The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-12-29
s,hr,s,mss Eve In Seneca.

SinAoss'''-~ --7Tf-
For the FREE TRADER
Ono more Christmas--gonc. And S,'ch a Christ
mas, wonder II the ''oldcst inhablant' can
remember holiday season like unto the present.
If he cgo. he is vet TO be heard from in this part
of the world. But the weather, however cXtraor-
binary, is tritc subject and propose TO attempt
a description Of the Ship, bearing a wonderful
cargo that sailed into Cndcrhll', Hall on Christ
mas Eve The little folks % Both our Sabbaih
schools, for whose entertainment the snip hau
been rugged, occupied the Ir"nt seats IN o'ocr
TO have a full view OF the varou, @llt" MhIth
made so brilliant Il display. If one might l'ic"c
bv flushed checks and sparkling eyes thcS were
merry hearted enough and old heads almost ior-
ret their gray hairs for the time :" happy haa
the Young hearts been made Among iheh con-
lecture was rife What wonder, when before
Them was anchored ship of goodly dimensions,
decorated with tiny flags, and attached to the
riorinr were presents of all descriptions. Some
exposed, so that the guessing was only as to the
name on the label, while many parcels carefully
wroppcd up aroused much curiosity.
1t is natural TO suppose that the order OF cXer-
ciscs was rather tircsome, waiting, as they were,
for the distribution Of the gifts; but to their cred
il be it said, they behaved admirably while the
Christmas carol was sung by the choir, prayer
offered by our pastor, and Stew remarks made
10y the same person; all Of which were OF very
little interest to the children At last-and Oh,
the relief pictured on the little faces-the unload
ing of the cargo commenced. That unloading
cmploycd great many hands" but it did not
seem heavy work. never saw ladies who seem
cd so familiar with a ships ackling, but those on
the committee were prepared for their share OF
the work The nimblc way in which they took
off the articles, showed that their hands could fly
as fast as their tongues. As name was called,
the owner signified his whereabouts by rising,
and as the distributors had no lead in their heels,
soon had in their hand the gift designed for him.
Some little girls had their hearts made glad with
dolls, others received books, icwclry, neckcr-
chiefs, and little things dear 10 the feminine
heart, too numerous to mention. Tops, trump
cts, tin toys of many kinds found their way into
the boys hands. One little fellow got drum,
and mcthinks his immediate nclghborhood Will
not lack music while its novelty lasts. Some
BOYS of larger growth and more mature years re-
ccivcd little tokens of remembrance in the form
of jumping. Jacks and other comical affairs,
which were received with very good grace the
recipients joining in the laugh raised at their cX
pcnse Explanations Of surprise and delight
were heard on every hand; but in one case the
delight was omitted. A box was handed to LAD
in his teens, and, of course, he Immediately open
cd It, Then for a second that boys face was {
study, but he laughed bravcly although he wa'
the victim of some practical joker That boy go
several parcels after, but he didn't open one o
them. '1t-
Fathers, mothers, unclcs, aunts, and other bi!
folks had their share Of the ships cargo
there are not some big dinners and nice tca-pa
ties give this winter the casters, silver, glass ant
china that came on that wonderful ship will no
serve their purpose, if we have no cold weathe
before next winter, the furs that adorned TIA
mass Of said ship, will have TO be aired on tn
clothcs-linc, instead Of ,mU for that purpos,
Our pastor and wife were not forgotten. Nor tn
ex.Supt of one of the schools, who has serve
long and well II is to be hoped he will not "ru
down" the Gift which was offered him. Parcel
bundles, bales &c, having reached their rcspe
tive destinations, little sacks of nuts and candid
were distributed among the members OF III
schools, (some of them not so young that sweet
would iniurc their teeth,) for what would Chris
mas be without goodies? Then the fcstoons
popcorn were pulled off and thrown for lit
urchins to catch, and when dcnudcd our sh
was q sorry sight The programme for the youn
or people had now reached it finale, and HON
ward they turned their faces, which were bcgi
ming TO wear sleepy looks. One glance at II
empty ship was enough to set one 10 moralizln
"IIcre to-day, tomorrow gone" came into II
mind q thought Of the merry festival aroui
the tree last Christmas, and wondered II some
the hall did not live over that time, | wonder
If they did not think of sweet voice, wtho
whose mellow tones our choir was incomple
that is now forever hushed. All how ma
there are who miss dear voices that one year a
greeted them so mcrrily, Well for them II I
Babe Of Bethlehem" has soitcned the grief
their losses. But rcvcrics, n well rs festiNa
must come to an end, especially when one
asked, Are you so sleepy you can't hold &c
head up:" When this SAID head is beginning
show silver threads among the gold IL Is b
10 bc early to bed, so hied me homeward q
so missed the music at the close of the cycnin
entertainment Did not get chance to gossl
hit feel very badly about IT, UNA
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Annual Report