Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-23

, A diff when Il assumes the pleasant gulss
OF n costly gem. and as each season
brings with II some new fad In stones, II
behooves the tender husband to see to II
that she Is abreast OF the times Inc one
stone above others upon which the god
dess of fashion has at the present mo-
mcnt set special value Is the peridot, or
"eyenipg emerald" as II Is sometimes
called. II il lovely stone. with ex-
ouisite shades Of transparent green. the
hest suggestion Of whose hue Is the effect
produced by looking at the light
through A thin delicate leaf. Jewellers
saw that the peridot Is OF the same class
as the beryl, aqua-marine and topaz, and
that 1t is. In fact. the ancient chrysoiite.
1t is found In Egypt. Ceylon, Peru. ana
Brazil, good crystals being extremely
rare. In pins and rings IL Is SOM lines
set in amethysts, and the blending OF the
soft, mauye and green Is exquisltely ar
tistic.
How naturally at Christmas-time do
we fall to thinking Of what we would
like TO give, and of the wants OF the many
around us. and In the midst OF all our
own cares and perplexities, we each take
time somehow to consider now Dest 10
please and help those with whom We are
more or less associated by means OF gifts
to which we seek to give as mucn heart-
value as possible. And work In this line
has the right ring. because II Is helpful
sympathetlc, and affectionate. All this
we do Mt Christmas-time because II is ours
10 do, by virtue OF long association and
training. That II is a good thing to do
no one can doubt for a moment But we
are In danger OF forgetting TO give 10
those whose presence in our midst Is Tor
gotten. overlooked, until we near some
sad story Of suffering and want, OF those
10 whom Christmas is the saddest time
of the whole year.
The most pathetic picture we have seen
among the many suggestive or Christmas
during the past few weeks Is little
black and white sketch OF THE Empty
Stocking" Poverty is stamped upon
every surrounding. the cupboard Is empty,
the table Is bare, the crate Is empty,
too. and the snow has drifted over the
wIndow-frame. The faith OF the poor
little ragged girl as she crept from her
miserable bed at dawn had not wavered,
for had she not hung her little ragged
stocking close TO the chimney, so santa
Claus might find II first thing? 1t hangs
linn by the fireless hearth. and In the
abandonment of grief her face is puried
in her hands, as she leans weeping upon
a broken chair, and neither the empty
cupboard nor crate are remembered IN
the bitter grief and disappointment at
the empty stocking!
Unfortunately, these are not fancy
sketches. There is that touch OF nature
in them which shows US they are true TO
the letter, and are only the mirror turned
toward us to remind us that in our album
dance we should remember the needy.
The benevolent in our midst are plan
ming various means by which the greatest
number OF children will be made happy,
and families made more comfortable du-
ring the present week. The churches,
the mission schools, and societies, the
Kings Daughters, the Mems and Wo-
mems Christian associations, ana the
City Mission are busily preparing to 10
all the good they can with the means
at their command.
To the sorrow-stricken and unhappy
who feel that life is empty and aimless
a whispered word: Do all you can Tor
the comfort and happiness of those less
fortunate than yourself, and your burden
will be lghtened. your aims and objects
brighten, and life will take on new in
terest for you. ChLOE'