West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1901-12-24
JOYOUS CHRISTMAS.
Social Observance Of the Yule
tide in Sistersville.
Rules the City and the PeOpIs-Jt Is the
Children's Day-The First Christmas
Gifts.

1t seemed as If all Slstersville
was either on the streets or In the
stores and markets last evening,
The different places of business
were crowded until the closing up
hour at 10 o'clock. Never In our
history has there been more liberal
purchasing Of Christmas gifts as Is
In progress at the present time
The sidewalks have been thronged
all day long with happy people,
all possessed by the joyous spirit OF
Christmas time. Little folks and
big" people, old and young, have
caught the Yuletide fever of joy
aud gladaess, and spirit of peace
on earth aud good will to man.
proclaimed almost two thousand
yeaI ago on the plaias of Palestine,
prevades all hearts.
Our industries have all been
running full aud some over time,
for months past, aud the toilers
have rapidly coined dollars which
20 class spends as freely as they.
Their homes will be joyous places
this evening ard Christmas day,
for the lalders are stored with good
things and the happy fathers and
mothers have for days past been
making purchases of articles that
are safely hidden away Ia cup
boards and drawers until the time
comes to hang them on the Christ
mas tree which WILL glitter with
brilllancy.
Christmas is the cnildren's day,
primarily, for the first Christmas
gifts On record ware those given to
the Christ Child by the Wise Men
who had travelled far to find Him,
and lay their gifts before Him
Gifts of gold and frankincense and
myrrh. From that day to this
the little ones have been the kings
and queens of the Christmas time,
and hence the stores at this season
have great stocks of toys and
other things for the children. Out
of this has grown the custom OF
gifts for all, and hence these ihrongs
of eager, joyous people of all walks
of life upon the streets and In the
shops, selecting gifts for the chill
dren for friends and for sweethearts,
for the dear ones at home and
those far away.
This spirit of giving Is so all per-
vadiug that 1t congests traffic with
It's tokens, and trade with Its buy
log of them. It reaches across seas
and continents, and penetrates ali
parts of the civilized world. A
land without a Christmas day IS
not good land to live In nor a
safe one
1t Is a wllhered and crusty heart,
indeed, having the ability,that does
no; 6nd pleasure In bestowing gifts
at this season of the year. The
scriptural ref -ction, that it Is m IRE
blessed to give than receive, Is a
verify. Giving brings happiness,
two fold. for 1t leaves satisfaction
with the giver, and stirs up graft
tude and pleasant memories in the
heart of the object of the gift.
1t Is rot the largest or the cost
Hest gift that awakens the llveliest
The slightest remem.
brance sometimes cheers a heart
that Is lonely, or brightens a life
that has been dreary. The fact that
we have been remembered Is
enough for the honest heart that
receives
Not every 10 ne will be happy in
the ST II e OF Publication this Christ
mas. Since the year has folded up
It's days and months some little one
has been taken. While others have
beer left, The memory of one who
has gone home will &c more vivid
han the Joy in the living.
NOTES.