St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-12-26
.fur hr Children.
A Curious Christmas Tree.
Dec. 20, 1878.

ter. John Walker and Dick Ford. two
colored men of the vicinity. volunteer
ed to get the tree. But when they went
ont into the woods to cut it. eighteen
other colored people. big and little, fol
lowed them. some to help and some to
give advice.
A very fine tree was selected. 1t WAS
a pine, ten feet high, and when they
brought it into Aunt Matilda's cabin.
they could not stand it upright, for the
old colored womau's ceiling was rather
low.
When Harry and Kate camc home
from school they were rather surprised
to see so big II tree, but it was such Il
fine one that they thought they must
have it. After some consideration it
was determined to erect it in Il deserted
cabin. near by, which had no upper
floor. and was high enough to allow the
tree to stand up satisfactorily. This
was. indeed. an excellent arrangement,
for it was better t" keep the decoration
of the Christmas Tree Il secret from Aunt
Matilda until all was completed.
The next day was Il holiday, and
Harry and Kate went earnestly t" work.
A hole was dug in the clay floor of the
old cabin, and the tree planted firmly
therein. 1t was very firm indeed; toI
a little colored boy named Juscphinc's
Bobby climbed neally to the topmost
branch. without shaking it very much.
For four or five days the work of deco
rating the tree went ON. Everybody
talked about it, Il great many laughed
at ii, and nearly every body seemed in
its branches. Kate brought large box
containing the decorations of her last
Christmas tree. and she and Harry hung
sparkling balls, and golden stars, and
silver fishes, and red and blue paper
angels. and candy swans, and sugar
pears. and glIttrlimg things of all sorts.
shapes, and sizes upon the h0ugls. ilal
ry had IA stcp-laddrr. and Dick Ford
and five cnlorcd boys held it firmly
while he stood on it and tied on the or
naments' Very soon the hri@hh"r> he
gan t" send III then contributions. Mis-.
Loudon gave Il stout WOODEN dress.
when WAS grape" oven lower "fahrh
Willl" VII. I"''"oh. Nh" WAS mot I" he
ulNerttd H"il MS original idc'I. sent an
army hldhkct. which Maze arranged
around the root "i the ucr, :" Is t"
look ~ much Is possible like %ial moss.
MI. Darby. VIII" kept the store. sent
a large paper hag of >ugaI and Il small
bag of tea, which were carefully hung
on lower branches. Miss Jane Davis
thought she ought To- do something.
and she contributed Il peck OF sweet pc
tat"c>, which, each lied t" Il string.
were soon dangling from the branches.
Then Mr.. Truly Matthews, who did not
wish to he behind his ucighhorS in gen
crosby. sent shoulder ot bacon. whici,
looked quite magnificent a> it hung
about the middle of the tree. Other
people sent bars of soap. bars of meal.
packages of smoking tobacco. and tian
mel pstticoats. \ pair of shoes was
contributed, and several pairs of stock
inm> which latter were filled with an
plrS and hickory nuts bv the consider
ate Kate. Several of the school chill
drrn gave sticks of candy and old Mrs.
Sarah Page. who had nothing cl>,. to
spare. brought Il iur of noIas>eS. which
WAS suspended near tl, top of the tree.
Kate did not fancy the ,ppralancc of
the, iur. and she wrcathcd il with string,
of glittcrimg glass balls: and the should
Ell of bacon she stuck full of red berries
and holly leaves. Harry contributed IL
bright red handkerchief tor Aunt Matil-
da'> head. and Kate gave Il shawl which
was vellower than a Suntlowcr. if such
Il thing could've. And Harry bore the
general expenses OF the 'cNtr;IS, which
were not tltimg.
When Christmas eve arrived every
body cam" I" see Aunt Matllda 4 Christ
mas tree. Nat" and Harry were inside
experimenting the ilnaI arrangements,
an" ABOUT my OF Sixty persons c"i"red
ana Whlte' were gathered around the
closed door "t the ola cailn. men all
was ready A"h' Matilda made her ap-
p'alam'c' supported on either SIDE 10y
l'l'k foiu anu Iohh w alkci, WlllIt l IL
''' hi'''''"'A' III MS many -'"l"red
"l'NN'''@ %""h' i"Ii""e" close "eii'hu'
lcn the IIDOl WAS opened, and Aunt