. g qrere many tired.. vrtj«;a«. : « many*. irratfed homewards. Last night, children's dreams were dreams of wonder, about a white-whiskered figure, with snow all around, filling the stockings in the grey oir the dawn.