IN THE STREET.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 33, 25 December 1872, Page 3

IN THE STREET.

Christmas, the merry, merry Christmas to which school boys anxiously look forward and boarding school misses count their way day by day, is at length at hand, nay, it is here, and I wish every reader, and the world at large, a merry one, or, more politely speaking, “ all the, compliments of the season and not only the compliments, but the usual complements of roast beef, plum pudding, and other good things- How strange, however, it seems, this change of seasons between the old and our new country. In one, Christinas is associated with roaring fires, closed windows, early lit lamps, rubbing of bands, and a general appearance of satisfaction, with those who, with nosea close to the frost covered panes, look out into the driving snow or hail, now and then perhaps catching sight of some shivering outcast, who with scanty clothing and hungry look, stops for a moment and casts a longing eye towards the brightness within, thinking perhaps of young and innocent days when he too had loving friends and a happy home, when he had looked out, at the cold and poor, little dreaming the trade would ever come when he should be homeless and starving. But we are how in a new country, with Christmas. We look for hot weather, ripe fruit, and though we like to keep up old customs, and would ao« for a moment dispense with our accustomed and traditional' plum pudding, we look for cool verandahs, or well ventilated rooms in which we may indulge oar otium cum dignitaie. Neither is their much chance of apparitions of pinched and .hungry feces,, for here, who need starve ? Perhaps, however, whilst comfortably enjoying the cool evening breeze, thoughts of loved ones far away, may for a moment run through the mind of those who either could: not, or ; would not face, the terrors of the deep; thoughts next moments dispersed by a host of. juvenile voices clamourous for papa and mama to to join in the evening amusements, voices of those who, as they grow up, will have no reminiscences

of a far off country, f ‘ -ho will count time and calculate events by t. *• M to keep thia as a seseo festivity,, who will eat the usual kind of dinner and plaV Vith their children the usual kind’s of games. And who does not think of < ..those childish gamea—ths lortviis, whan somehow 1 or other, althbugh the Oracle was blindfold, the bora always had an opponumty Of kissing the girls, and the girls invariably something to do, that should cause a deal ot hesitation, and at, length be got over with precipitation and a fair amount of blushes. Who a so, forgets the mistletoej—the young gentleman putting into practice all his knowledge of circular navigation, and the young lady endeavouring to isp ay perfect innocence and unconsciousness of n,i **l**hJe, o r any bnstom ae«o----v .'A , oil, tiio*e who are getting old enjoy peeing the young follow in their footsteps, and if they -cannot join in the romps they can talk over what they did when children, and be always ready, with “ FaXiUus” to wish all (both great and small) A MBiiBY CsamMAS awj> a happy view- mu. PAxxrxtra.