The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-25
PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS.
Evidences of How the Day Is Growing in tn
Hearts of the People.

Hearts of the People.
The tender spirit of Christmas brings man
kind nearer to each other He is hard one,
indeed. who can resist the influence of the
non which covers all alike with its genial warmth
Of kindliness and good nature. No matter how
selfish, misanthropic or twisting one may be
with his fellow-man every other day of the
year, ne has at least decent regard for Christ
mas 1t is worth noting that even the
crustiest or most ill-shapen natures,
from whom greeting comes
i pulled out by a cork-screw, can
give something of flavor to Merry Christmas"
Anyone can acquire she sincerity that belongs
50 ths-the best and heartiest greeting of all
aud in doing he grows apace in the esteem of
men. There is nothing that belongs to this one
great festival, the only universal throughout
Oil Christendom, so BETTING the cause of its OBJ
servancs as the full expression of love that
kurns to the little folks. The legends of Santa
and in every little purchase at the shops is seen
> bit of the fancy that imparts to the season the
little folks admiration for the mythical old fell
low
For weeks the streets have been throneed
with shoppers 81 have never seen such an
abundance of Christmas shopping" said a
&ealer 1--WE have been at work night and day,
and the crowds of purchasers have taxed our
forces and resources"
There has been observable for many days pas
. quiet evidence of how Christmas is growing in
4he hearts of the people. few years ago there
began to creep in beautiful tribute to the day
in the hanging of wreaths at home windows.
10 nj nrld n7ofn In ink~ ,oaA
among many other pretty home ideas that
Fave come to US as we become
less practical. These wreaths of evergreens
and holly tell of good cheer within, and
at speaks well for us all that it is one of the few
customs that do not have suggestion OF sham
about them. This year the desire to decorate
with holly and cedars has gone into the business
portion of the city Many a store entrance has
been made attractive with them. Down on one
of the less freGuented streets an obscure barber
shop had It's windows in bed of wreaths and
pictures BETTING the time 1t is within easy
recollection of many who are not yet old that
phristmas-tree was rarity. Now cedars for
{hls purpose have become Christmas staple IN
She market No home that is anything like home
Is too poor to have at least q few branches for a
tree, on which to hang the love offerings.
The streets last night when shops were bright
and statesmen busy. had its innumerable groups
OF shoppers, from which the mamma or the
hapa was never absent Sometimes children
were with them. Everybody either had rlethoric
bundles or was going to get them. Dolls, wagons,
Aobby horses and the countless packages of
Goys books. novelties, or whatever the fancy of
che giver dictated were scattered in the throng
as If Santa Clans's store house had just been
opened for the good old game of grab, but, IN
like the good old game, nobody got left Did
Dfest of these gifts carry down through
YearA Twenty years ago highly
Gqlored toy book brimful of pictures,
81 Joseph and his brethren or something of that
Il
Hands of tot of boy. That book, shabby as
he would think its art to be to-day. a source
df Joy. 1t went through it's periods of dog cared
And torn leaves until at last the scissors were
Brought in TO save and trim the pictures They
were pasted on smooth board A few weeks
ago, among attic rubbish those pictures turned
Oh again, almost obiterated by dust and mold.
swell, my boy" said the good mother. you
gill not need this any more. We will throw it
away" The once proud boy. owner, now stall
svart man, looked longingly at the pictures as he
held them in his hand, and then. with tear
stealing down his face, I'VE will keep it little
longer, mother. Papa gave me that book"
That settled the fate of the pictures. They will,
no doubt, go down as an heirloom to that mans
children.
It was stormy, night or two since, and a
gentleman stood in the doorway Of store out
Of the wet and wind. preparing for Christ
mas, are your was the greeting of passing
friend. My wife is l am waiting until she
gets through her purchases / like Christmas,
but not these shopping crowds. was in a store
Down on Washington street. and felt relieved
when | got out without broken bone" If he
complained of the crowds then, there is no tell
ing what be would have done last night. for it
seemed as If the purse of Fortunatus had been
opened wider than ever before.
But the shops did not have all the good run of
the day. Christmas dinners were thought of,
and turkeys, chickens, ducks and geese had their
places In countless baskets overloaded with the
other accessories OF good eating. 1t may be
somewhat startling to one who never knows how
she rest of the world lives. but it is Christmas
CHS holiday trade by keeping on hand 5000
geese, $500 ducks, and three times that many
turkeys. with chickens too troublesome to mum
Der. Another place of the kind had an eoual
amount. Then considering the beeves and
young roasters that have gone to the slaughter
one can have fair idea of what the people of
Indianapolis are feasting on to-day. This, amid
She frolics of the little folks, and older ones as
we'll, for who is not more or less child on
Christmas dayl
SENDING AND RECEIVING GIFTS.