Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-03-25

stereoscope, with glass sides, would be al
lowable for a crystal gift; so are the
dainty but inexpensive ships and other
articles made by glass blowers; and so,
also, glass harmonicas. Considerable
amusement may be afforded by sending
the crystal groom one of these little
"play" harmonicas, with glass strips, to
be played upon by cork mallets. Indeed,
it is usual to send in merry contributions
from the toy-shops for all these weddings,
wooden and tin horses, and all sorts of
cheap knick.knacks of a suitable mate
rial.
Next to glass, come gifts of a more
ambitious texture but judicious pur-
chasers need not despair even here. They
can find charming things for very little
money-such as silver or golden bodkins,
thimbles, ,sleeve-buttons, shirtstuds, tooth
picks. ETC., or they may launch out"
and make the Broadway jewellers ecstat-
ic.
The manifest appropriateness of GER
tain gift to an aged bride or groom some
times leads to rather comical results, and
prompts witty young guests to dub the
golden wedding as mere spectacular
entertainment. For variety's sake, we
whisper hint of set of silver or gold
en- knitting-needles in a prettily inscribed
case-always a charming and welcome
present-and for the groom pen or
pencil holder, or pair of velvet slippers
with his monogram wrought in charac-
tiers Of COLDS
There are two sides to this matter of
gift-bestowing. We doubt much wheth-
er the mere fact Of staying married to
certain date entities any of us to call
upon our friends to convert our homes
into bursting storehouses of a specified
ware; and, also, whether it is not always
best to manage the wedding anniversary
quietly-inviting guests if we will, but
allowing only relatives and very intimate
| friends to know the secret of the occa-
sion till all are assembled. By this means
the dear five hundred" are spared from
a species of social almsgiving while, on
the other hand, every gift received may
be safely regarded as an expression of
genuine feeling.
Yes, there are two sides to the matter
Looked at in one way, it is beautiful.
There is quaint justice in thus appor-
tioning off the kinds of material with
which we shall strive to express our love,
sympathy, and simple gladness in the
fact of our friends happiness. When
the married life is young and untried,
easily bent for better or worse, interlaced
with recent associations quite apart from
united interests, it is well and fitting to
offer some pretty token of straw. Then
as matters assume frmer shape, and
life settles into routine of sweet do
mestic cares and expedients, why not
pour your friendly emotions into pail
or tub, or prettily-carved spoon, and
so hand them over? Later, as family
needs multiply, and the youthful couple
put off yielding simplicity, and put on
matter-of- fact, when they prove that
they can take care of themselves, and
the rattle and clatter Of busy life rise
about them, there is special aptness in
saying, God bless you'll" in shining tin
Later still, as clearness of insight
comes to the married pair, when fifteen
years of loving and living together have
made each transparent to the other
when temperate gentleness has taken
the place of early exuberance, glass may
come in safely and appropriately.to to tell
of outside remembrance and interest.
Still further on comes the test Of mu
tual wealth in one another. Feeling
this, and rejoicing in it, we say we can
not offer tin or glass now; our married
pair have passed that mark. There is q
writing in their hair that tells us what te
give; and we give it heartily, in tender
compliment to those twenty-five happy
years.
After this the months roll on slowly
slowly, with their freight of JOY and sor
row, of toll and rest, until some day
when two familiar old faces look int
each other with n start.
"Why! my DEAR" exclaims feebl
but hearty voice, "we've been marriet
nearly fifty years.
"AhY' responds the other, !" so w
have! 1t don't seem possible; yet i
must be so, for our Henry will be forty
nine come March,"
"We've had a long life together, wifi
thank the Lord land happy life
take it all in ALL"
"Yes, take it altogether, Samuel, th
Lord has blessed and favored us NOR
: than most"
/, How staidly they speak But there
measureless content in their tone:
=, They have dwelt with one another il
: peace, these two, for nearly half cen
: tury. What if life's hill has sometime
: been bard to climb? They'll "slee
thegither at the foot" and beautiful
memories shall cluster about them.
But ncw there must be no thought Q