Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-22

| anu De DleSSeu- D De sure, lHe llttl'
silver dime, or the tattered dollar bill, Oh
a postoffice money order for any sum, doe.
not make a shrewd present, but money
with real love and kindness in it suificeth
like the multitude of leaves and fishes be-
side the sea.
Three years ago knew a young lady
who was in great depression at Christmas
time, chronic state it was growing to be-
The family was eminently respectable and
was not called poor. Nobody suspected
that the quiet, selfdenying girl was actu-
| ally suffering for some of the necessaries OF
life. Invalids in the family kept her at
| home, or she would have been teaching or
earning in some way. She had begun to
| fancy that no one cared for her, and that
she could never be anything in the world.
! This dark Christmas she received a letter
| containing S.. The mail mark was illegi-
| bic, and on the sheet within was only
written the date She knew no more of
| its history until few weeks ago, when
| she learned that it came from friend far
| away, who knew only that she needed
cheer. That small sum was almost the
making of her. Pressing personal wants
were supplied, she looked on the bright
| side once more, the kindness lifted her up,
and when l heard of her last she was occu-
pying an active and useful place in society,
and as an acceptable writer.
WRITE LETTERS FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.
"Odd presents" you say, but you are
getting used to my odd suggestions
Neither should it be deemed eccentric to
write to aged parents nor to relatives or
friends perchance long neglected. A letter
Surely almost any one can write a letter
to make ones Christmas brighter, if time
be lacking to work gift, or means to give
a select one, or money present. A letter
Is in one sense part Of ones SELF 1t has
been handled over and over, looked upon,
thought over. When we receive letter
from dear one it is almost warm from his
recent touch we almost look into his
eyes, and hear his tones as we Iead his
thoughts. At Christmas how specially
fitting to send ourselves in this way to
others. The good done is sometimes
simply inestimable. If the letter is full
of Christmas goodwill, it is to the lonely,
sad, sick or weary one, almost as if the
Christ-child had come down in person to
say, "lIerry Christmas"
Never let Christmas giving be burden
Not when the angels were singing and the
glory shining at his birth did the young
Christ bear his cross. Give in love and
gladness, and appropriately to yourself and
Others, and in accordance to your means.
Children are easily gladdened, and all who
have child-like hearts. Among the in
fnitude of gifts that may be chosen l will
mention but one more-a stereoscope-no
because it would be singular present,
however, but that l never happened to
know of one being bestowed at Christmas.
To any one, old or young, who has none, it
would be great delight, and to an invalid,
who cannot go forth to seek pleasant sights
but must have them brought, a cheap
stereoscope even, with half dozen we'll
chosen views 10 begin with, would be
treasure, charming many weary hour.
Mother-"Do you know, Bobby, who
been reading to you?'
Bobby-"No; but it sounds a good deal
like pa"
The author of "Uncle Toms Cabin" has
become imbecile. The name of no woman
in the United States is dearer to the peo-
pie than that of Harriet Beecher Stowe,
and her sad condition is calculated to en-
list for her the sympathy of the entire
country. Her noble works, it would seem,
should have entitled her to better fate
AMUSING A CHILD.
This morning my attention was attract
ed by a sweet little bird-voice calling my
name On looking out of the window l
beheld the sweet little face of the six
year old lad of the "Peterkin" family, as
| shall call my friend. l hastened to ad-
NIT him to the house, and after had my
morning kiss, he said: "Aunt Nennen, I've
come to ask you how can have some fun.
Mamma says you can tell me, so do hurry
up, for Pm most dead for some kind of
fun"
Fun Whatever in the world should l
tell him? l scarcely knew, so l said:
"What kind of fun do you want this
morning"
so, know what kind of fun 1 want if
we only lived in the country, but boys
can't have any 'joyment in the city"
"What do you want dear ?' again asked
"a swing" said he, "a real swing I've
been feelin' like swing ever since | got
up, anu So MeuG Out lTOHb anu SNlHStu
on the gate. Then the janitor came up
and said bad words to me. Then he went
up and told mamma if she didn't do some
thing with me we'd have to move. Then
mamma sent me right off over here till
the janitor gets over his mad so here |
am, and | want swing"
After thinking for moment I thought
of the swing we had up in the garret at
the old home; so, determined to let my lit
tie friend have one like it, donned my
hat, and off to the store we went, where
we found two great, stout hooks with screw
ends, which we bought for five cents; we
also bought some stout rope, which cost
thirteen cents. When we got home | had
the screws put into the top of the door
jams between two rooms. Then we made
swing. 1t was good and strong, and my
little man swung as long as he wanted to.
He had such jolly good time that l
thought | would tell you about it, mothers,
so that you might make one to amuse your
little girl or boy some dreary, rainy winter
day, when her or she is cross, fretful and
tired of everything.
EYES GREAT-GREAT-
GRANDDAUGHTER.