The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-23
OLD KRISS KRINGLE.
TIVE jolly Old SCAMP rs HARD
1T UoRK IN RICHMOND NOW.
The Stores Are All Crowded With Those
Who DO His Bidding, and Many
Hearts WIN 10 Made Glad.
The streets Of Richmond

1ItN III EthgNN0f
but for view. and the sight OF them will
do the veriest old ~curmudgeon alive good.
So my dear old bachelor or cynic
fri6nd. and ,cu who wonder sometimes
whether lie is worth living or not. Put
on your hat and walk with me up Main,
or Bread streets and view the landscape
DER.
watch the thousands Of Richmonders
out looking for what they think Will
gladden. the heart OF mother. father. son,
daughter. brother, sister or sweetheart.
II Is a crowd. varying, and varying az
much in character as in position.
Here comes madame. with handsome
coach going TO some OF the big shops on
Bread street, and she must touch elbows
with those Of her sisters or lighter purse,
but perhaps lighter heart.
The little ones. where are they?
Near the toy shops. not 10 spend money,
but to gaze in the windows, WISH Tor TINS
or that. and go home 20 dream OF Santa
Claus and write to him. telling him what
they want.
II is hard TO tell which branch OF bust
moss is the best patronized. If you should
watch the crowds entering the clothing
stores in Main street. you would think
that clothes were 10 be the only articles
OF purchase. But. when you see the furni-
ture stores. you fancy that clothes are
mot I'm It," 10 speak slangiiy. truly
clothes and furniture are the most use
ful things one can receive. Then leaving
the useful. and coming 10 the ornamental
the jewelry dealers attract you, with
their glitter and s%piendor.
The confectioners' and bakSrS' shops
are loaded down with everything good TO
eat. candy. cakes, CONNECTIONS. pies and
ali the rest Of the contents of m e~nticing
nature that abound in such places.
And the markets!
Now here Is a poser. for to tell you how
they look is a task, but a pleasant task
withal.
The butchers. fat and red and Jolly.
came first. and the stalls are piled high,
and the hooks filed with all manner O.
rood things. roasts and ribs, steaks,
chops. outlets and the delightful, always
delightful and -seasOnable sausage. The
vegetable market is next IN the path of
the Christmas purchaser, with all the
glories of the vegetable kingdom. And
here is where the turkey. which ought
10 be the national bird. / think. can be
found in plenteous abundance. A poor
man or woman is he or she, head OF a
family. who does not have a turkey,
small or large. at this season. And great
stacks of green, holly, mistletoe. cedar.
arbor-vitae and Ivy, catch the eye and
oDen the purse, and are bought and car
Iied away 10 make the home and sane
Il ar bright with garlands n festoons
OF the beautiful green.
50. I'm our merriest moments of holy
mirth. IS in our saddest hours of griev-
ing. go we back TO old Dame Nature for
assistance and aid
The express company employees and the
nOstOfice clerks and carriers!
There's a chance for sympathizing, dear
Christmas reader!
Early in the morning, when you are
warm asleep, and late at night, when you
are Just making ready to WOO the drowsy
god. these hard-worked eryapts Of the
public are rushing and busy viii parcels
OF all sizes and shapes, letters, news
papers and cards. which must all be
handled with extra care, for all these
things are more valuable just now.
All kinds of presents and loving remem-
brances are contained in them. from the
large and costly gifts OF the rich TO per-
haps only the few lines of the poor. sent
in thoughtful way, to the relative or
friend at a distance.
Business cares, political worries and
everything else are laid aside now for at
this time let nothing intrude into the fes-
tive and holy season.
There has never been a sweeter Christ
mas toast than that which Dickens puts
into Boil Cratchit's mouth. and-of course
you remember it-but here it is:
"a merry Christmas TO US all, my
dears. God bless us"
All the shops OF the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railway Company from Newport
News TO Huntington, West Virginia, will
be closed from Saturday, the oath of De-
~. .ra4n ur,.L-4n.. ~. Op41 - ~.
cember.
All local and through freights except
those necessary to a p%erishable mat
ter will be taken off for the same length
OF time.
This is done In order that all en-
ployes may spend the Christmas at home
with their families, and the same rule
will prevail at New Years.
The Times is happy to-day in being able
TO print for It's younger readers a letter
from their old friend, Santa Claus, and
here II is:
Santa Claus Home. Everywhere.
December %.
Dear Children in Virginia and North
Carolina. and everywhere else that The
Times goes.-You have all heard of old
Santa Claus and talked OF him and watch
ed FOR hin. too, on Christmas Eve, I'll
be bOundi
But you never saw 4 letter from him,
did you? Well. here goes. l can't write
each one OF you as l would like, so /
must put up with "a general letter. and
those that read II must tell their little
friends, so they san read ii also.
What is Christmas Day?
All Of you know that it is the birthday
or our Saviour, who came from heaven,
with all Of It's Joys and glories, to this
earth TO save us from our sins.
And what makes the day and the Sa-
Nour so dear to us is the fact tina He
came as q little baby. and grew up
through childhood into manhood. so that
He might be ever ready 20 sympathize
with US all. and with children. most Of
all. for He was a child himself.
Now. the fact that there IS so much
giving OF presents at this season is IN
memory Of the bringing Of gifts by the
Three Wise Men to the Infant Christ, as
soon as they found Him by means of the
star In the east. Then. too. Il is the time
OF which the blessed angels sung on that
night. lisp years ago, when the first faint
cries or the sweet Babe Of Bethlehem
broke on the stiffness Of the air An the
manger where the mother laid Him.
For You remember there WAS no room
for them In the inn. and He who was
the Lord OF Heaven and Earth was born
In a stable. with the beasts and cattle
around Him.
Now, at this time. you should recoIlect
20 have in your minds the gentleness and
the obedience to his parents that marked
the young life OF Christ. and try to carry
out In your young lives the beautiful
traits that marked his life.
am an old man, dear children OF
The Times. but not too old TO enter into
all your Joys. n wish YOU very many
happy ChristmaS0s and 1 hon. III