Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-12-27

But those sweet and simple days, alas,
will never come again, and most of us
are thankful that they will not.
The chief feature of our modern
Christmas is the lavish feminine bestow-
al of homemade knick knacks upon the
head of the house. at an outlay of SO, in
return for which are expected set of
diamonds, fur wrap, two new gowns,
several rings and lockets, basketful Of
toys and small but expensive pug dog.
Women at Christmas are apt to be
crewel in their selections for others, and
no one can reasonably censure a fond
husband and affectionate father If, after
investing Sl6j in tokens OF the season $
Joy for the bosom of his family aud find
ing himself endowed only with one fly
castle one mouchoir case with no mou-
choirs into it and two pink slippers with
green dogs onto them, he goes down TO
the club and comes home next morning
ornamented with a sad symmetrical jag
Still, it is a day of content. We may
confidently look back over the old year
on Christmas and find that we have
much to be thankful for. The Wild
West has been abroad most of the time,
Barnum white elephant is no more and
hard feelings no longer exist between
the Prince Of Wales aud John L. Sulli-
van. We may, indeed, be proud and
happy people
1t is day for retrospection We all
Ike to look afar back to that first Christ
mas we remember. which stands like a
shining tower among lesser days, the
last thing we see in that stretch between
time that is and time when we were not.
At twilight that day, and early ii came,
how the yule log crashed upon the
FURNISHED firelogs, the hickory twigs
snapped. and the red sparks were scat
tered! No make believe yule log that,
but the real thing, and so long as it
royalty blazed the darkies need know
no rule but their own tropical will
How we children laughed to hear out
side the swirl and rush Of the wild winds,
see the snow elves flying through the
AIR. pOwdering all earth into one vast
wedding cake and fTosting the pane in
noar tracery of wonderful design. And
when the wolves Of winter ratified the
shutters and shook the sash, then climb
ed TO the roof and howled long and dis
maIly down how the great fire leaped 10
answer and smoke and flame roared
pack defiant replyl
Aucu the lNpeFs were igAleu IN tAe
Rconces and the caudelabra glowed with
tongues Of fire, soft aud mellow-ah, no
gas or electric glow-thread has given us
such q splendor since-then the great
doors slid back and speechless W.
wonder we stood before the tree, that
tree all sparkles and toys, and goodies
ana glitter jumping jacks and dollies.
marbles. tops, tin soldiers and the ark,
penny whistles, tin sword. gilded wal
nuts and cornucopias stuffed with sweets
well, well. what a sight 1t wasl And
then there were laces and jewels for
mamma, q gold matchbox for papa,
ana q silver watch for big brother
" uliam and remember yet the licking
administered haughtily by William to
me two days later for clandestinely crack
ing almonds with that self-same watch.
hat anight was that Christmas eve,
sud how all too soon came o'clock,
nurse and bedtime, and all night we
sept with our toys. aud | inserted four
ha soldiers under Bobby's back aud he
'anched me in the eye, and next morn