The semi-weekly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1879-1882, 1881-11-28


Though severed far from thine,
But pilgrims may from hard won heights
Receding homes survey,
And give a sigh to past delights,
Yes, sighiDg-turn away.
On TIME.-The merry Christmas
season is drawing near; the year grows
decrepit, and feels already the chilly
hand Of winter striking to its heart.
The small boy Of the period begins to
count the days to Christmas and
checks them of, one by one as they
pass, with smile for those that have
vanished, and an O'Donovan Rosa
sort Of desire to annihiIate those that
are to come. The young man med
irates on the new leaf he is resolved
to turn with the Jew year, and decides
that few more black marks on the
leaf at present open will be rather
good thing than otherwise, as tending
to make the leaf-turning process afore-
said more pleasing and striking; and
the ma den dreams Of Christmas
parties and new year calls, with, it
lnay be, tri6e Of superstitious ven-
Grafton for the ancient rite Of the
Misletoe Bough. Papa, inspecting
his bank account, thinks Christmas
gifts a nuisance, but supposes he'll
have to make some all the same.
Mama's deft fingers are busy with
cunning needlework, while her mind
adverts to mince pies and buildings
Of the plum and meetings Of the
smaller fry are held in secret places
to discuss the enthralling questiop.
"what do you suppose we'll get" or
the less absorbing proposition, "what
had we better give" Meanwhile,
those whose special business it is to
minister to the wants Of Christmas
keepers, have not been idle: in proof
whereof there comes to US by mail the
Christmas number Of our old friend,
Eriehe's Fashion Quarterly, full
from end to cod with things for old
and young, and suggestive, on every
page, or ways to make Christmas
pleasant, and the holiday season q
time Of rejoicing in very truth. The
amount Of information about Christ
mas gifts that the publishers have
managed to compress into the pres
ent issue Of this popular magazine, is
astonishing. Besides the usual illus
trated account Of the fashion 10 dress.
ss, bonnets, etc., ths whole Christmas
market is passed 10 review, aud the
choicest articles of foreign and do.
nestic make suitable for presents, are
illustrated aud described.
For the older folks are all the new.
est designs 10 china, majolica, silver
ware, embroideries, bronzss, clocks,
etc.; for the younger are books and
games; albums, dressing cases, jewel
II. music folios, papeteries and hun
dred other items; while for the chill
dren is an array Of toys such as, it is
safe to say, was never collected into
single volume before. Cheap add
dear, old fashioned and new, indie.
structible and fragile, simple and In
genious, every variety of toy ever
yet invented 10 charm the heart of
childhood is here represented. There
are automatic birds 10 cages, that
chirp and sing like live canaries;
there are wonderful savings banks,
that perform such curious antics with
each deposit, that economy becomes
pleasure; there are boats that sail and
steam engines that work, and mon
keys walk aud climb; there are tops
and skates, and velocipedes andssleds;
deer and goats and horses and COWS;
Noah's arks and grocery stores, prin-
ting presses and spelling games; dolls
with their hou es and furniture; rattl-
90, Christmas tree ornaments, and pic
ture books; in short it were eaiser to
say what there is not than what there
is The book is acknowledged to be
complete compendium of Christ
mas gifts and happy will be the child
and wise the parent in whose home
" finds a place. Every article is
lucidly described and the prices Of all
gwen, and very moderate they seem.
As . special compliment to their
Christmas patrons, the publishers an
nounoe that they will send to each
subscriber whose subscription reaches
them within certain limited time, .
copy Of the "Christmas Musical AL.