Argosy (UK), January 1955 — page 48: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

e" ~ - : 2 = aon : _— 46 Shining Presents Imagine how you would feel if someone took you to the biggest, shiningest and most expensive toyshop in the world, and said, ~“ Buy whatever you like, and as many things as ever you like! ” Well, Fritz and Mary felt like that when they saw The Tree. It stood in a tub in the middle of a white sheet, and its pointing top almost touched the ceiling. A hundred candles, pink, blue, yellow and white, were spark- ling steadily on the branches, and instead of fruit, gold and silver balls, such as drop from rockets when they explode softly in the sky, grew among the dark green needles. There were blossoms of sugar and fir cones of chocolate, too, and festoons of pearls, big enough for the neck of a giant princess, and great steel stars fit to pin on the breast of the bravest gen- eral. And all round the tree lay the presents. Mary skipped and clapped her hands, and Fritz, after standing still for a second, flung himself on the sofa and buried his face in the cushions, kicking his heels in an ecstasy of delight. Only when the first excitement of pleasure was over could they look at anything in particular. Mary found she had a doll, twice as big as Rose, whom she at once christened Mademoiselle Claire. Fritz discovered on a table a squadron of hussars, dressed in scarlet uniforms and mounted on white horses, while beside the table stood a rocking-horse as big as a St. Bernard Dog, saddled and bridled and ready to ride... DESMOND MAcCarTHY AND BRYAN GUINNESS, The Story of a Nutcracker Snow Magic In berried halls We have a tree Whose coloured leaves And golden balls When children see, Clapping their hands They'll think the Sun ~ With Moon and Stars Together stands While the snow falls. W. J. TuRNER, A Christmas Song comicloooks.comnn)