The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-12-17
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING.

Fran, Hdyper'S Bt:".
To those whose friends are many AMI
dollars few. we would commend Christ
mas cards, which are always in good
taste. They sometimes accompany "a
gift, but they can speak very eloquently
when they are sent by themselves. De
vote some portion of your time and eper.
gies TO the selection of fitting cards 10y
which to express your good wiShe,. Do
not gather them up i'll a handful, as if
you were shutfling for a deal in whist, or
SO many for one dollar and then leave
the choice to the sales-womaI, expecting
her to supply brains as well as cards.
Christmas cards are among the very few
things which are lovely in spite Of being
cheap. Some are radiant with Il religious
halo: some recall summers birds and
flowers in the midst of winters gloom:
others are bright with winters charm OF
frost and snow: all are expressive Of
some sentiment, varied to suit different
tastes. Adapt those you send to the
ideas and characters for whom they are
intended. Diaries and calendars never
come amiss to rich or poor. and as in
general they command a set prize, it cali
not seem mean to give what is always
the best of its kind besides linking your
self in the remembrance of another in
each passing days record
There Drn MANY pyui,is;to l;t;1a
umes in poetry and prose of religious.
contemplative nature. bound daintiy to
suit the season. These are lovely re-
membranes for those to whom the very
work Christmas only brings sad memo
ries, who cannot join in the festivities of
the time yet who might feel hurt if en-
tirely passed by.
TO those of slender means. but large
hearts. We would also commend, in the
selection OF inexpensive gifts that are
always acceptable, baskets and china
ware. Who can resist a basket. Who,
i'll the country, can ever see the basket
makers wagon going by without az ire
sistble longing to rifle its contents, or in
the city pass basket-maker's den with
out "just stopping in" Who ever had
as many baskets as they wanted? and
who ever had too many?
There are the scrap basket and the
gardening basket, and the flower and
fruit basket, and the work basket and
knitting basket, to say nothing of baby
baskets, and little chldren's dear pos
sessions in that way.
Many of these you can ornament your
self. and thus enhance their value, either
with ribbons or crewel work. or both
together, and thus have a tasteful pres
ent at small cost. As to china, the theme
is simply inexhaustible. There are all
the quaint little maiolca pitchers and
Japanese tea pots, and cup and saucerS.
and flower receivers in all sorts of odd
shapes and sizes. Did any woman ever
express herself as satisfied with the
amount of china she possessed? If
you buy such an article yourself, you
look lovingly at it, and think how pretty
it would appear on your buffet, or in your
hanging cabinet. or filled with flowers on
your dinner table, and you sigh. There
is the real sacrifice to friendship. And
it cost oRly-do not reveal the secret: that
might kill the charm: now you have Sc
lected it, and relinquishcd it too, for the
sake of 4 Christmas offering, all the
wealth of Aladdins lamp could not re-
deem it. Its money value is sunk in its
sentimental value. Indeed, may not this
truly be said of all Christmas gifts?
The Transforming genii have touched
them with the wand of an enchanter.
You paid that patient young man or that
smiling girl so many shillings i'll money
value for them, but once in your posses
sion, henceforth they are priceless.