Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-12-16
PRESENTS FOR CHRISTMAS.

A very common mistake is maze dt
this season Of the year. Shoppers, in
making their purchases for Christmas,
often proceed on the theory that an ad
ult never feels disappointed if he is neg
lected at Christmas.
A man or woman of so 3 supposed to
be far removed from the simple enjoy
ments of youth. If no presents came on
Christmas day he or she is philosoph-
ical, deriving a sort Of reflected salts
faction from observing the happiness
OF younger persons.
When the head Of a family does re-
ceive present he is never demonStra-
tive in his joy and thankfulness, and
that is why many people suppose that
he is not really glad at heart. So it
will be just as well to omit him from
the list next year.
This is a wonderfully serious error.
Of course father doesn't get out and ca
wort around the room and refuse to eat
any breakfast and then go romping
presents. Neither does mother tell her
thanks in these exaggerated phrases
which young women learn nowadays
at seminaries and summer hotels.
Father and mother have reached that
period of life during which emotions are
restrained and sentiment is less playful.
But do not suppose that there is in this
world any one so old or SO disappointed
in himself and others but that he feels
warmed at the heart when he receives
a Christmas present Of course he may
not show it in the same manner that
Ethel does
When Ethel finds a box heads her
plate on Christmas morning she says:
'Oh, goody! Is it really for me? l
wonder who it's from? Oh, what a
sweet box! Oh-h-h-h. Isn't that
perfectly lovely? Oh, papa, you know
was just crazy for one of these
watches. It's just as sweet Of you as it
can be. It's simply the most beautiful
thing | ever saw in my life. It's lovely,
Look at those teeny little diamonds!
Aren't they lovely? I think it's just the
sweetest present / ever got, and I'm a
million, million times obliged. If there
was anything in the world l wanted it
was one of those dear little watches. I
think they're the cutest things I ever
saw in all my life, and you're just as
nice as you can be to think Of anything
as lovely as this"
Could the dullest end oldest man in
the world resist such gratitude?
Wouldn't he tingle from head to foot
and feel the blesSedness of giving?
Father is just us grateful and just as
appreciative but note the difference in
his manner.
Father discovering a box beside his
p,ate)-"Hello, what's this? Is that
Mr. Or Mrs? I think this is for you,
Laura
Mother-No, it isn't. It's for you"
Father-"Oh." Fushes it aside.)
Mother-"Well, aren't you going to
open it?"
Father-"Yes; I'll open it-after
breakfast"
Ethel-"Why, papa! I should think
if anyone sent you a Christmas pres
ent you'd open it and see what it
was"
Father-"All right, all right
(Unwraps it slowly. 1t seems to be
some kind of a box
Mother-"Why, yes--thats what it
is Don't you think it's pretty?'
Father-Yes, it's quite box. What
is it for? There's nothing in it."
Mother-"Well, Henry, if that isn't
like man! It's just box to put On
your dresser-a jewel box. You can
use it for collar buttons, studs, cuff
buttons, or anything like that
Father-"Well, isn't that rather fine
to use for such a purpose-with all
these flowers stuck on the top here?"
Ethel-"Oh, papa! And after l put
in one whole wedk painting them
on there too"
Father-"Are they painted on there?
That's so, they are"
Mother-"Well, don't you think
they're beautiful"
Father-'Yes, they're very good.
didn't know Ethel could do that well.
You'd better put that away somewhere,
SO that it won't get soileG.'
Mother-"Put it away? Why, my
goodness, Henry, you are supposed to
put that on your dresser and use it
all the time"
Father-"Oh! All right
That's all he says and yet he is just
as happy and just as much pleased
as Ethel was or will be en- seeing the
watch.
A husband is often in a quandery rs
to the kind Of a present to buy for his
wife.
If he is a rash man he will go and
buy hat or a dress pattern.
By the way, if man wishes to learn
whether or not his wife really loves