New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-31
"TaE LEAST OF THESE

of all the holiday celebrations of the present
season there could be none better calculated to
touch the sympathetic feelings than that which took
place last evening at the Colored Home, in Sixty
ifth-st 1t was the Christmas celebration that then
occurred-circumstanee having compelled its post
pOnement from the proper day. The neat chapel of
the Home was tastefully decorated with eyergreens
which had been arranged by the hands of the young
ladies having the matter in charge In front of the
pulpit a large Christmas tree all the parts and
branches of which profusely hung with presents
for the poor inmates of the institution. On
either side of the tree tables and stands, on
which were piled up gifts of many sorts, useful
and tasteful such as articles of clothing and service
or dainties and decacies of kindsthat would be ap
precated by the patients. In one place were toys
and CONNECTIONS for the children, showing that no
one had been forgotten but that the infant of week
as well the crone of century had been the sub
- ject of kindly thought and attention 1t was, of
CQrse, q great occasion for the hundreds of poor,
sicH2lOred people to whom this Home is the highest
and bSA benefactiOn of the world. In every ward,
the sufief1 Non every couch had heard of the great
preparationSSeEpd when the bell had given warning
they might be AsS tottering best they were able
from every quarf3<owarG the chapel, all of them
cleanly-looking, neN noCtly dressed, and many
of them with that daE& gay,ty in their appearance
and display which is A.pecuarly characteristic
of the colOred people, and air love for which can
be destroyed neither by suffeSSz poverty. grief
nor old age Their joy on beholdihShe spectacle in
the chapel, and receiving their Esesents was
beyond bounds, though of course it was$somewhat
tempered and subdued in expression by their cir
cumstances Those of the patieots who were unable
TO leave their beds their wards had their Christ
mas gifts sent to them and none Of them were too
ill TO fail in showing gratitude and happiness on
receiving the offered present. Taken altogether,
and in all its features the occasion was one Of bes-
sing and beneficeRce well calculated TO touch the
humane and Christian feelings appropriate to Christ
mas and to the memories of the day in which was
born the Divine Child whose apparitiOn was the
glory of the human race, il will yet be the saliva
ton of all mankind. The honorable ladies whose
hearts conceived, and whose hands wrought out this
celebration. have merited praises far higher than
we could offer
Among the gifts displayed were two which were
not intended for presentation to any of the inmates
Of the institution. They were gay little baskets
which were fashioned by the tasteful and patient
labor of gentle coored girl who is in the very last
hours of lingering consumption; and they were
her modest Offering TO two young ladies well known
in the Home angels of charity. The sufferer who
made them was too far gone to be present in the
chapel but she !had got them inscribed with the
names of Miss Mott and Miss Booth. Modest but
sacred mementoes are these-souvenirs that will be
worth more on the great day of reckoning than all
the glittering gifts the kings ever gave to heroes
The Colored Home is a charitable institution that
deserves liberal support. As its name implies, 1t is
refuge for sick destitute and infrm cOlOred people
of both sexes During the long period of its exist
ence it has taken care of thousands who would other
wise have been homeless frendless, and destitute.
1t is admirably kept, and is conducted with great
Barefulness and economy, may be seen by any one
who chooses to visit its wards which are always
open to all 1t is managed by board of directors.
who give their time and means for its support We
warmly commend it to the consideration of the phi
lanthropic, the humane, the charitable, and the
Christian 1t would be hard in any way TO dispose
of hundred a thousand OF hundred thousand dol
lars so as to do more good than by giving it to the
COlOred Home.