The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-23
EVENING CHAT
BY RUTH CAMERON.

You would laugh to know how much
remorse l feel that l never gave children
more toys in the course OF my life 1 re-
greet almost all the money l ever spent on
myself and in little presents for grown
; up people. "-Margaret Fuller Ossoli.
wonder how many toys there are
among your Christmas packages
an?"
You really said it, ana you don't see
what you should be giving away toys for
when there hasn't been a little child il.
your family for years and Nears2
Why. my poor friends that's sad
state of affairs, but it certainly isn't any
| reason why you should miss half the fun
OF christmas l didnt say the toys had
to be for your own children. Indeed ]
1 am inclined to think you are preparing
much more pleasure for yourself. if some
! of those toys are for the WasherwOman' $
children. OF the little brothers and sisters
/ of the bundle girl the bootblack.
Don't feel you must miss this source oil
pleasure, just because you are. unIucky
enough not to have any little ones in the
narrow confines of your own family
There are quite enough children III tue
world to so around and I'm sure that IL
you hunt hard enough. you will find some
| be willing to share with you the delight
of playing Santa.
A Christmas, in which you give no child
a toy-surely you wouldn't let such day
pass over your head
Coo forgive YOU if you door perhaps
Id better. say pity you"
/ am asked by a correspondent to please
rebuke the girl who hints for eN-
pensive Christmas gift from a man to
whom she is not, and does not expect to
be engaged.
Surely. any well-bred girl does not need
to be told that it is decidedly improper to
whom her relations are not serious to say
nothing of limiting for one
| can't say I ever ran up against this
type OF girl. but it appears from my cor
respondents experiences that she exists,
and since it is evident that my CORE
spondent is better acquainted with this
sort of person than /. I'll let her describe
and rebuke the offender only adding that
more than endorse her structures.
Il have a lot of girls friends" writes
my correspondent who think nothing OF
throwing q hint to their beaus as to
what they wish Santa would bring them
for Christmas. and frankly cOnfessing
when the latteT's backs are turned. OF
course. I will give him the cold shoulder
afterwards. but 1 do want such and such
an article much and could never afford
to buy it myself
Don't you think men ct wise to sucf
girls and don't you think it isn't fair TO
accept such expensive presents, unless
they mean to get engaged?
Il remember once when I was a very
little girl that [ heard about a well
merited rebuke which gentleman gave
with a gold thimble thus forced from
him
II send YOU this thimble
For fingers nimble.
hope it will fit when you try il.
1t will last you long.
It isn't half so strong
As the hint you gave me TO buy it,
Have YOU written your Christmas let
tiers yet?
It seems to me that one of the sweetest
Of Christmas customs and one which !
am ha ply to say is growing rapidly. IS
the writing of Christmas letters. j espc-
cially love to get his kind OF remembrance
because. while ] feel that a gift may have
been called forth by fear OF gift from
me. or from a sense of obligation I am
sure that a lette- is just a message OF
true friendhip. a beautiful overflow OF
genuine Christmas spirit.
There are always many TO whom YOU
would like to send gifts at Christmas
time but cannot Suppose YOU dedicate
an evening between now and Christmas.
o sending them a greeting. word TO Ter
them know you still remember and value
lAem.
Take out your prettiest stationery. or
get box of the pretty Christmas paper
the shops are showing. and write a few
lines to each one Of them Don't put
them off with printed post card. but
send a genuine individual message right
out of your own heart
ABOVE all things. don't forget the oiu
folks Little things like this mean 20
very much to item