Did you ever reflect that children are the wisest philosophers in the world? They see the wonderful things in the windows for sale; and they listen gravely to the tales told them of Santa Claus; and, without endeavoring to analyze the situation, they rejoice with exceeding joy. They never measure the chimney or calculate the size of Santa's sleigh; they never puzzle themselves by wondering how the old fellow gets his goods out of the stores, or question his stupendous feat of climbing down every chimney in the land on the same night. If grown folks would dissect and analyze less things that are mysteries to them, they would be far happier. * * * * * Two men meet on Main Street and one of them says: "I want you to help me think. I want to get even with my wife this Christmas, and I don't exactly know how to do it. For the last five years she has been making me ostensible Christmas presents that are not of the slightest possible use to me, but are very convenient for herself. Under the pretense of buying me a present, she simply buys something she wants for herself and uses Christmas for a cloak for her nefarious schemes. Once she gave me a nice wardrobe, in which she hangs her new dresses. Again she gave me a china tea set; at another time a piano; and last Christmas she made me a present of a side-saddle, and I had to buy her a horse. Now I want to get something for her Christmas present this year that I can use, and that will be of no possible service to her." "H'm," said the other man thoughtfully, "it's going to be a hard thing to do. Let's see. You want something she can't make use of. I have it! Have yourself a new pair of trousers made, and present them to her." "Won't do," says the first man, shaking his head. "She'd have 'em on in ten minutes and be clamoring for a bicycle." "Buy her a razor, then; she can't use that." "Can't she? She has three corns." "Say! There ain't anything you can get that you can use and she can't." "Don't believe there is. Well, let's go take something anyhow." * * * * * The lights are beginning to burn in the show windows, and people are gathering in front of them. To many of the lookers-on this gazing in the windows is all the Christmas pleasure they will have. Many of them are from the country and little towns along the fourteen lines of railroad that run into Houston. A country youth presses through the crowd with open mouth and wondering eyes. Holding fast to his hand, follows Araminta, bedecked in gorgeous colors, beholding with scarce-believing optics the fairy-like splendors of Main Street. When they return to Galveston they will long remember the glories of the great city they visited at Christmas. * * * * *