The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-01-09
Correspondence Of tho Richmond Dispatch.
a Sunday School Christmas Tree.
LOUISA COUNTY, VIRGINIA, ]
.lanrarY 2. 1851.

| I was on Christmas night at Louisa
Courthouse, and as the occasion was one
of considerable enjoyment to myself and
others, I propose it as the theme Of the
present letter. On my arrival, which was
a little after night-fall, found the juve-
nile population in high state Of excite
mcnt. Pop-crackers and sky-rocketS were
in their glory. "Jest and youthful jollity u
regned supreme.
The great event Of the occasion, was, rs
learned, "ChriStmaS Tree" to come OIL
at the Baptist church III behalf Of the
Baptist Sunday school. Your correspon-
dcnt went, OF course, and upon entering
the church, found the house already
packed with an animated crowd Of youth,
| beauty, and age, and the" Christmas tree y
in tull blaze OF glory. 1t was erected near
the middle of the church, with the globes
Of the chandelier resting in its foliage
Illuminated besides with other lamps, and
| a countless host Of wax candles.
The tree was literally laden with pre-
scnts for the teachers and scholars OF the
school. The cheeks Of the mcrry-hcarted
children glowcd with delight as they came
forward To receive their presents from the
| superintendent, and not unirequently the
house resoundcd with applause when some
mirth- provoking scene lntruded ltsell.
| All the teachers made presents to their
scholars, and the scholars to their teachers.
No one connected with the school seemed
TO be forgotten, and SO far | could learn,
there was on all hands the most entire
satisfaction. Besides, there was ali
abundant supply OF cakes, nuts, and can
dies dealt out with no stinted hand to the
whole congregation.
There were some two or three items OF
more than usual interest connected with
this exhibition. 4 prize had been offered
for the largest number of Scripture verses
repeated from memory in certain length
of time. Miss Matte B. Jones having re-
heated between thousand and clever
hundred in seven Sundays, took the prize
Another, for punctuality, was awarded tt
Miss Ellen Walton, a little girl who hveo
about three miles III the country.
Some of the presents seemed to be yer!
valuable. The superintendent Mr.. George
j. Sumner) received handsome pair .
boots. They were presented in behalf O
the school by +. V. Wins o., Esq, one 0
the teachers, and the occasion was one o
some very appropriate and eloquent re-
marks, both from Mr.. Winston and the su-
perintendent.
There was also very handsome present
on the tree for the pastor OF the church
(Mr. l.. J. Haley in the way of a fine piece
OF cloth for dress-coat. | was told by
those who had seen it that it was nice ar
ticle, and the pastor, who was present
seemed to feel the kceneSt sense OF appre-
citation for this mark of respect and kind
ness on the part of his people.
BY no means the least cnticing-lookinG
gift which adorned the tree was a Christ
mas turkey, already prepared for the
ovcn-a present to Mr.. =. H. Conner from
two of his scholars, Sam and Rice Cam
mack.
Take it altogether, it was the mos
pleasing and successful Sunday School fes
tival it was ever my pleasure to attend
Your correspondent left the church fully
impressed with the conviction that this j!
the way to spend "Christmas night" The
Baptist Sunday school at Louisa Court
house, am glad TO be informed, is in s
tiourishing condition. The superintendent
Mr.. George j. Sumner, formerly of your
CITY. is a host in himself, and his whole
soul is in the work. He is supported and
encouraged in his work by an earnest and
devoted band of tellow-laborers; and it is
surely apparent to the most casual observer
that the highest tribute of praise is due tt
the noble women connected with thi:
school for their zeal, their taste, their piety
and their efficiency.
Your correspondent, in conclusion, is O
the opinion that Sunday school is de-
cidedly good institution, and he should Ger
tanly prefer to be connected with one tina
cultiyates the ."Christmas tree"
Very truly yours, LITTLE.