Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-21

e1o-=v than did the children OF thirty
" even twenty-five years ago did, for the
5riceS OF all thar the Juvenile heart covers
I'D looks forward TO with longing and
reea anticipauons Of delight all the year
awe greatly decreased. whether the de-
lrsass is due to improved facilities for
-anufacture or to other causes.
How usu even young men and women
n to-day remember those Christmases in
he seventies 1t makes them yearn to
Ae young again and live over the days
rhen each child OF the family dreamed
II Q stocking hung on the mantel and
'a:rlv bullying with all that the children
II that day coveted With what keen
expectancy they arose. long before the
hroverhial lark had taken its head from
beneath the folded wing or the restless
rllznticlcer had prophesied the dawn IT
Wis shrill Growing.
Only partially dressed, the awakened
YOUNGSTERS rush down into the room
where the row OF stuffed stockings is
hJrg. and though we'll they know father
and mother are the real Santa Claus,
tt.erc IS no less excitement and eXpec-
tsTcy. as each child takes down the stock
ing on which his name has been written,
anG setting upon the floor before tho
cheerful fire is ring Of llalf-cressed
1zcfins or little misses with faces as
arIaht as the freight, exploring depths
= that bursting stocking. Sticking from
he TOP are visible several roman candles,
l.crn, or supple-jackr CT some toy That
cannot be gotten further into the recep-
tacle
Then there are several. packs Of the old
raShioned small tire-cracllers, often called
''sauibs. The children of thirty years
ago were lucky 10 get three packs OF
these small crackers, for they sold Tor a
t5ms each or three for quarter, ana
with half dozen little stockings to fill,
not .every" parent could afford TO expend
much IN pop-crackers-
~FAC;ER. HANDS OWED, DOWN
But returning to the stocking: Eager
hands diycd down into its depths. pulling
ont assorted candies and nuts and ralslns'
an orange and an apple, with toy III
nere and there or a copy of Mother
Goose melodies or some of the illuminat-
I'll covcr publications for juveniles. such
as the story Of Jack the Giant killer,
Cinderella or some of the other juvenile
ci2ssics Away down in the toe Of the
stetking was generally some prize
srn8!i bur valuable present. a jack KNIFE
Tor 3 boz. or a ring for d girl or a bright
shining silver. coin or mayhap tiny gold
dollar such as one seldom sees now II
The. parents were fairly well-to-do perhaps
there was sometimes a tiny watch for a
boy or q pair Of earrings or bracelet
Tor 2 girl.
But gcneraliy the contents of the stock
ing were inexpensive toys. Sometimes
Santa Claus had brought something 9
child had asked .or, which even that
nu.nipotcnt myth could not crowd into
stocking. a tool chest for a boy or
great doll for girl was priced or d set OF
DOH furniture or one of the many things
which had tempted the eyes OF the Juve-
uilee in the wonders of the toy shop.
There were always horns Tor the boy and
their capacity for making a noise was
sometimes increased by the addition OF q
small cheap flute or a drum or cap
Di.tol. Every child was happy In the
asF-Seund wealth. and between playing.