The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-12-23
TRIALS OF A YOUNG MAN.
He Labors Over the Probiem of Christmas
Presents-His Experience with sheP
GirIs-A Curious idea
was wandering aim


Presents-His Experience with sh"P
GirIs-A Curious Idea
The vouno man was wandering aim
lessly up and down the store hoor, ana
oazino in a hopeless sort OF a way al
10 counters loaded down with all
binds of useful and useless Christmas
presents. Despair seemed to have
marked him for her own{ and even the
brightness and the gsSdness which
somehow the happy C&istmas time
i1nparts to the very articles exposed for
sale. seemed to receive aShill for his
presence. 1t was evident sat he was
thoroughly saturated with 4 elancholy.
"Thi5. / think. would b3 very pref
tvn a lady was SAYING /as the star
man. who recognized aDAcquaintance
approached. III il 1 for lady it j:
i1st the thing, thIk, 50 suitable,
and she held up theg article to the best
advantage ami thre@ her head on one
side. and seemed to be absorbed IN adj
miration.
The young man gazed at her in
dazed sort OF a way, and mutterlng IN
distinctly: perhaps it amt for a
lady, - walked on, and nearly walked
over the Star man. The shock seemed
to restore him 10 consciousness, and he
was able 10 recognize friends. Lead
ing him gently to the door, IN the
hone that the fresh air might fully
restore him, the star man asked him
what in the world was the matter, and
why he walked abroad to take his
daily nap.
Il wish it had been a NAP" said the
Young man with a forlorn expression.
s.But | was feeling pretty well and
strong, and thought that L would 90
out and look for some Christmas pres
ents. OF course, | didn't know what l
wanted. | never do. For this reason
it is necessary for me to be in vigorous
health to stand the strain. | have
been training in the gymnasium for
the past month just for this event.
But | see that / overestimated my
strength. ! am going back and take a
week more of trapeZe and horizontal
bar-work, as that always steadies your
head. You see the trouble is, your
| head is liable to swim around. 1 dom t
! know whether it is the smell of all
! those new things or the questions and
observations of the shop-girl-some OF
them are mighty pretty, by the way
but at any rate buying Christmas pres
ents makes my head swim. "
What do the girls say to youP''
asked the listener, his suspicious
aroused.
We'll, they generally say" re.
sponded the youug man, Z" is it fol
a young iady? la fact they always
say that Now, that is an embarrass.
ing question. ! generally tell then
that it 5 for friend. But that is APP
to be misleading, as a friend may bt
, either male OF female. There ough
to be some kind of Christmas presen
invented that is good for either sex
and then the Shop-Giris' association
could adopt a rule prohibiting thes,
kind of questions. They are embar
RAISING, that is fact, concluded tn,
/ young man in rather mcditatiye ton,
of voice.
! ''Do you divide your friends into tn
! two classes, denoted by their sex?'
! questioned the listener.
: No. not exactly" was the response
t There's your best girl, ard thel
+. there's your mere friend and YOU
casual acquaintance. Then come
r your parents, your relations, and tn
, boys You have got to get Christina
, presents for ali OF them, aud the varietl
is enough to make your head swim al
by itself Then. besides, after VOL
have laid awake nights planning VIVA
, YOU are going TO get for this one an,
that one amt run your legs off gettin,
them, you discover thai they are no
: the things they wanted ut all. If the
would Only send them back to you
that might be some consolation, but t.
think OF them contrifing and schemin,
to find some place to hide your oil,
, present away in makes you feel sor
all over"
There ought to be a reform" con
cluded the young man, sternly
Mistakes of this kind ought not to b
, made. but everyone ought to have tn,
| very things that they have been want
ing all the year and their friends ough
to have the pleasure of giving them
know how it could be done
| Suppose" he continued, there
should be established in convenient
Localities kind of clearinghouse
for Christmas presents. At these
; places a large book could be KEEP
where people could enter their names
and the things they wanted most
After a certain date have the books
closed. Then the books would be
available for public inspection. Sup,
pose want to give Brown presents
| see you laugh" said the young man,
pausing in the middle of his narrative.
'Well, to satisfy Your critical soul ]
will say Miss Brown. You go to this
place aud look at the index of the book
until you find the name; you then turn
to the proper page and under the name
Brown you find list of things she
wants. You make your selection, as
your taste, purse, or other circum-
stances would suggest, and then make
mark to indicate that someone has
decided to make that present The
next person that comes along will
make a selection, and so on until the
entire list is taken. In that way, you
see, Miss Brown will get the things
she wants, her friends will have the
satisfaction of knowing that then
presents are appreciated and every.
body will be happy
'But you must excuse me. Here is
the gymnasium. and | will have to
leave you, and with these words the
young man lightly bounded up the
| SfanS and II,