, 1890-12-14

of decreasing. Somebody has been for
gotten or somebody else never thought
of before starts up suddenly like a threat
enIng ghost. Only yesterday l was told,
in confidence of course, that a woman
who nursed me when Il baby was piecing
a bedquilt against Christmas as a pleas
ant surprise. | know it will be hideous,
and | have lost sight OF her for twelve
years. She has Just b%ethought herself
that | was the sweetest baby she aver
nursed. have no doubt she has pieced
calico spreads for a dozen others in as
many years on the same p~retext; but
that doesn't alter the matter. | must
have something ready for her"
1t is a hard case" / assent And an
unreasonable"
'Hardi 1t is demoralizing to the last
degreel Would you believe it of a girl
brought up in the heart Of Christian
civilization? My second cousin died in
Indianapolis a year ago last September,
and the thought flashed at once into my
my mind, There's a five dollar Chriat-
mas gift saved. You see, she always
made something for me with her own
fingers and paid express charges, and
must reciprocate. 1 just hate myself
Wntu EtColcCb Ii AhbbhASbANO oCAoS VI
-uL D. AIa al the fault of this
wretched system of holiday blackmail
Here am compelled by honor and con-
science to anticipate my allowance for
three months to come and begin the
new year over head and ears in debit
And all for WHAT"
Yet you like to make presents?"
Il revel in free will offeringsl No
body enjoys them more OF that class
twenty-five are represented on this pa
per" (hlliping it d~isdainfullyI THE
other twenty-five are virtually compul-
sorry. For instance: there are fifteen
girls-old schoolmates-who regularly
remember me at Christmas, and l
don't care a rap for more than five OF
them. In an evil hour we took up the
practice of exchanging gifts. II you do
it once, you must do it twice, or you are
suspected of stinginess and fckleness,
and that twice ties you to a wheel that
only death can stop. tried it once.
Il forgot (purposely) four of the fifteen
one year, when | was especially impe-
cunious, and what should each of the
quartet do but select that particular sea-
son for making me the most expensive
presents they had ever sent mel | was
uCNGT 30 hOIlLuGu III NY hlC. ludl
bound me soul and body to remember
them-how l detest the humbuggery Of
the wordi-with extraordinary distinct
ness each year. But I've no time to
waste in useless lamentation. | nave
two smoking caps, three baby sacquess
tray cloth and a pair of bedside slip
pers to finish yet. And can't you tell
me of something to send to a fussy old
spinster who was the bosom friend of
my great aunt for whom l was named2
Something that won't cost a dollar and
looks as If it cost sixY'
Ny vivacious girl friend touches but
does not probe the sore fretted into our
social and domestic system by the per-
version of what was at first a sweet and
holy custom. Her jeremiad is not an
exaggeration in any detail. There are
grooming souls who, in reading it. will
complain that it lacks color.
The moment that the element of the
expected and compulsory enters into the
act of giving that instant all gracious
ness departs from il. The principle is
stringent and without exception. When
obligation imposed by the expectant
recipient goes to the length of presorib-
ing the nature and moneyed value of the
thing to be bestowed custom becomes
tyranny. and calls loudly for reform.
Yet that this is today, upon the threshold
OF Christmas, 1890, the aspect of the
holiday gift question nobody will deny,
unless it be the confessed pauper who
has long ago abandoned the pretense of
giving and greedily anticipates the har-
vest of conventional benefaction due
during the blessed week.
The odd reversal of the positions of
givrr and taker begins in this very low
est Htratum. II not always as offensive
: manifested as by the little girl in the
J.. .g,d school who threw her doll down
-. ~trIunpled upon it because she had
e given by other schools and
l.. II -.r heart upon a necklace in