New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-26
IESTERD4T


And all orr yesterdays have lighted fools tho
way 10 dusty DEATH Poor Macbeth was hardly
in a Christmas mood when lac made this cynical
reflection. The last yesterday which ever dawued
lighted an innumerable number last night to
sweet sleep aud pleasant dreams Nature did
her best for the tide which comes bat
once year "-the skies were bright tho
temperature moderate, and Santa Clans must
have left his scdCe and reindeer good
many hundred miles 10 the north Of u.s. and
come down with his donations by rail- To tell
the truth we have seen sigus Of him on the railways
for a week or two, only he travelled invisible and
mothers and fathers and aunts his factors. cared
for the generous cOnsiguments. What time Tor
bundles 1t was. to be sure !-bundlcs fat and lean,
cubic and spherical, aud poygonal! bundles
in brown paper and white, some snug, and others
with perpetual tendency TO burst. IL was rathcra
nuisance especially when the handles OF the toy
wheclbarrows threatened to put out ones eyes. or
when the woman on the seat with yon had snug
clcd in a rockiug-horse, at which the CONF
ductor. with strict notions about baggage at any
other time for this day only conveniently
winkcd. but nobody could be angry M tine presence
of little damsels with their new dolls upon their
arms. and ii is TO be hoped that the man who sat
down upon the canary bird, cage and cut short tho
canary birds Christmas. was daily pculteut, and
paid the damages h0norably and promptly. i was
almost as satisfying turkey 10 think Of the OPEN
ing of all these bundles, and the gluture of tho
trees grated as never trees were before. II was
testimony to the excellence of human nature
IN see fathers Of families wrestling with the holiday
fardels. and genally staggering under fifty or 4
hundred pounds of concrete affection because, ms
rule. men are not 50 fond of bundles while travel
ling. as women. More than one Cheeyble iourncyed
on the train who, if his eye had been put ont Boz mo
wheelbarrow-handle above mentioned. would have
bought glass one and said never word about tho
vacant socket.
II is pleasant to reflect that yesterday itself Tho
best of all anniversaries csab she'd for itself gene
Grafton of anniversaries. each with kind OF inde-
ncndent value. There Will be- 50 many things
70 remember the Christmas Of 1877 By. That was
the day upon which words Of love were first boldly
spoken: ON which we" were married; on which all
the family were for the last time togcther ON that
night what happiness there was In our home, now,
maybe our home no longer! Are not pleasant mcm-
,r,s the hest gifts which we can give each other
le,saut memories and all which goes 90 the making
If tbeu-loye. self-sacriGce, un,eh,h remembrance.
,entle words and greetings to be put carefully into
tho heart of hearts for prc,e:yationt Il
Merry Cbr,tmasw IS the poor mans gift.
which the rich man need not be ashamed
- occept and return in kind. For nobody knows
how much good his word Of greeting care.essy
uttered may do. nor can no be certain that 10 Wa
not change the whole tenor Of the receives me
and give hun heart and courage, which VIII result
in the rctrieval of lost chances, and anew seiuIs
ont which may go long way toward the goal ~
success. 49,,
Yesterday was the consummaiion toward wm'h
al ,be nreparations Of weeks pointed The tuuthh
Cbri.tmos begins somewhere IN November ana ends
,,on no fixed and definite day. except IA the alma
mae. There was the joy Of getting re1uy-"' VIII
bcpa that there was but q minimum oi u'appoh'-
,,rnt when the crisis came. The selection Oh G.i1
- often a delicate matter aud there aI'
those who have a way ol showing lhNo.uH'''"'
whether they are pleased or not Win what is gwen
them, while giycrs are sensitive ana sN"'P l''''
ters of facial expressions, and OF the tone i N"'
formal thanks are uttered Nlthe OeluicAdh' 'l.o
AMI tbourht ought not 90 be repaid los dis
apnoiptment on both H.e5 10 last. lhhA
of the long labor of s.opF.ng and selections
,,o .tf,rt 70 make Lido money when there
u bpt Ettle) go great way. the doubts mo
olar,es If opinion and tho decision which is only
o., undecided decision at last! Fortunately this -
,e,sure uisno pain 20 Dee careful Of tho wishes Ok
roso whom We love. one saw ~ glance
Yesterday that the business Of Christmas was
xou nigh oyer-the buying and selling at least,
in certain quarters. The street vendors hau
taken their unsold stock home with them anu
the markets were desOlate-busy and cro"Hel
"a they were on Monday last. The poultry was al
hacked away; the stalls were closed the gieeheiy
had disappeared, OF was trampcd under ioot as u
no account. The market had done It's WORK ana was
deserted and silent but the turkeys were roaSHns'