Homer guardian. (Homer, La.) 1888-1890, 1889-02-01
HON Sc 3 Iay
After Thoughts.

over and gone, the presents bought
and given and received, and the
bills either paid Or staring us in
the face with accusation and re-
proach, we are very apt to ask our
selves if the pleasure has been
worth tile pains, and if, indeed,
this system of gift.giving is not
dcgcnerating into a task and bur-
den, instead of being, as it used to
b. a satisfaction and pleasure.
We have been at work perhaps
for months beforehand with nee.
dleand pencil, if we are one kind OF
givcr; We have ppt OF to the las
moment the uninteresting act of
counting out our money, if we are
the other kind Of giyer. We have
devised and dreamed and schem-
ed, and tired our brains and our
hearts and carried our purposes
into action, and we have had real
comfort in the thought of the JOY
we we're to give, or at the sight of
it, and in any sacrifice it called on
us TO make, if we are that first
kind of giyer, again; and we have
had q different sort of salts faction
in having done our duty and
fulfilled expectations, if we are
she second kind; and if we are
still another kind-for the giving
species varies almost as much as
the individual does--we have bal
auced outgo and income, and have
made up our minds as to whether
we have gained or lost most by
the holiday gilt exchange.
But when it is all finished, and
our conclusions drawn, we may
well ask ourselves If, after all, we
have really celebrated the glad
time in the best way possible; if
all the play Of fancy as to pleas
ure,giying, and the energy of work
IN carrying our fancy into effect,
has been thrown into the chan.
nels Of most good; and if, were al,
other way Of keeping holiday to
prevail, it would not on the whole
be wiser thing.
We have given TO certain of our
friends shaving papers that they
never use, dressingjackets that
do not fit them, slipper tops and
sides to travelling bags that it will
cost more than they are worth TO
make up" scarfs which betray
tile amateur, smoking caps where
there are already a score, and wa
tercolors that ought to make us
blush like madden; or we have
bought them water cups out Of
which they will never drink, or
books in which they do not care
to read. In return nc have re
ceived from them things worth
many times the money we have
expended, although costing the
givers nothing but money, but,
we may feel tolerably sure, given
under a sort of compulsion at this
particular period when the yearly
or half-yearly bills are coming in.
and all but the unboundcd in
comes have to look to themselves
in order to pay up and come out
squarely. Or, again, we have
given to other of our friends, and
they have given to us, knick.
knacks and home made bric.a
brac with which both parties could
very we'll dispense, but which at
fordcd some pleasure, very likely
at the time and afterward. TAX.
ing everything into view, could
we, with our time, our wits, and
our money. have done no better?
The world is full Of trouble; the
great cities teeming with it; ever
The innocent country side familiar
with it; want of the bitterest sort,
sickness with no alterations; op
preston of the poor by the rich
outrage of the poor upon the rich
crime that might have been pre-
vented; results of crime on crimi
hal and victim, and all related OF
concerned, in widening circles OIL
vicious suffering; all trouble which
makes those who suffer from i
cry ont at what seems to be til,
justice OF it; that too often makes