The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-12-25
CHRISTMAS EVE.
The whole City in the stree''
Scenes and Incidents Last NIsht.

The Whole City in the
Scepes and Incidents Last Night.
Never in our life have we seen more
good natured, rollicking crowd than tha'
on Market and Main streets yesterday
afternoon and last night. Everywhere
the stores were literally jammed Win
BUYERS. 1t was not only Christmas eve,
but it was the Hollow eve OF the great
human heart, that pleasant middle
ground between the anxious agoa-
ling suspense OF anticipation
and the surfeit of possession,
Such it is, at least for the little ones, ana
Christmas was made only for them. FIJI
ty.one parts OF the great year, both IN So
cial and divine economy, are S.llotted 10
mapkind; the other fractional week Is
childhood's alone, and at such times we
remember the Father, not as the strchs
man in the garden of Gethsemahe' pu'
as the Babe of Bethlehem.
Last evening as We gazed upon the
passing crowd, we could not put be re-
minded that every notable event IN
mans history has It's Christmas Eve, that
blissful era which is far sweeter IMAM
hoping, and how infinitely better than
having. But look al the children. mere
il one-a great over-grown, tatheriy
child of eighty, with Christmas enough IN
his old bones and CHEEKY heart, to sup
ply village. With him is good'
grand motherly girl OF seventy, with cap
Non head and spectacles on nose, ana
both OF them are gazing, nor through
their own, but through little "pet" eyes,
Mas they swing along, holding her by
Jeither hand. This is, indeed, sweet
slavery, and well the little household
tyrant knows they can never deny her
anything.
There are children, grown up,
but not so old. These are IN the
very hey.d Of existence ard nave
evidently Just reached that pleas
ant period between hoping ard
having, and the sweet, trusting look OF
the one, and the manly, protecting care
of the other, makes us stop and think
how well 1t is that the trials and grlel
and sorrow which the future will but too
suroly brisg, is concealed from their
eyes. But what jam there Isl "Whst
brought every body to Market and Main
streets2' WAS asked by hundreds OF Peo-
pie that wsre,all intent upon the same
thing. "Excuse me, madame" al wish
the people would not crowd sc" "Let me
pass, please and hundred other ex-
pressions, some not quite so polite, but
more vigorous, were heard on
every side. but, Notwithstanding the
crowd everybody seemed good natured,
everybody happy. Santa Claus seemed
to have emptied his budget OF toys along
the street, and the best man took the
largest share. But when we come to
think OF it, is it not = pity that the best
man is rot he whose purse is the largest.
Aud is 1t not almost pity that some IN
visible power cannot make Christmas q
kind of old-fashiOned jewish jubilee2
But we do not want to talk about such
things. Among the little ones we heard
such remarks us. Nov do take
your hands out OF your pockets,
brother" whispered by the little girl, Is
she administered n well-tirocted nudge
with her elbow, rs she and her small
brother hurried up the inevitable Mar
ket street. take your hands out OF your
pockets, its Christmas Eve" She re-
peats, with I'll sir tina: seemed TO imply,
If ever bov ought to be 81 marked spec
linen OF manly propriety, Christmas
Eve is the time, OF all others, to show
it. Little Johnnie is always nodded of
coarser clay than his sister, and the
naughty, downward glance III his new
red top boots, speaks No plainly as words
whist do | care about Christmas Eve"
He only intends to be msulsh in that
particular presence, but in his heart OF
hearts he fears ho has committed II
blasphemy against Santa Claus, which
that August parsonage may resist, with n
Vengeance, on his next trip down the
chimney.
Allboyhood areout of doors;nor are the
little ones, who are lar away, forgotten.
In single wagon loading in front of a
toy Rouse IN this city, q reporter counted
ten rocking horses, bridled and saddled,
and with their tails nicked with Is much
ssuclness rs if they felt independent OF
the humane Bergh himself. The peanut
stands were not sighted. How the eyes
of the little prccsninnies Will dance and
sparkle when they wake aud see thos"
psternsl pockets well stuffed with parched
ground peas, and long, shlney, stick
dandy. Take dat hand outen dsr,"
faint time yet for gemmen of sabil.
tty to begin on 'em, but by and BY de
A
floors of Krismus III swing open; den
yell see sights and wake snakes, Niger
in de pea patch. law, yaw, yaw.'
Everybody is happy; everybody
was "scrouging.' No, not everybody
There were several poor pinched faces
and little noses tlsttened agsnst the
show windows, with eager eyes gazing
at the pretty wax dolls and other toys,
wishing that they had rich papss and
msmas to get them something nice for
Christmas gift.