The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-12-25
Letter from Portland.


p''t >fIlliHtilidS. topiC ; HtittlA are lltll Ol
tor if not, they ought 10 be We have
all we can do to help Santa Claus prepare
his budget for the little folks, and see that
the little poor as we'll Us the little rich are
uniorgottcn at the sweet Christmas time
Apart from the religious aspect OF the
occasion. Christmas is getting to be al
most Us much of !; festival in New Eng
land, rs it is in Germany. where at Thu
season krss Krin@le reigns supreme
Put on Your hat and come out with me
this mild, sunny afternoon. You won't
get your toes and fingers nipped either.
Jack Frost is not abroad; he snapped ut
us all November. and now when he might
naturally be expected here, he has depart
ed probably for visit to the North Pole,
and Well Get all the fun and fresh air we
can while he is away. for he never leaves
Us alone long in these regions.
You may walk OF drive As YOU choose
| The sidewalks are clear and dry. and the
street has just snow enough 70 let the
runners glide easily. \ pedestrian can
scarcely cross Congress street without
more OF less danger from the lively vehicles
which are coming fast and furious. filled
| with gailv dressed ladies and iur-Wrappcd
| children, all bent on the same pleasant
| mission. Leave your purse at home if YOU
do not wish to he tempted At the shops.
and find all the money coaNrd out of Your
pockets by the pretty things that I'LL the
windows But, after all. there is nothing
quite so nice as the BOOKSTORES MeSsr>.
Dresser. Mcclellan 4 co., Bailey Il Moves
Loring Short X Harmon, and Robinson,
can give You anything You want in that
line. Young and Old grave and gay. can
alike be suited, amused. instructed, edited.
Our Boston publishers have done well for
us this vea1. James r. OS@ood 4 Go.
send us Whitter'S &c hid Life in Prose =
a most charming book Ior people Of every
age, containing stories and lancic~ Of child
life. amusing the little ones with r. The
Ugly Dick and little Hlmder who tried
to find the Wishing Gate, he@uilmg time
worn hearts with ;vect and tender
memories. and closing with Dickens eN-
quisite "Reminiscences ~ the Christmas
Tree:
"All toys at frs) Il find. But upon the branches
of the tree. lower down. how thick the books
begin to hang, Thin books, iii themselves, 1T
first, but many of them 18th drliriou~ly smooth
covers of bright red or green. What Tat black
letters to begin with
"A was an Archer and Shot AT i frog
OF course he was. He wa, an apple-pie also,
and there he is, lie was A good many things III
his time, was 4, and We're his friends, cN-
cept,N who had 50 little versatility that never
knew him 10 get beyond NerNe> or Aantlppr
Like y. who was always conlined IL at'hi or
Il lew-trce , and I. condemned urF|vr To he 4
/elVa or Il LanN.
Good for ChriStma>-timr i the rudal color
of the cloak in which the tree making forest
of itself for her 10 "Trip through with her basket
Little Red Riding Hood comes 70 mt one Christ
mas eve. to give me information of the cruelty
and trearhery of that assembling wolf who ate
her grandmother without making any impress
sion on his appetite. after making that Zero
clou> Joke about his teeth. She was my hr~t
love and felt that if | could have married Lit
tie Red Riding Hood should have known per-
feet bliss.
Enriched bv the social thoughts of Christ
mas time, still lei the benignant figure Of my
childhood stand unchanged, In every cheerful
image and suggestion that the season brings.
may the bright star that rested above the poor
roof be the star Of all the Christmas world.
"A moments pause. . vanishing Tree. amt
let me look once more. know there are blank
spaces on thy branches. where eyes lhal nave
loved have shonc and smiled, from which they
are departed But far above SEE the Raiser of
the dead girl ami The Wi.i''N'- son. and God j.
good
The same firm publishing Mr. Whittirr'~
beautiful book, are giving us others. so
pretty and dainty and inexpensive that
they are within thereach Of almost every
body. They are very various within,
though prettily alike outside. excepting
in color and lettering. Among the new
ones we are attracted by TWO little volumes
by Henry Blackburn artist and mlrthor,
who tells Us of winter among the Arabs.
describing both people and country with
graceful and incile pen, and At the same
time Illustrating the work. with his skill
FIJI pencil. This book is called artist
and Arabs The other Is "Pcturrslue
Normandy" and the book i tull OF most
charming sketches and pictures OF this
most picturesque people and country.
This would, aside from its general interest,
serve as guide book TO that part of the
country.
OF magnificent gift books from many
leading publishing houses there is no end
but there must be to what have to SAY of
them and to my letter. One can't be
funny at this season-(w (Which reminds me
of a remark made by L gentleman-oii1f
diuuer-of one Of his little ones. that
'.children are extremely interesting nj
this time of year, )-for these mnivcr-
Saries bring more or less sadness With
them TO everybody except the babies
Portland has had Tea Party What
New England town has not? Ours was
in aid Of the Soldiers Monument ASSocia-
ton, and that is surely i good cause. One
did not pay to 90 in, but Woeto the I'M
lucky youth who went I'M At all expecting
to come out scot free Did they %iNr hIhl
nothing but tea OF course they gave
him something else They had pretty
GIRLS to wait ON him. vino gave linn co
uuelish glance with the cup, and sweet
ened the tea with smiles ThiSsoM Of thing
is eXpenSive-and il ought to be. And
when his pretty waitcrcs~ has entertained
him with chit-ch At and smile, and bright
chances. until he is not quite sure what he
has had, and then holds ont her little tray
with bewitching -whatevcr You please,
Sir" then doesn't his money come out of
his pocket with a readiness which il rather
surprises him to remember an hour later
Gen. Hall delivered I'M address Ut Cor
toy the Tea Party, and il ended with 4
Promenade Concert All Very agreeable,
and success; il will be many years hrt"r"
| we can have 4 successor
| This week we are to hear Anna lhckth-
son. and Charles Bradliugh. til" Great
| Enolish orator. Next week GmN BABY IS
coming, or to speak more properly, the
| a l,nt # ,,unpnnt and