The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-01-01
Fer the TiMBs.


Fer the Tixss.
Christmas Festivals.
On the eve Of Christmas, 1861, the city
of McGregor out.d,d anything in the holi-
day line ever attempted on the upper Mis-
sissippi. The town, during the day mem.
orable as the birthday of the Savior, was
only moderately excited, a few choice spir;ts
having at an early hour mdhopoiiscd the
noise and confusion which should have been
distributed throughout the different places
Of amusement! The balls that came off
VIC know nothing Of; but they cannot com.
pare in interest with the festivals and pres
ent-makings got up by the Sabbath School
directors for the happiness of the small
ladies and gentlemen who keep this world
of ours in such pleasureable uproar.
Having fondness for the society of
children which amounts almost to the idol
airy Of the beautiful and well behaved
oncs-wc called early at the Baptist church
and began making the acquaintance Of the
bright young spirits who arc the pride and
thu. hope Of society. Mr.. Ed. R. BARRON,
the efficient Superintendent Of tho Baptist
school, was as near to Heaven as he proba-
bly, will get until the Great Teacher calls
for him-a timc which all who know him,
desire shall be delayed as long as possible,
Some two hundred girls and beys, with
their teachers, parents and other visitors,
made up an army Of which B. Was COM
mander-in-chief for the time being, and it
would not be surprising If the bachelor
fancicd himself the Met lellan Of McGregor.
In the place where the altar or SACRED
desk" is wont to stand, pine bough was
visible, covered with all imaginable pres
ents pendant from the twigs and fastened to
the limbs Of tho "Christmas Tree" Some
Of the more curious Of the youngsters
looked the tree over with view to guess
what each one would be the recipient Of;
old folks chatted in pairs and squads, the
excellent pastor Of the church, Mr.. wnrr.
MAN, was passing about among the old and
young parishioners with kind word for all
and the pressure of friendly hand to thos.
who could reach him; the great majority
OF the children were enjoying themselves
like flock Of chattering birds when medi
tating an attack upon field of ripenine
grain. At signal from Mr. Barron the
house came to order, and the Sunday Schoo
Hymn 1--WE are marching along was suns
by about $50 voices with excellent Melode.
on accompaniment by Miss Nina Brewer
Then the Superintendent announced "a
play spelr' and all hands renewed CONVEX
sation, promcnades and jollity. B. evi
IDENTIFY understands the ''human nature'' Of
children he could have done nothing more
gratifying to the little folks than the ban.
ishing of all formalitics and strait-lacedness
among them. The entertainment was de.
signed as treat to Young America the
institution therefore Of solemn rules of de.
corurn would have been out of place.
Desiring to sec all the shows, we laid
claim to quartette Of beautiful young
girls as ''body guard and crossed tho
street to the Methodist church where
Rev. Mr.. Newton, Superintendent Cole,
Judge Baugh, and the otter young folks Of
that church were assembled. A Christmas
tree similar to the one already described,
occupied the place Of the desk tables filed
with all the eatables known to modern
cookery-from a dough-nut to roast tur.
kcy-were before us, and hundreds OIL
bright little eyes were anxiously scanning
the opening scene, while young hearts beat
strong with hope Of coming pleasures
Noticing that the arrangements were much
the same as in the Baptist church, and be-
ing Eve regret to say not SO we'll acquaint-
cd with the little disciples of Wesley and
Asbury as We are with the children of the
other churches, we rc-conducted our pets to
Mr.. Barron's Exhibition" and started
thence to the Congregational church.
Here we found house full of persons,
large majority Of whom were adults and
well-grown youths. 4 somewhat embar-
RAISING stiffness prevailed, which contrastcd
strangely with the CLEO that Ann street was
INDUCING in. Most of tho scholars under
the Superintcndencc Of Rev. Mr. Sloan,
(thc Pastor) We were told, were youths, and
this probably accounts for the circumspcc-
ton witnessed. Presently Mr.. Sloan formed
= line Of pretty little Misses in front of the
audience and each young oratress delivered
brief speech in q very crcditable manner,
the visitors applauded heartily and other
ambitious young aspirants to Fame came
forward to win the need Of praise. We
arc told that Miss Irene Hubbard did her.
self great credit in the delivery Of an ex-
cellent composition this young lady is one
of the most graceful speakers We ever
heard, and it does not surprise us to learn
that she was vociferously applauded. The
Christmas Tree of the Congregational
School was gem Of beauty. At the ex-
IRENE top was the representation Of an an
gel, just about to take fight; the body Of
the tree fairly shone with elegant silver
ware presents designed for Mr.. and Mrs.
Sloan and other principal teachers and at
tcndants Of the school; the boughs were
loaded with books of all sizes and colors,
goodies" and other presents designed for
large and small people; the tree was lighted
by innumerable tapers interspersed among
the branches and this illumination gave the
picture sublimity Of appearance which
was very charming. Refreshments at
Spcrry's Hail. being announced, VIC SC.
cured the companionship Of living "an-