Middletown transcript., 1894-12-22

old time activity and Christmas hustle
| seem to have returned.
ut is pleasant to watch the Christmas
shoppers. They come from far and near.
II can fancy the homes from which some of
them come! There is the well to do farmer
You know him by his team; big comforta-
bic carriage, pair of sleek, we'll kept
horses, blankets, robes etc. As soon
as he drives up the merchants run out to
greet him and his good wife; small wonder
at that, they are plentiful BUYERS and good
pay. am not atall surprised at the size
and number of the parcels that are cram
med into the capacious carriage, under the
seat and piled up almost to the top of the
dash board. 1t will be Christmas right, at
their farmhouse home, where thrift and
industry bring their reward even in these
hard times.
We measure mundane thing by contrast,
and none greater can be imagined than that
which exists between this team and the
one beside it. A real "Peter Tumbledown"
teaml Harness tied up with rope yarh,
horses ribs in evidence, head down, car
riage dirty AMI mighty shackling! and the
farmer? we'll, he and his team are one. But
for all that. there are several bright little
faces seen piling out Of the carriages as
the horse is hitched. They are neat and
clean and comfortably clad, and that is
how I know the wife and mother is by far
L. ,,lf af &hot l..
had half the energy, vim and man
agement that she has, he would not have
so much cause for railing at his hard luck
Now want you to know if that man had
been my husband I'd have made him stay
home and keep up the fire, while l took
the children Craftsmanship ght-seeing. He
is not to be trusted in license town I've
been keeping my eye on him, and as he
went shambling over to the saloon with
crony or two, knew the children would
have long day in town. for their father is
droWntng trouble IN drink! Driven to it
they say, by business troublesl But how
about the wife and mother? Her troubles
need drowning tool But the world says
"Ohl but you know it is different with wo-
men," and as long as we condo n mans
weaknesses and give him license to drink.
and gamble and break every law in the
decalogue, because he is constituted that
way" whatever that may mean, we'll
not have any substantial reform: 1t is
as easy for man to be sober and yirtuous
as it is for woman, and "white life" for
two is the crying need of this age. But
dear me! What TRADE! At Christmas time
too. That is what started me off on this
strain, seeing men celebrate the birth of
the Lord Jesus Christ by getting drunk!
Think Of il! And then excusing themselves |
because they say they couldn't help it, |
poor thingsl Shame on such manhood |
While easing my mind of the foregoing |
the square was fl ed up with teams OF every |
description. There are Ch rstmas shoppers |
from the Neck and from the Levels. |
from the Forest and the Corners |
Hard Scrabble and Warwick, for Mid |
dletown is the Mecca for adjacent Mary
land too. There is dearborn load of col |
ored people. just arrived. How happy they |
are! They have been living on de Boss's |
scrdppte. sausage and spdre-rib lately !
and are sleek as moles. Their eyes shine |
and their white teeth glisten as they go
from one store to another, making minute
inventories of the various Christmas at
traction. They will not buy very heavily
but will doubtless "deal' at every store
and pay the cash too. like to watch
them. don't your they are such a happy |
people. But il sit perched up here in NV
high tower watching the shifting scene |
below. I'll not get my own Christmas
shopping done, and that wonld never do,
Ii come across those children whose
father is drowning his trouble III LET
you know In my tour among the stofe.' /