The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-12-31
Christmas in Abilene.

When the good st. Nicholas comes
in any other than the traditional garh
Of fur, in a sleigh drawn by the swift
feet Of reindeers, over hard frozen gilt
tering snow, to the music of tinkling
bells jingling in the frosty air, it is diff
ficult to recognize the jOcund face and
liberal hand of this patron Saint of
childhood. This year he came in wealth
er so warm and sunny we were almost
obliged to pinch ourselves to make sure
of our own identity, and that the time
for gift-giving was upon us.
In the business world the Christmas
trade was steady and uninterrupted
through almost the entire month of De-
cember. So that, as is sometimes the
case, instead Of quiet discouraging
weeks preceding, and grand rush for
a few days before, in which no one can
either buy or sell with any satisfaction
to themselves, our people were wise in
doing their Christmas shopping early.
Our merchants, one and all, report the
most satisfactory holiday trade done in
Abilene for many years in each of the
different lines of business. This state
of things existing in the face of a fail
ure in the wheat crop, and almost an
epidemic of hog cholera throughout the
country during the year, shows in
newly settled country like this an envi-
able prosperity and thrift among its
people.
On Christmas eve all the Sabbath
Schools in Abilene, and almost all in
Dickinson county held seasonable eXer-
cises to entertain the scholars, and be-
slowed gifts, greater Or less, to brighten
the eyes and make glad the hearts, not
only of each child numbered among its
pupils, but also of many little waits
and strayS who gather in only in hOl1-
day time, and in season for the annual
Sunday School picnic. 1t is only a
matter of justice, to say right here,
that the committees appointed by the
different schools, to purchase the pres
ents endeavOred to conscientiOusly dis
charge their duties, in making the mon
ey reach as far as possible, and to show
no partiality in the value of the gift.
Santa Claus distributed his bounty
through bay window in one of our
churches, in others from Christmas
trees, and in various other ways devils
ed by ingenious heads worked out by
deft fingers. The gift-giving was ac-
companied in all by exercises apprOpri-
ate to the occasion-music and beauti-
full decorations. Christmas morning
dawned bright and clear, the suns heat
had hint of summer in it, warm
breeze blew gently from the south and
the birds twitted in the bare branches
of the trees. At noon the business
houses closed, and the streets during
the afternoon were lively with people,
walking and driving, in full enjoyment
of the winter day.
Family and friendly dinner parties
were given and reunions held in many
of the beautiful homes of our CITY,
Some of the benevolent of our citizens,
not content to selfishly enjoy their own
turkey, had few days previous reques-
ted two ladies to solicit aid to purchase
turkey for every family who felt una
BILE to provide one for themselves. The
ladies were instructed to demand dol
lar at each place of business; aud it is
due to them to say, that they followed
their instructions so literally, and were
met by such generous response, that
they found themselves possessed of
more dollars to buy turkeys than they
could find poor families who needed
them.
Next to spinning long yarns about
grasshopper times, and INDUCING in
"reminiscences of the early settlement
of the State, there is nothing real
Kansan enjoys more, when he gets
warmed up to the work, than to put his
hand in his pocket to help along fell
low citizen in need. As a rule, he
knows s'how it is himself" and in this
country of rapid ups add downs, there