Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1872-01-10
NISCELLA US.
Letter From New York.

EDITOR SENTINEE:-DearS Sr, Yes
terday was "merry Christmas" AnG,
being oliday with us, we cast about
how we might spend it most pleasantly
and proitably. "Five Points was sug-
gested. And there we wendrd our way
along Third avenue to the Bowery.
and down Bowery to Worth St, through
throngs OF idle loungers and those, who
like ourselves. were seeking where best
they might be entertained, passed chow
windows, filled with gay and beautiful
holiday goods, and peripatetic notion
dealers, vending their wares by the way,
and beer-gardens, filled with the flow
ers Of Bacchus who were bent on
having feast of spirits, if not "How of
FOUL" Arriving at Worth ST, Qately
opened through 20 the BoweryJ, we
s'opp'd to take breath preparatory 10
csc. nding it. Fortunately We had to
20 down it but short distance. For it is
without pavements, muddy, and covered
hy all manner of fillh,-toul ordors emf
ratii g from every quarter. We present
ed ourselves at the office of the Five
Points missic scht oil under the au-
pieces of the VI. f., church, and were
kindly shown into the school room where
kind-heart elegantly dressed ladies,
tthe wife of Ex-Governor Wright, and
Mrs Skidemore. a sister of Judge Pond,
if | have been rightly. informed J, and be-
nevolent gentlemen were making ready
their Christmas Festival for the little
ones who form their flock. This was
about ten O'Clock and they had been
working since six. They had two large
Christmas trees, one for the boys, and
one for the girls, covered with gayly
dressed dolls, Jumping Jackets, and toys
Of aH kinds, and festooned with strings
of Pc? corn. They looked very pretty
indeed. The stage behind was covered
with presents of various kind, provided
iy kind and benifcient friends Long
before the appointed hour the children
commenced TO gather around the door
and, to crafty their curiosity some would
Chamber up to the windows to get peep
of what was going on within
At length all things are ready, the bell
rings and the boys take their position at
one door, the girls at the other,-ihe
piana brgins to play (and by the way
they use the piano in all their Sunday
schools here), and they begin to march in
but they are too full. they cannot keep
step, bat they go to their seats, and oh
how their eyes sparkle
And, now they are quieted, some IA
miliar tune is played and they unite in
singing the sweet praises of Jesus. How
sweetlv, with how much earnestness. and
how w'll they sing They are led in
prayer, aud at the close their voices 60
up as one in, Our Father" etc.
The distribution of the presents begins.
Those who have been particularly well
behaved and studious receive five re.
ward5-but present and sweetmeats
are provided for all. As some fine pres
ent, for instance large and handsome
ly dressed DOLL is brought in view their
feelings get the better of them and they
burst out in a round OF applause-they
are quieted-but ever and anon the same
thing occurs.
There were about five hundred of
them. They had no doubt been looking
forward to the time with great expecta-
tons One poor woman told me her
children did not sleep any the night he
fore. And while the distribution went
on the same woman burst into tears
she had lost her only daughter duiing
the year-she the "swect singer" of the
school But cannot tell You all. | must
hasten across the Park to the Five Points
House of Industry. This is an unde-
nominational institution where children
are clothed, fed, lodged, and e1ucated-
We passed into the chapel fine large
room neatly furnished, with slightly
raised platform and one end, on which
were arranged seats for the children, in
amphitheatre style. The room was deco
rated with evergreen and large beauti
ful Christmas tree graced one corner
We had been seated but a little time
when we heard the well known sound,
outside, produced by number of per
sons marking time. The piano struck up
a kind of donble step and they came
marching in single file, close order, keep
ing the most per feet time, and moving so
smoothly that we scarce perceived they
moved at all. They marched to their places;
at given signal they front face, at another
they sat down; again, and every Land was
up raised and clasped and every head
bowed and they united in the Lord $
Prayer. But it were loo long to tell you
all in detail, suffice it to say their exer-
cises consisted of recitations, singing
giees. anthems, hymns, etc, and calls
themes They sang elegantly, their re-
citations were in perfect unison, and
their calisthenics were admirable With
their mouths, feet, and hands they gave
a very fair imitation of thunderstorm.
After these exercises they marched to
the supper story where was prepared for
them and ample and good dinner. At
given signal they face the table, another
hands raised, heads bowed, and in unison
they asked blessing, at another signal
heads were up and hands down, and at
the next all hands went to work on the
good things deposited on their plates 1t
would have done you good to have seen
them, some were so small their heads