The New York herald., 1872-12-24
A QUAKER CHRISTMAS EVE.

Las, evening IN the sober Quaker tabernacle ON
ochermerhorn street, in BROOKLYN there occurred
very unique ceremony OF the unveiling OF the
oniis'nas Tree TO the bewdered and wondering
gaze OF the little ones of the Quaker sabbath
schooL twas sort OF folk-rite, and was attended
py the members OF families coming in troops
through tne cold winter streets, with rosy faces
bright eyes and chatting laughter. The little meet
ing house was quite full. In the quiet hall OF wor
snip quite change had mysteriousiy been wrcugnt
and the seats were piled up along the walls. ieay
70 SsnFS TSsssss sT ANA NJ the Ss
OF the Industrious, matronly janitress. Here
the company assembled. There were a great
tnat didn't at all bear about them the Quakerish
AIR that common superstition would lead the
stranger from the outer world to expect to behold
They were dressed charmingly and
Bright eyes spoke love TO eycs that spakc again.
And all went merry as a marriage bell,
which, BY the way, might possibly have been ring
happy maminas who were looking on with the same
anxious eyes that traditionally belong to the
life. Cupid seemed as busy at o work with the the
"addies and maids'' as was Memory, that should
have recalled the story which the festival is meant
The little children, however, were marshalled In
order, and were addressed very happily by Mr..
his tour Of Europe. Then there ensued q space OF
quarter OF an hour, during which refreshments
a.. Of very fitting Kind were passed around through
way, were all eaborately gotten up in silks, and
yelyets and furs, so that they verify looked Ike
little fairies, were permitted to play certain child
ish games among themselves that have come to bo
known among almost all the children OF civil
lied Christianity since Chaucer sang. sDlind mans
bun" and hide and Seek,n those comedies and
tragedies OF infant life, delighted them for wle
but the zest or the sport destroyed by the fact
that they were all longing for glimpse OF that
wonderful supernatural tree that was In readiness
TO be beheld OF all men, women ana children.
The Sabbath school classes descended the stairs
to the basement, where o cosey little committee
room was decorated with cvergyeens, in the midst
of which could be read the legend:-
! "PEACE ON EARTH; GOOD WILL TO MEN, {
Az one end stood the tree 1t was erected upon
hollow PEDESTAL Its branches cleaned with
treasures. The little ones clustered around It,
stood up on tiptoe, and the graver faces OF the
older folk cleaned with sympathy. An original
speech, written for the occasion, was rected by
the superintendent OF the school, Mr.. Josiah Tubby,
and was simple, playful and really approprate
Ihen the tree, which had been, after some German
IDEAL addressed as q thing OF supernatural quail
ties, was heard to answer, deep down In Its roots
That, toO, was simple ana fitting, only the trees
memory at one point almost taileu It, and 1t had to
to be prompted After this fOrmaty the gifts
were distributed. Then there were happiness and
laughter and astOnished calculations. The cere-
monies were ended and after q while the children,
the young ladies and the young gentlemen and
the middc-a aged fathers and mothers started for
home amid mutual Interchange OF many good
wishes for the holidays ana the coming new year.