Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-12-24
OBSERVA1IONS OF A RETIRED
VETERAN

11EzazS aaze z. So So
OBSERVA7IONS OF A RETIRED
VETERAN.
All, here you are again! What; you
don t remember me? Why; I remember
you. It was last Christmas. don't you
know, in this stores You were buying a
moustache- cup-there now, don't blush;
perhaps it was slippers. or smoking-csp.
Anyhow. it was for him. All; so yon do
remember me. But why do you call him
Mr.. Smith, now 1t was Jack, then You
never regarded him as anything but
friend OF course not; but my dear, when
young people begin to look upon each
other as fraends-you see accent it
right-it is very apt to be the overture to
very difficult opera which is as likely to
end with the curtain descending to the
strains of slow music. as any other way.
like to see the young interchanging
gifts at holiday times, but if l might be
allowed to suggest. as the result OF the
observation of an old man, be careful OF
what you write in sending them. You
have seen pictures OF Cupid 80 healthful.
50 chubby and rosy. aud such promise OF
long life. 1t is mistake; know of no
greater invalld-nOne of the gods whose
health is so frail. l have known cold
word TO give him fatal chill. l have seen
him fly never to return from mere scent
"a cigarette breath. 1 have known him
taken incurably ill at the bad fit of Jer-
sey or the set of an overcOat. And l have
seen him lie down and die without word
and nobody ever knew the reason why;
even if be knew it himself, which very
much doubt. So. you see. it will be very
wise precaution in dealing with such an
uncertain god to be prepared for every
thing. Aud one preparation is to be care
full of what you put on paper. Many a
young girl and many a young man. in an
effort to write their little notes, sending
or receiving holiday presents, often over
step the mark in trying to strike the pro.
per elevated key Don't abound in literary
gush, no matter what are your sentiments
in giving or receiving; if you write at all,
write plain, brief, digni6ed note which
you can read five years alter with perfect
satisfaction. Notes are often misunder-
stood. sometimes we don't exactly under
stand ourselves when we write them. and so
it is always safer to be on the conservative
side. 1t will often save good deal Of
vain regret and many wishes to good
ness,' that you had taken this advice.
And you here too Going to surprise
your husband with present again? A
copy of the Revised Version this timer
All, that will be a genuine surprise.
AEd that will give him chance to give
you surprise next Christmas-by read
ing it. All, you should know Mrs. Boyzy.
if you wish to know how to please your
husband at Christmas For now thirty
years that estlmable woman has opened
her annual Christmas campaign on me as
early as the month of October. With
affectionate strategy am lured into book
stores, and variety stores, and china
stores-last year she toiled me into drug
store-to discover by artful references to
this thing and that, what fancy, Now,
as matter of fact, having her, l fancy
nothing else q take it that the newest
married man could get off nothing pref
tier than that,) but | have become 80 used
to the campaign. and also 80 unprincipled
10 my devices to shorten it, that l profess
the liveliesG admiration over about the
second thing we come to. The result is
that often get presents of a novel char
acter. Last year 1 got a hand painted
coal scuttle, and but a couple of Christ
masses before that. had gotten gaudily
framed picture OF some retired Saint who
had been martyred and for all know de-
servedly 80. But the fashion of drug stores
keeping holiday presents. once came uear
exposing my whole plan of self defence.
NV intense admiration of handsomely
ornamented cut glass bottle Of Unfailing
Lotion for Neuralgia, which | thought
she was pointing out-when in fact she
was trying to make me see a gorgeous
dressing case-excited suspicion even in
this matter. it is not that underestimate
the sweetness of the practice OF married
people remembering each other at Christ
mas. | am not 50 sure that of all other
gifts-not even excepting those to children
these are not the most disinterested and
spring from the truest affection. 1t is no
easy feat to have lived with man for ten,
fifteen. twenty years; to know bis weak
nesses thoroughly; to measure the wide dis
lance from the heroic stature for which
we took him, and the siZa into which
thorough knowledge shrlnks him; to have
borne with all his eccentricities, his fault
finding, his natural sefishness; to have
discovered and to have known for years
that he is after all like the rest Of Us only
human, and yet at every recurring Christ
mas to send our affections back to the be-
ginning and with fresh and uDimpaired
love give him the mystic password OF our
hearts in gift. Ii sometimes laugh at
the devices Of my wife to 1ud out what it
is want, do not have the taintesS smile
at the patient and loving heart that in
spires them; do not know that ever saw
an angel. but, though her hair is Hinged
with gray, and youth has long since left
her face, l never hear my wife. with her
bright smile on Christmas morning. ask
ing the old, girlish question, "What do
you think I've got for you," that l don't
sea in it that sort Of dissolution for the
past and benediction for the future which
it is said only angels bring.