Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-01-13

suing from sundry cats, dogs, and dolls,
w'iile bright eyes danced with joy and little
tongues chartered merrily. And the fathers
and mothers in our school were but grown
children in their delight over their own pre-
sents, showing them to each other with utter
abandonment of joy. No such bright hours
had ever shone in upon the darkness of their
childhood and why should they not now, on
such occasions, all be children together. In
their enjoyment we were fully repaid for all
it had cost us, in fatigue anxiety and expense
a collection taken in our school betrayed the
expense Of apples and candies. We thought
it would be better for the children to spend
their christmas money in this way than in
the usual purchase of fire-crackers. Many
had sent in presents for the Tree, parents for
! their children, scholars for their friends
According to their ability, all did whai they
could. Not few little remembrances for
their teachers also found their way on to the
Tree, which for US lave value far bevond
many more sos,ly gift from other sources,
for they were touching expressions of a de-
voted love.
1t was an evening long to be remembered
by them, their first experience in the fes-
Civitits OF Christmas Tree. It was our
aim to have the whole tone of the evenings
entertainment such as would not only give
present enjoyment, but awaken in their
minds nobler thoughts and purer desires ::
remembering that our custom of giving pres-
ents to each other, had its origin more than
eighteen centuries ago, when the wise men
Of the Eist, star-guided. came to worship
the infant Jesus, at Bethlcham. bringing
their gifts Of gold, frankincense and mvrrh
TO the mauger-cradled Saviour Of our world
The colored people hld quite a turnout
New Years day. Several different societies
were out in their rcgalia, with banners, flags
and bands Of music, making quite proces-
sion. After marching through all the prin-
ciPal streets of the city. they returned to
their hall in front Of which a stand had been
erected, where the Emancipation Proclama-
tion read, and 81 Ieeches were made by
several Of the leading men. The day passed
off without the leas disturbance. In many
parts Of Georgia there has been trouble, as
you have doubtless heard, and some serious
apprehension Of On inauguration Of the war
Of races yet here in Bib county all i quiet
But Mr.. Editor. l think it is perfectly
marvellous that there has been no more out
breaks among these people during the months
past, subjected as they have been to all man
ncr Of cruelty and abuse This was more
especially the case out in the country. where
in some sections their life has been sur
rounded with terr1rs unspeakaJle. The X.
X. Ks are not myth as some would like to
believe Their power and deeds have been
fearful in the extreme in many places, and no
jury could be empaneled who would convict
a white man for any crime against a negro.
But the God Of justice lives, and think we
cannot be too thankful that his almighty
arm has restrained these injured ones from
taking vengeance into their own hands.
How prophetic the words Of our beloved
poet Whittier
We Wait beneath DE furnace blast
The pang, of tram formation;
So r-fta--s -f.-~A '-,s-f raesszf
-dad U1oUld aHei~ nation
GOD give Us -race.
Each in his place
To lear his lot,
And, murmuring not
Endure, and wait and labor"
Respectfully,
Z NJ. BARNEs.