The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-12-30
Christmas GiftS.S

The Oil City BLtezdrd strikes a "sypha-
thetic cord" in the following article. and
puts into language thoughts that have
undoubtedly crept into the minds of
large majority of the old and middle
aged
In common with other extravagances
of the time there is undoubtedly a grow
ing tendency iu the direction of overdo-
ing the Christmas gift business, par
! ticularly among parents. Each loving
parent naturally enough desires to see
his or her boy or girl equally as we'll sup
piled with presents as SONS and daughters
Of others. As a consequence they give
them sea many gifts, while they are
young, then when they are older grown
much difficulty is experienced in finding
anything that will satisfy them. The
great majority of the boys and girls of
to-day know comparatively nothing of
the pleasures and enioyments of the old
en- time Christmas, simply because they
have been victigE of "tooNmuch of a
good thing" BY the time boy of to-
day reaches the advanced age of ten or
twelve years his expectations are so high
that, after having received a big lot of
gifts, he generally asks: "Is that all2"
Twenty-Five years ago the boy who re-
ceived a twentieth part of the gifts
would have been truly grateful, simply
because his appreciation had not been
benumed, paralyzed and deadened by
over indulgence. Then comparatively
worthless trinket occasioned more real
pleasure than skates, sleds, drums and
| all the rest of the things do now. The
| boy who had pair of skates in those
days used them cautiously and carefully.
! He kept them sharp and shining. He
skated only on clean ice, and when he
| took them of he dried them carefully,
| put them away and knew that he would
not get another pair in several seasons.
/ The boy of day expects one or more
| pairs every season, aud they must be Of
| the best make. He skates on the side
walks, in the road, over sand and stones
and is as unconcerned about their condi-
| ton as if they cost noting. When he is
! through skating he will throw them
down in any place, and when he wants
| to 20 skating again if he cannot find
them he knows he can get others In
| those days a rag baby occasioned more
! happiness on the part of the child recip-
| lent than the most costly dolls of the
/ present BY the time a boy reaches his
teens he has received about everything
| imaginable, and is in the undesirable
condition whore nothing satisfies him.
| 1t is a mistake for parents to give so Law
ishly, even il they can well afford to do
so, because it tends TO cultivate lack OF
appreciation, Of gratitude, and inculcate
ideas Of extravaganza. When a boy Of
tender years has been presented with a
gold watch or a girl with diamonds,
pearls, rubies, emeralds, etc, what is the
parent to do next? 1t is certainly better
for parents to give moderately. Could
the idea that "tis not the value Of the
gift he more generally understood and
accepted, and were parents and relatives
Of the children to always bear in mind
there are other holidays coming, il would
undoubtedly be better for all concerned,
for the greatest joy of giving is in real
ization Of a sense of appreciation on the
part of the recipient.