Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-12-29
From Godey's Lady's Book.
CHRISTMAS PRESEN rs.
BY T. 8. ARTHUR.

Didn't he make you present OF anything
Lizzy /" asked Margaret Granger OF her couS-
in, Lzzy Green.
No, not even of strawberry cushion spoke.
ND LizZy's sister Jane, that be might nave
| bot for a sixpence. think he's night GOV" e
mean, selfish, stingy fellow, so do; anu -
he doesn't keep Lizzy on bread ana c Ma,',
when he gets her, my names not Jane VI :nt
Il wouldn't have him. said Margaret jest
inc. vet half in earnest. Let Cn'is'iiiaS 80
nv and not make his sweeihea,' ., 0'o'ei d
nyesen, of the most u1fljng va,ne! he must
/ have penny soul WHY marry lee sent
me & the Leafet OF Memory anu PAR OF Inc
s,yostest fower-vaces you ever saw, and he
on!v comes to see me as friend. And cou
sin William made me present OF splendid
copy of Mrs. Halls Sketches the most in
teresting book ever read. Besides, receiv-
ed lots of things. Why, my table is full of
presents
You haze been quite fortunate,' said
LiZZy, in a quiet voice much more SO than
Jaue and |, to receive great many Christmas
presents is to be considered Fortunate
But don't you think Edward might have
sent you some token Of good will and affec-
ton in this holiday season, when every one is
giving or receiving presents;' asked Marga-
ret.
Nothing of the kind was needed, cousin
Maggy, as an expression of his feelings to-
wards me,' replied LlZZy. He knew that
unders God their true quality, and felt that a.
ny present would have been d useless formal
You can't say the same in regard to Jane.
He might have passed her the usual compli-
ment of the season.
certainly he might said Jane. 'Lizzy
needn't try 10 excuse him after this lame fash
ion. OF course, there is no cause for the O.
mission but meanness-that's my opinion, and
speak it out boldly
cit isn't right to say that, sister," remarked
LiZzy. edward has other reasons for omit
ting the prevalent custom at this season--and
good reasons, am well assured. As TO the
charge of meanness, don't think the fact you
allcge sufficient ground for making it,
well. do, then said Cousin Margaret
why, if were young man, and engaged IN
marriage to a lady, Id sell my shoes but what
Id give her something as a Christmas present.
Yes-or borrow or beg the money! chin
ell in Jane.
Every one must DO as be or she thinks
best replied Lzzy 'As for me, am con-
tent to receive no holiday gift, being well sat.
istied that meanness on the part of Edward
has nothing to do with it,
But notwithstanding Lizzy said this, she
could not help feeling little disappointed
more, perhaps, on account of the appearance
of the thing, than from any suspicion that
meanness, as alleged by Jane, had anything to
DO with the omission.
Il wish Edward had made LiZZy some kind
Of present. said Mrs. Green to her husband
a day or two after The holidays had passed
if it had been oulv f)r the looks of the thing
Jane has been lea. her about it ever since
and calls it nothiI. at meanness in Edward
And am afraid he is a little close
Better that he should be so than too free,
replied Mr. Green; though | must comics
that dollar or two, or even ten dollars, spen
, Christmas in a present for his intended bride
could hardly have been set down to the scor
of prodigaiity. 1t does look mean, certainly
He is doing very we'll
5 He gets salary of $500, and suppose
doesn't cost him over four or five hundred dol
lars to live-at least it ought not to do So.
lie has bought himself snug little house
am told
If he's done that he's done very WE'LL sal
r Mr.. Green 'and can forgive him for nc
spending his money in Christmas presents
i that are never of much use. say the best yO
a comfortable house to put up his wife ir
than seeing him loading her down, before mar
o rage, with presents of one foolish thing c
= another
True. But it would not have hurt hir
: to have given the girl something, if it had on
ly been book, purse, or some such trife
p For which trifes he would have been a
D strong y charged with meanness as he is now
: Better let it go as it is. No doubt he has goo
reasons for his conduct
, Thus Mr. Green and L,zzy defended Ed
ward, while the mother aud Jane scoded a
O bout his meanne>s, to Their hearts content.
! Edward Mayted, the lover Of Lizzy Green
& was young man of good principles, prulen
. habits, and really generous feelings but hi
p generosity did not consist in wasting his earn
ngs in order that he might be thought liberia
and open hearted, but in doing real acts O
= kindness where he saw that kindness wa
= needed He had saved from his salary, /
> the course of or 5 years, enough to bu
: himself very snug house, and had FEY
hundred dollars in the Savings Bank wit
> which to furnish it when the time came fc
him to get married. This time was not yer
far off when the Christmas, to which allusio
= has been made, came round. At this holida
9 season, Edward had intended to make bot
:. Lizzy and her sister handsome present, an
4 he had been thinking for some weeks as t
y what it should be. Many articles, both ust
y full and ornamental were thought of, but nor
y; OF them exactly pleased his fancy.
A day or two before Christmas, he sat thinl
= ing about the matter, when something or oil
- err gave a new turn to his reflections.
:. They don't really need anything,' he sa
" to himself, and yet propose to spend $40
if presents, merely for appearances sake.
- this right"
=, Right if you choose to do it,, he replied
y himself.
= - am not quite so sure of that he adde
- after pause. And then he sat in quite nj
J sing mood for some minutes.
! THAT'S BETTER he at length said, rising L
- and walking about the floor That wou
v be money and good feelings spent to bett
J purpose
u But they'll expect something,' he argue
i with himself; the family will think so strans
~ ~ of it. Perhaps I'd better spend half the amou
a in elegant books for Lizzy and Jane, and |
! the other go in the way propose
y This suggestion, however, did not salts
him.
~ Better let it all go in the other direction
" he said after thinking awhile longer it w
- do real good. The time will come when
L., III