Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1845-1851, 1846-01-17
Gifis--A scasOnabIe Article.
By THE AUTHoE OF :. a NEW HOME. :"

pier DAYS of this worlds history, when wore the
faces and hearts God gave them, and rot faces and
hearts of stone Ice. They wore the most natural
expressions of good will and affection, among great
as well as little children And the impulse exists
even now though it Is carefully smotaered and kept
under by those who have had taste OF the worlds
present temper. Some few there may be-dreamers
-theorists-who still venture upon overt acts but
how he cold eye-the embarrassed and doubtful world
-reprove their old fashioned folly The sagacity on
which we pride ourselves delights itself In stripping
lfe IF all It's illusions-wich we sternly call delu-
slons worthy the OF 50 Philosophical an age.
We Law bare the framework of society, and then
try to reclothe the CHASTITY form with something oil
our own Notwithstanding as tar as possible re-
moved from common manIty--something which
can be bought with money As well tear away the
skin and tlssue--the very musce-from human
fpure and then wrap in satin and velvet and gold 10
improve It's beauty. Where IS the nature--where
the warmth-where the c--whlch gave 1t all Its val
uc We may dissect, but we cannot revive 1t. II
has become a thing for speculation and theory, bat
all that loved Is gone.
The essence of presents consists, as we nave
said IN the sentiment of the thing and all sentl-
ment is out of date, 1t is not wonderful that presents
have become obsolete. birthday present or New
Years gift---once the easiest and the peaSanteSt
thing In the world---must be costly article Oh
bijouterie whose worth be reckoned In doiiars'
Christening cups and spOOns-the invention I'll some
kind old aunt or uncle--are given with grudglng
groans because they thing ct course, and
therefore, do not rebound to the gvers glory unless
they are unusually rich and expensive Even bridal
offs are bought with especial reference to the fact
that they are to be exhibited cketed with the gvers
name and :. one does SO hate to appear shabby
The trousseau may be enriched BY such contributions
but the heart is out Of the question. The eXactlons
Of Eastern despots--;he shawls--the horses-the
;ewelled arms-which are offered with outward smiles
and secret rises, merit well the name OF
presents y
Gifts which are intended pay for services rem
dered--ln lieu of regular and open compensation, are
seldom satisfactory. Many things may contribute 10
this Perhaps the good office was intended to be en-
trely eratuitous and in that the offer OF what
seems payment wounds the feasibility, especially II
the obliged person be rich and the other poor In an
other case the service may be which has Its reg
Mar prlce. ard the graulty being less, dlsapponts
At any rate, if it was intended pay In any shape
or measure. we must not call 1t a present
certain ladv in the country once sent her friend
turkey the earliest OF the season. Inc GIT was re-
ceved as such things should be, frankly-heartily,
cordallv-the recipient being of Charles Lamb
mind as to these matters There IS something IN
expressibly pleasant to me, says Lamb, " III these
presents be it fruit, fowl or what not. Ii presents
be not the soul of friendship, undoubtedly they are
the most spiritual part of the body of that intercourse
There is too much narrowness of thinking on thai
point The punctilio of acceptance, methinks, is toe
confined and straight-laced. could be content &c
receive money, Clothes or JOINT OF meat from :
friend. WHY should he not send me dinner as vel
as dessert l would taste him IN the beasts OF the
field, and through all creation
But the next wear about turkey time, the turkey
donor made a visit to the obliged party, and observn!
.t the head of the table pretty pout, she took oc
cason to remark, :. An | see your turkies come tn
earliest this wear ~ particular manner, tiat he
hostess began think back and to compare ana sil
nmono certain obscure hints, and came at last u III
conclusion that a young turkey expected In pa
for the present of the preceding year But she az
moi send Il, thinking with Charles again not Una
I have anv thought of barterng or recprocatIn
these things To send any thing in return would !
10 reilec: suspicion of mercenarIness upon the ole
inp Let them overcome Inc IN bounty In sue
things a generous nature loves to be overcome y W
do not aver that the latter part of our quotation wa
ap,lied IN the case IN question We only know TN
our friend declined traffic under the name OF pre-
entS."
A habit Of capricious and dsproportionate givir
Is sometimes though rarely, foible with rich al
indoent people. A gorgeous article OF dress to OF
who has plenty of money, or an elegant work TO
gentleman who possesses an abundant library Is wh
such people call generosity. young friend w
needed dress far less expensive, or student
whom similar amount In useful books might ensu
success In life wcnld not be likely TO be thought
Such pyers as these always seem to say know
mo, bv these presents that A. u. am both rich a
munficent.
Some people are much disappointed and quite md
nant If presents do not buy affection, respect
fercnce conformity, and other things that we all IL
put thi, expectation altogether unreasonable ~
children are seldom attached by gifts. Their pleas
i'm the rift seldom refers to the gIver Love tor 10y
is the only barter aud we can all see when 'preSei
mean love The very look-the tone OF voice II
change the whole aspect OF the thing Indeed 10
and tones are very important III these matters.
manner NAV b. avvkward---the eye averted--the vo
coustrained---yet the heart may shine through
and sanctify the Offering Lord Chesterfield so
one person will grant request IN such manne
To make an enemy and another will refuse one s.
IN make a friend"---and the remark is equally pc
nent to the art Of giving. In either case We {
more for the spirit than for the action.
The cid word keepsake p" Is most express
term---penuine Saxon, and untranslateable
French substitute of souvenir" gage, or what
else has taken its place In modern days, Is worth
nc much. The broken rlng---lhe bent sixpencc-
nocket piece Of small intrinsic vauc---the book
has hcen used and marked---the ring that we
seen worn---these simple tokens often nave u
that no cost could give. We have seen ittie ny
hoo, sent To a bereaved mother In the ffst aSo
her prcf. with marks put carefully to point OUT
HYMNS as were peculiarly consolatory' received
measured with a degree OF sensiblliy which sn
how good Judge the giver was oil the true "a''
n. present" Not that we would be uhue,s'o
limit the name Of present To articles OF s'i'a II
sic value. We only protesting against ','e y
error that cost constitutes the worth vi sue" ~
There is feeling that would consecrate ,he q
an estate to a friend and perfect sympathy am
6dence which would make II proper 10 accept
rift We should be far from denying TO the we
one of the best pleasures OF large possessions
power Of giving freely to those they love, Tor III
pie qualification Of doing so, without TURNER III