New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-27
ONCE A YEAR.
. STORY FOR NEw.YoRKERs.

poctor purv;anca attached little importance TO
rhorL ,ci,;, Christmas was his hobby, as to holy
days. In fact you might say that ne usu o -, -,
SANTA CLANS nc his patron saint Not at all hkeiy
s.;,t o;,ho, for him 10 choose The doctor had gwen
I'm his professon years ago Just after marrying INC
wealthy Miss Calhoun of the oil regions ana gone
;p,o bpsiness on Wall-st No one In the boaiu vi
Brokers stood higher TO reputation for sagacl'y
.nd sbarn turning of corners; he was member OF
Councils member of one or TWO paying hii's.
ALWAYS drove with the committee who went QUITO
roce;vo travelling Princes or Grand Dukes his coun-
fer was bcsieged every morning by financial editors
20 learn the state of the money market for their
next DAYS issue every year he told his wife and
society at large how much too narrow he found New
York ne a ground for his broad monetary specula-
t;ons and that he seriously thought of going 10
London As more promising field or il might be the
Continent
Benevolence aud particularly sentimental benev-
olence was certainly not the fruit likely to grow In
such soil Yet nevertheless, there 1t was, 1he
Doctor, in an idle day. had read Dickens. aud per-
haps that priest of Christmas had bewitched MN
with its gracious influence As as the first
December's snow whtened his doorstep, his prepa-
rations beran. He built Christmas-trees, and
wreathed holly not only in his own nursery
but in all the Hospitals and Orphan Asy-
Iums in New-York; no sent turkeys by
the ton to the employees of his friend 'ne
iron-master, having none of his own ne went
stumbling about through the muddy snow in the
ctte,s and over the ice blocked by-strees, scatter
inc Gifts literally rs Mother Carey did hor chicken
feather. through the gray sky overhead; jewels TO
the pretty girls hundred two increase of salary
to his clerks new suit to this poor devil OF work
man. lfe-insurance policy. paidup, to that; Han
mel petticoats ad bit TO their wives. copper-foed
shoes 10 the boys and invariably, barrels Of flour to
widows.
"A barrel of -four" he was wont to say to his WIFE
Il find to be always q respectful graceful, and
acceptable gift Not wanting in sentiment either;
for why should not man tender to his brother man
the staff Of life"
"Very true. Samuel" Mrs. Puryiance would smil-
inply assent "Only l would not send superhne
brand What can these people have to do with
pastry" She was very we'll satisfied that the Doctor
should be thus emphasized in his charities on one
day of the year. For herself, she found poor people
usually sef-assertant, ill-smelling, and grumpish
and therefore politely-Anna Purviance would meet
Death poltely-kept out of their way But there
was no reason why Samuel should not pay off her
score of charity to the Lord just he footed her
other bills.
at is so appropriate" she said to her friends
" that we should remember the poor on that day.
Yes indeed Let MS keep Him and them IN mind on
Christmas. Aud teach our children to do so"
Nobody could be moro agreeable either as visa
Wis at dinner OF wife for holydays than this fair
fat soft-spoen little woman, She wrapped and
Mapped all subjects just such fine linen and rose
color as she wore herself, 'and took hold of and
dealt with the awful memorable truths of religion ia
patting lullabying way, just as she met and well
coined and fOndled disagreeable visitors. and got
them out of the house as quickly as possible.
Doctor Puryiance, under this perpetual warm COM
Inonplace sunshine. had come TO look upon the
world outside of his bank as a large, good-humored
Joke, which by rights ought to break into hearty
g,ltiaw every 18th of December As for talk of its
viciousness hunger, give that the go-by with salt
tears aud rheumy signs Leave them all to dyspep-
tic, iT-conditioned fellows. who drag such things
into sight from sheer peryersity.
OF this sort was his sister Jane: q little, gaunt
woman with high cheek bones under her gray eyes,
who came down to visit them from New-Hampshlre
lust before England bred and born as she was,
she had no faith in that OF any other holiday
Il see no sense in setting apart twenty-four
hours here and there in the year vent for certain
virtues-patriotism, benevOlenoe, or what not"
she sand. Your absurd Christmases, Samuel for
Instance. Unless indeed. they the exhibition of
the same feeling acting through every month Of the
year"
Dear Jane, said Mrs. Purviance, it is so easy
for YOU to be an impersonaton Of all virtues from
December 10 December Don't exact from us weak
vessels more than a days tribute now and then"
Miss Jane bowed stihy, but said nothing Her
brothers wife could have been borne if she could
have quarreled with her, but her amiability was
more than flesh and blood would endure.
Presently both ladies went to bed, parting in the
TN Mies Tana with n iprl<v nod of good mi CHIT
while the rosy little lady in the fyaway lace cap
drtcd kiss from her soft fingers, and babe God
bless her rs unctuOusly as Of Rubenss well-fod
angels. could it speak from the canvas
The Doctor. left alone, found his thoughts swing
round naturally TO his favorite theme He usually
wrote the leading Christmas articles for two or three
papers and magazines. II did not matter that the
same ideas were repeated every year-people ex-
pected that. But trying to find new words for them
is drowsy work, and in half an hour Doctor Pur-
Vance was asleep and had carried the old IDEAS with
him.
He was by no means surprised, therefore. when the
library door flung open with bang that made him
broad awake il an instant and Santa Clans KRIS
Krinele himself marched in and sat down ON the red
leather chair opposite him. just coOly if he had
been Major PaTr himself coming for his nightly game
Of euclre. There he was. as we all know him. big
pauncb, pipe, fur cap. dripping with snow, for tie
thermometer stood that ght at 90.
The Doctor gave him hearty welcome. AT last
he thought, "here is man who will appreciate my
efforts"
Saint Nick looked at him and wiped the dripping
perspiration from his face; 30 did the Doctor.
II thought" painted the Saint, "you would have
been out of town. Never in this latitude out of
December before"
Christmas is never unreasonable" politely.
But you must come up to my little place on the
mountains. OF down to my cottage at Newport. Cool
air there any day, III wager"
IAN riobt Rut 7 came on business I had 81