The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-12-31

How . Fifth Street Family Got o
Christmss Present and How They
Lost lr-"Chairs Bottomsd Here"

Editor Ba,oo:
The pleasant surprises and happy in
terchanye Of Christmas presents. while
adding . great deal to the enjoyment
Of the old time festivities and cheer Of
the day. are vet occasionally accom-
panied with some disappointment and
regret. You know the frailty Of hu
man nature cannot always let US be
happy in the greater enjoyment Of Our
neighbors. and that family is, indeed,
happy who. for want IF means To pro-
vide for the occasion as in the Olden
days. can vet all be thankful for the
limited cheer their simple board pro-
vides and not I've envious Of their mol e
fbrtunate neighbors. Mistakes. too,
will sometime happen, and a deserving
son or daughter fail to receive their
Just share from Chris. kringles stores,
and such are more likely to I've disap-
pointed and so dissatisfied as to loose
their appreciation Of wha, they do re-
ceive.
1t is n weak aud purvile feeling and
one we should strive to drive from US.
Whatever our situation let US not mar
the merry time wi.hany vain regrets,
but rather seek some one more unfortu
nate tn share the season we will make
as happy As we can to all.
! started simply to narra,e an anus
ing incident which occurred last nigh,
in the family Of a gentleman residing
on Fifth street. aud was led oil tn NOR
siizing on his feelings produced by a
simple mistake. He was out with his
family until about 9 o'clock attending
a Sun,iay-schocl Christmastree. Upon
his return home, laden with nicknaeks
and full Of the generous feelings pro-
duced by the distribution Of 50 many
presents. he found upon his front porch
an elegant easy chair and stool, unac-
by note or card, except the
name I'll them anufacturer. They were
quickly drawn into his cheerful family
room and Inspected and praised with
much gust. But the donor was un-
known. The happy housewife said j,
was Mrs. So and So. and gave 81 many
reasons for her belief that all but the
gentleman conceded with her. He.
reclining hack in the elegant
chair and RECALLING himselfupon an inn
ported soya. logically and legally DEM
Illustrated that it cuul'l not have been
sent by Mrs. So and So but bv Mr.;
but. while ~ an uninterested specta-
tor readily adopted his views a. sound,
his family were not convinced. and, at
q late hour. l left them discussing and
gratefully thanking the generous giver.
{ repaired to my cold and uninviting
room TO ruminate upon the good things
Of the world was missing.
THIS morning. however, made q
Christmas call on nv friend. He said
he was not we'll. He did not sleep
well. He said times we're hard and
money scarce and he could not enjoy
Christmas like he had forty years be-
fore, and much more Of the same tenor.
His humor was so changed from that
Of the night before that l was perplex-
ed to understand him. when his good
wife opened the matter to me, BY say
ing the elegant chair had been sent to
their house BY mistake and the dray.
man had called for it that morning
and taken it away. The gentleman
was accordingly much Disconnected,
but when / left him ! believe he had
got over it and was thinking how lucky
the other fellow was.
1t was cruel in Mr.. d. A. Clarke.
the manufacturer. but too good tokeep.
CHRISTMAS MORyIyG. 1873. X.