"And this holy time so hallowed and so gracious was settling down over the great roaring rattling seething lifeworld of New York in the good year 1875. Who does not feel its on-coming in the shops and streets in the festive air of trade and business in the thousand garnitures by which every store hangs out triumphal banners and solicits you to buy something for a Christmas gift? For it is the peculiarity of all this array of prints confectionery dry goods and manufactures of all kinds that their bravery and splendor at Christmas tide is all to seduce you into generosity and importune you to give something to others. It says to you "The dear God gave you an unspeakable gift; give you a lesser gift to your brother!" Do we ever think when we walk those busy bustling streets all alive with Christmas shoppers and mingle with the rushing tides that throng and jostle through the stores that unseen spirits may be hastening to and fro along those same ways bearing Christ's Christmas gifts to men-- gifts whose value no earthly gold or gems can represent?"