Page:Christian Science War Time Activities.djvu/317

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

A UNIQUE COMMITTEE

relief organizations and even to the students, all of whom were passing it in hundreds every day.

To begin with, the windows must be indicative of the spirit within. They must tell the passer-by not, primarily, what garments were being fashioned, but what qualities of thought were multiplying for the encouragement of the soldier and the solace of the refugee. They must talk of life itself, speak forth comfort, warmth and affluence. One window, lined with yellow, displaying every kind of knitted wear in blue, gray and khaki, and piled up high with bales of wool, was in itself an invitation to the uniformed men to bask in its sunshine; and when one side was hung with gay colored comfort bags, the contents—a veritable Christmas tree—spilled out in front of them, while on the other side were sewing kits, so complete yet so compact, was it any wonder that the blue and khaki boys gathered there to smile, and felt that there would be some moments of almost play, while defending the flags that crowned the window?

Perhaps it was that pretty pink bag in the corner, flaunting its abundance of gay roses, that called forth from the recipient this jolly letter:

“Dear Friend Someone: I was very much pleased to get a fine comfort kit from you yesterday. It certainly had the comforts. A little bit of a bag of buttons, that was really what I most needed. Oh, there were lots of buttons in it, but it looked so tiny and stuffy I had to laugh. . . . The pins, the thread, the kerchiefs, soap, both shaving and hand, talcum powder, laces, oh, I can't think what all was there. And everything just fits me. I know I won't need any more shaving soap for a long time, for my beard doesn't grow fast. You know we're not any of us very old men. I never think how old I am; just keep feeling glad at how young I feel.

253