, 1881-12-25

Though Christmas does not come this yea1
with icy winds, and snow-storn, aud all TIT
appointments Of congealtng winter, but viii
balluy breezes and an almost summer soft
ness, it has subseryed Its memorial purposes
in one direcsion-by filling the hearts ofshop
keepers with delight Except. dealers il
oyercoats) and giving to purchasers mos
agreeable days for shopping. The stores
have rarely been mote abundantly filled with
Christmas largess. Our streets have rarely
been more denselv crowd ID. The express
Offices are groantng with paper parcels and
boxes going out and coming it1, and contain.
ing wealth Of Christmas yf1eer. The street.
cars are jammed with people, each one load
ed down with bundles destined for Christ
mastrees, and the unlucky wight who ap,
pears withoutone Is looked upon $uspIelousIy
as Que who is not going to celebrate christmas,
ard must, therefore, ots 3 *;;ruOge. Christ
:sias green's decorate snoi~fronts, and walks
IN svu1e blaces nave beco1s:e miniature groves
tl4at before tomorrow night is done Will bear
all marrer of kindly fru1tage. ltarkets
sf,oN tempting rows Of Christmas beef and
mutton, and fowls a,.d festoous OF game
gIistenmg with tempting wares for high
priced purses. The toy-shops present be-
wildering wilderness of juveniie comforts
and Illusions, The b1okulakers have ex-
hausted their skill in ornanent.ng works for
children which would have dazed the chill
dren Of the last generation, who were
brought up On Mother Goose. though the
pabulum furnished by that worthy dame Is
still more substantial shan the awfully utter
mysteries III symphonies of color: that will
be toled out to youngsters who cannot be
made intense The dry-goods stores and
fancy stores are piled high ,yltl, goods. Even
the stores which it might be supposed con,
tained nothing that could be ms =: available
Upon Christmas-trea la: : L: a.:.gs.i to scare
up something Of a Christmas character: and
boldly put out signs announcing "holila,.
g0otis. ~: = H.. ::~:. a.. h
So the shopping streets have been full OF
life und bastle, though never dtrtier or more
blocked up than now, and the bright sun
overhead lwhen it Is not ratning) shines
down upon happy city OF Christmas buyers.
despite the old proverb that q green Christ
mas makes fat churehyard,n. aud that Ven
NOR Is all askew with bis prophecies. What
may be the future results oil, this June
weather, when snow should De flying, no one
may fofesee, but it Is pleasant at least to
think thai the poor are nor pincl,ed with the:
cold and that Santa CLAUS Is much more likely
to find his way into their humble lodgings
than it it werea bitter wlnter-1ime; thar they
are. not likely to suffer from: ai-fam,nes
md biockades OF provisions; and that the "
labor which, brlugs them wages can 20 on
II: *
: Il is a PHEASANT thought also TINT Christ
mas, whicl, Of all days is the Lords Day.
COMES upon Sunday, and that the soleinlf
services of the day will be frightened III
with Christmas cheer: and with joyful mem
'rles Of His bl1tn: 1t Is a day. which should
5e specially sacred to the poor in memory or
Iha poverty amid which the Lord was born,
alld To- the children>in memory Of the gifts
which ti!at day were brought to the Child III
ne q: *,naneer. Oh this day gloomy theolog,
may be dismissed: ami; iron1-bouad dog,n,a>:
Flyen resi- Taday music SHOULD be- ;:ioyfui:
md sermons kindly and hopeful, aid cout1li::