Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-12-24
GIFTs I'D SMILES.
Santa Clans ON every HearthsfOne I'm
the Land-A Tremendous shower
OF Gifts Falling I'm all
Directions.

We are, nationally, equally fond
Of receiving and bestOwing gifts at
certain times and on certain Ocea-
sions. At weddings, we distribute
our very costly bouquets and plated
butter-knives, with the same cheerful
suavity and sweetness with which we
welcome the tax-gatherer. Owing to
the useful instructions Of the paius-tak-
ers, instructors and scribblers, we have
become adopts at peddiing out smiles
and soft words kindly expressions as
the preacher calls them-and every time
il IS deemed expedient to fOrbear the be
stowal Of a plated butter-knife, those
CHASTITY 'kindly expressions" come in
instead, and thus we pass along "lifeis
shining way" scattering smiles and
plated butter-knives with dignified and
measured sthOughtfUlness and charity.
At this season. hTistmas-th dignity
and the thOughtfulness are thrown aside
and little natural feeling is allowed to
well up from the hard and barren bOsOms
of the polished workings. Those smiles
and "Bindly expressiOns,n which we
keep on hand in sufficient number for
all occasions, give place to more hearty
and real feeling-feeling that comes up
from Natures depths Of affection, and
coming up so rarely, OverfiOws and runs
wildly about like floods in spring-time.
Those genuine Christmas feelings gush
forth in every breast, and every one
seems to be possessed OF an uneOn-
trOllable desire to hug everybody
and to bestOw gifts all round.
Hence it is that we talk like nation Of
gift-givers and takers at this season.
We give all sorts Of things to all sorts of
people. Country folks send in turkeys
and little pigs, pecks Of sweet potatoes,
rolls Of butter, baskets Of eggs, hunks
Of mutton, quarters OF veal, chickens,
game, buffalo or bear-sUeh good things
as their situation in life enable them TO
bestOw. We send ehem back gold
watches, rivers of diamonds, PRAYER
books, bibles, dime novels, silk bows,
mufts, stockings, Sheet music, fiddles,
cradles, ehildren's peran1bUlatOrs, or the
latest novel. In the city, we send round
TO our friends sOmeA brandy, a nice SAM
pie of Irish whisky froIe Lilly, a box of
cigars, or a ton of coal, a piano, per-
haps, from HOllenberg, or pair
of boots from VOegei, according to
orr means and the necessities Of our
friends. An intimate friend of ours,
who has been begging tobacco for wear.
seven plugs as a Christmas gift
Gifts fly in ali directions,
and in vast quantities. The stores Of ali
sorts in this city are filed even now
with enthusiastic buyers, men and
women, who are loading themselves
down with goods which viii find their
devious ways into empty stockings to-
night. Santa Claus is abroad in every
store. You can see him at the grocery
buying red herring and onions for the
poor; you can see him at the LIQUOR
store, making up his package Of fine
beverages which he intends to bestOw on
the man with the massive prObOseis; he
is at the dry goods store, the shoe
the booksellers, the jewelers..
the tOy-shOp and the BARRIERS, buying a
wig for his aunt. Benevolent and am
ple-siZed old Claus. We always adj
mired your little botos, and the glow of
your friendly nose was always Ike a star
of hope in our horizon. Brave and COM
pact little fellow, we hope to see you
sprawling on our hearthstone after
twelve tonight.