Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-12-25

A CHRIsTMAs TREE AT THE IEDUsTRIAL
ScHooL. IT Come and cur chTistnaas
trss." We looked up from our work to see
from whence the voice came, and saw the be-
psTolent countenanee Of our friend, Rev. Mr..
Watsrton, Superintendent of the Industrial
School. Il was busy hour, but the school
Is not far, so we dropped our pen and followed
the superintendent to the school. In the
oohool room we found about one hundred and
Hfty little boys and girls, ranging in ages
from two to twelve years, with bright and
happy faces. They are poorly clad and not
unfamiliar with dirt, but it must be remem-
bsred that they are gathered in from the by
ways and lanes Of the city. Many of them
are orphans, others are children Of squalid
want, while others are the neglected Of
suring OF drunken and brutalized parents.
While there we're some faces among the rag
eed scholars in which arc transmitted the
instincts Of british Parentage, there were
msny others that beamed with intelligence /;
heads, uncOmbsd and shaggy though they
we're, that would have drawn very favorable
prognosties- from a Fowler. The children
we're very well-behnyed, and appear to have
great regard for Mr. Waterton and his daugh-
tsrs, who control them by kindness alone.
And here let US say q word with regard to
those excellent young ladies, Tillie and Min
ME WatertOn. They are devOting their
youth to the task Of caring for outcast chill
dren, with small reward save an approving
conscience and the qualification which hearts
Ike theirs find in doing good and ameliOrat-
ing distress. Theirs is the task to admit
the light Of knowledge and Of Piety into the
5Grkened brain of the child Of poverty and
neglect, as well as to alleviate its more ma
torial wants, and year after year do these no
BE young women pursue the path of duty
which they have adopted Quietly and un-
oEtsntatiOusly is their work performed, yet
its influence is mighty and hardly to be es-
amated. Those little boys and girls viii be-
come men and women soon, and the good
sssd which is sown within the walls Of the
Industrial School may ripen into excellent
fruit. OF Mr.. Waterton's efforts in behalf
Of neglected and destitute children we have
frequently expressed appreciation. What
wouid be distasteful task to others is
plsasure to him, on account of his great
kindness Of heart and affection for children.
They All love him as father.
But we have nearly lost sight Of what We
eomneneed to write about, the Christmas
tree. twas the center of attraction for one
hundred and fifty pairs of eager, delighted
eyes, this morning. The fruit it bore did not
present 50 great a variety as some Christmas
trees will tomorrow, bul it was satisfactory
70 the children. It was hung all over with
GOoIen comfOrters for the neck, one for each
Of the children, and very acceptable they
were too, for many of them are but poorly
shielded against the cold. There was good
b array Of candy on the tree, also, and We
observed at the foot Of it, couple Of baskets
Of apPlss.
Nr. Waterton had the children sing for
rs, and one Of the boys recited piece of pO-
ssry very well. We could not stay to see the
presents distributed, nor to see the children
At their Christmast dinner, but presume all
passed of satisfactorily. From our window,
IS We write, we can see a Roek Of the ragged
scholars at play, each with bright new COM
forter around his neck, and many children
Who will find their stockings erammed with
costly presents this morning, viii not be sI
happy and Iight-hsarted as they.
Miss Waterton Informed US that the sum o.
sO,zs had been put in the Savings Bank th'
paStyea By the ragged scholars, which i
quite fund from such q source.