b'THE GREATEST GIFT BY PHILIP VAN DOREN STERNWITH ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS living room, unhappy as he was, hebrush, smoothing out the velvety nap.apprehensively at the door.could not help noticing with a secretIt is a nice brush. Thank you. I There grin that the too-high-priced blue sofawas a sudden scream from the kitchen,Art Jenkins came in. He stood for a they often had quarreled over wasand two small children rushed in. Amoment in the doorway, clinging to the knob for support. His eyes were glazed, and his face was very red. Whos this? he demanded thickly.Hes a brush salesman, Mary tried to explain. He gave me this brush. Brush salesman! Art sneered. Well, tell him to get outa here. We dont want no brushes. Art hiccupped violently and lurched across the room to the sofa, where he sat down suddenly. An we dont want no brush salesmen neither.George looked despairingly at Mary. Her eyes were begging him to go. Art had lifted his feet up on the sofa and was sprawling out on it, muttering unkind things about brush salesmen. George went to the door, followed by Arts son, who kept snapping the pistol at him and saying: Youre deaddeaddead! Perhaps the boy was right, George thought when he reached the porch. Maybe he was dead, or maybe this was all a bad dream from which he might there. Evidently Mary had gone throughlittle, homely-faced girl flung herselfeventually awake. He wanted to find the the same thing with Art Jenkins and hadinto her mothers arms, sobbing loudlylittle man on the bridge again and try to won the argument with him too.as a boy of seven came running afterpersuade him to cancel the whole deal.her, snapping a toy pistol at her head.He hurried down the hill and broke into George got his satchel open. One of theMommy, she wont die, he yelled. Ia run when he neared the river. George brushes had a bright blue handle andshot her a hunert times, but she wontwas relieved to see the little stranger varicolored bristles. It was obviously adie. standing on the bridge. Ive had brush not intended to be given away,enough, he gasped. Get me out of but George didnt care. He handed it toHe looks just like Art Jenkins, Georgethisyou got me into it.Mary. This would be fine for yourthought. Acts like him too.sofa, he said.The stranger raised his eyebrows. I got The boy suddenly turned his attentionyou into it! I like that! You were granted My, thats a pretty brush, sheto him. Whore you? he demandedyour wish. You got everything you asked exclaimed. Youre giving it away free?belligerently. He pointed his pistol atfor. Youre the freest man on earth now. He nodded solemnly. SpecialGeorge and pulled the trigger. YoureYou have no ties. You can go introductory offer. Its one way for thedead! he cried. Youre dead. Whyanywheredo anything. What more company to keep excess profits down dont you fall down and die?can you possibly want?share them with its friends.There was a heavy step on the porch.Change me back, George pleaded. She stroked the sofa gently with theThe boy looked frightened and backedChange me backplease. Not just for away. George saw Mary glance 22AMERICAN BLUES THEATER'