The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-27
Post-Christmas Jotting8

Wouldn't it be a good thing if We could bottle up some of the Christmas spirit of the past few days that has filled us with good cheer and tap it when neces- sary-say on rainy days and of days" and days when that demon, the Blues, tries to possess us?
 Which would you rather had had, a check for $75 as one big Christmas pres ent, or all the smaller things you got?" asked one woman of another yesterday. Well I hardly know how to answer that question:" she replied. In that case l should have had only one big thrill. and should have missed all the little in dividual thrills that came with the small CT gifts
 "That's true" observed the other, 'but just think of all the little thrills you could have with $75.''
 So the two women are still debating the question I suppose.
 Even as early as this after Christmas the toy doctor Is much needed In many households. Several cases of deca ptated and broken-armed dolls, cows that have lost their fascinating "moo," and steam engines that refuse to run, have already been reported
 A woman of my acquaintance gave her husband dust for a joke, of course) a stuffed monkey for a Christmas present. The aforesaid husband had enjoyed a beautiful time" the night before Christ mas, and when he woke up Christmas morning and saw that monkey perched up on the foot O. his bed he wasn't sure that he was going to have such a per fectly good Christmas after all.
 
 It is really sad to chronicle the pass ing of the Teddy bear, but its incon- spicuousness during the Christmas sea- son makes 1t quite evident that by March 1, next, it will be relegated to a state of innocuous desuetude.
 Poor old Mother Nature will soon be displaced altogether by art and she may cease from her strenuous duties if she likes The limitations during the Yuletide are, for instance, artificial fir trees ar tifcial holly, artificial moss. artificial but what's the use? So many things are artificial nowadays
 And immediately after Christmas comes a large and mysterious delegation, en route to the various and sundry shops taking presents back.
 During the Yuletide festivities the beau tiful Poinsetta has been a close second to the ubiquitous holly in popular favor 1nd is charmingly decorative.
 
 It was an awful test of his love- but she didn't know it, and so what matters? Accordingly she sent him three silk neck ties for a Christmas gift.
 One was a turquoise blue, one a water melon pink and the third was a Nile green.
 She had nearly crocheted her fingers oi. for weeks before Christmas. but the reward was sufficient when she gazed at her handicraft, neatly done up in a holly-wreathed Christmas box, tied with yards and yards of Christmas ribbon and a neat card attached bearing the Sea sons Greetings"
 Early Christmas morning the ties were received, and as he was invited to par take of Christmas dinner with his fair inamorata he sallied forth wearing the turquoise blue one.
 It was not becoming to his peculiar style of beauty and he knew it, but then she blushed so prettily when she saw the tie that he lied like a hero. thanked her in words which were far from those he uttered when he had opened the box that morning, and in his enthusiasm pro- nounced the whole lot perfect beauties" And (the saints save his soulD he swore that for years he had coveted a turquoise blue necktie.
 Christmas night he went to call and wore the Nile green and was the image of lemon. However, he waxed eloquent on the subject of his admiration of Nile green.
 She smiled and dimpled adorably
 Saturday evening, and the watermelon pink. But this was a veritable Water loo. It brought out in his complexion a