The New York herald., 1873-12-25
CHRISTMAS EVE IN THE MARTS.

How Stockings arc Filled and Tables
Laden To-day-Buying the Christmas
Gifts and Provender-Scenes In the
Streets and Markets.
Christmas eve in the streets and markets last
night looked like the same occasions ''in ye olden
time,n in the good old years when no panic had
struck alike into the Golfers Of the rich and the
shallow pockets Of the poor. 'Money is scarce"
have been the words on everybody's lips during
the past three months, yet people live somehow,
and manage to buy their Christmas dinners sweet
meats and toys for the stockings, Christmas
trees for the tables and some gifts for
chosen friends and relatives. The only difference
however, may be that the stocking is not SO well
or choicely led the Christmas tree Is less prolific
OF sugary fruit and glttering toys and the gifts to
loved ones not so costly or beautiful as the heart
would have made them II the wallet had been
more plethorc Of cash. ut s not so nice, dearie,
as wanted to buy you, but you shall have some
thing better next year," and so the world goes
on, contentment rewards kindheartednes, and
Hope, the intangible motive power Of
the worlds happiness and progress holds
out her beacon for that coming "next year."
And for these the shops in the busy streets
and all the market houses were filled last night with
bustling, bartering. buying crowds OF people, few
purchasing all they desired, but all buying some
o success. The air was clear and soft, though q
little COOL and the moon with her face shrouded in
a delicate haze gave the atmosphere
CHEEKY, AMBIENT GLOW.
The stars twinkled as auspictously as they did
1873 years ago to the shepherds who watched their
nocks on the Judean hillsides and the only omen In
the heavens ofcoming discomfort was great lunar
halo that preeaged an early storm The lact is the
moons face looked little wet last night and there
was every indication OF snow or rain fall by noon
tomorrow at the farthest; perhaps to-day. Under
foot the streets were uncomfortable with q thin
was little impediment TO the shopping and market
ing. The shops were kept open later than usual
and their lighted windows threw merry light on
the thronQs OF pedestrians that tr00ped through all
the business thoroughfares: Many Of the stores
were decked in holiday garb, with wreathes and
festoons Of evergreen, blooming ribbon blossoms.
None OF the places Of business looked
more thoroughly Christmas like than the butchers
shops with the great red and white joints Of freshly
killed meat, trimmed With holiday nnery and SO
the plum pudding idea suggested itself without
an EFFORT Next came the TOY shops, and It was
especially noticeable how few children there were
THE PATRONS 80.
were al grown people, WI. who had had b len wsls the
ing up they might see old Santa Claus
and frghten the old man away before he had
left the little ones largesses Then out went
the parents TO perpetrate the innocent faud on
and wonder-eyed for centuries past, and win ave
rise TO millions Of strange questionigs this morn.
ing AZ to what the old man looks ike ~ AT what
time did ne come ~ and 'did he come down the
chimney ~ And Of course there were. whole
baskets iull Of miniature aasa bought ths TINY