The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-15
CHRISTMAS is COMING.
GREAT PREP1RATIONS Being
MADE ron THE JOYOUS Event.
The streets Crowded with shoppers and
Children Intent on obscrvIns the Day
with Great Ceremony.

The Christmas holidays are near. Al
ready the storo windows have taken on n
festive appearance and the crowded streets
with the throng Of Christmcs shoppers in
dicate the rapid approach OF the holiday.
The annual advent of the Christmas tree
has taken place, and the sprigs of holly
and wreaths OF evergreen draped in grace
full festoons in front OF stores causes the
mind 10 anticipate this, the most popular
of all days.
A few days ago a couple OF car loads of
trees arrived on the Cranston street bridge.
Piled up i'm huge bank they attracted
universal attention and representatives OF
Sunday schools, social gatherings and the
home surrounded the pile, buying eagerly.
Perhaps the most noticeable feature OF
ante Christmas days IL the crowd of
bright fnced children who throng the
streets. Hovering about the windows
filled with presents of every conceivable
variety they feast their eyes on the scenes
of splendor and lay plans TO purchase this
thing and that thing for soIae one
of the family. Occasionally
shopper, loaded down with bundles,
passes along the street, and the people
have a brief glimpse OF sections OF rock
ing horses, little red carts, trumpets and
dolls projecting from paper wrappers.
Almost every one has their pockets bulged
out in grotesque fashions and all are hur-
rying about as though life depended on
their activity.
But all this is merely in anticipation of
the great and joyous day. The natural
excitement win reach climax on Christ
mas and that day the land will be filed
with song and music-some of the music
OF doubtful harmony-judging by the
sounds OF dismal stress issuing from the
open store doors.
One week from Sunday night the small
boy and his sister will carefully nail the
stocking to the chimney piece. They Will
creep into bed resolving to keep awake
until they can catch glimpse OF Santa
Claus, the patron saint OF the youth. But
however long they lie awake, they never
see him, and eve.SIally the excitement
subsidies and nature exerting herself, sleep
claims them.
AT last morning comes, and then what
wave of excitement prsses over the land.
Shouts OF Joy and cries of surprise attend
the overhauling of the gifts and the rattle
of tin trains and music boxes fill in the
time before the morning meal. Then in
the evening the Christmas tree, with its
myriads of candies and decorations; fs
stripped and another season of Joy and
surprise falls to the lot of the fortunate.
At the several churches the annual tree
and service bring JOY TO many hearts, and
the signs OF elaborate preparation for the
great event are to be seen on oil sides.
The weather, too, is propitious for
jolly Christmas, and many youth who
has invaded the privacy Of the family
bureau and has seen the much desired
skates reposing quietly in some obscure
corner, is overcome with the keenest OF
anticipation and can hardly await the
day.
But with all the preparations and hustle
attending the gathering together of
presents there is one thing that should
not be overlooked. Christmas is day of
good cheer and amid the joyful prcpara-
tions for its observance the poor should be
remembered.
Pass along the streets and notice how
wistfully some little ragged urchin, with
frost-bitten toes peeping out of old
worn out shoes, gazes at the array of gifts
in the windows. A small gift of trifling
cost will make his little heart bound with
Joy, and the cost will never be missed
by the giver. It is the easiest thing in the
world to do good, and as Christmas comes
but once in the year, little forethought
will cause happiness for the entire year.