The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-01-10
OUR CHRIsTsIAs TREE
Ry Mrs. NaiIie a. Ramase.

BY Mrs. SaiIie a. Ramase.
Our Sunday school had q splendid Christ
mas tree magnificent presents, superb sing
fne and we expected good time generally.
We worked hard soliciting money to buy
the gifts and we sat up late at night and
rose early in the morning 70 have everything
IN perfect order, and We succeeded, we
thought. We bought the superintendent OF
our school heavy gold-hesded cane, ele-
gantly chased and with an appropriate in
sCriptiOn engraved upon IT, lt cost us a
good deal but we wanted TO make a show
and we did it. We gave each Of the teach
e-s /. picture or q fine book, and the only
one that was excepted was Lucy Hooper,
and we gave her q small silk handkerchief.
Her mother il a widow and they do not
hsve much influence. Several OF us Joined
together and bought material and made our
minister pair of slippers snd dressing
gown, but understand he said he wished
we had given him some wood and groceries
His vile got motto, worked in cardinal
red and navy blue zephyr and she, l ex-
pect, wanted pair OF shoes or a new shawl.
but we tried TO remember the beautiful
rather than the practical The children of
the family. four of them. were all given
book markers and scripture cards and dolls
and yet j believe now everyone OF them
would rather have had skates or mittens
Some Of our people are very wealthy and the
committee on the distribution Of gifts dared
not offend them, and so We selected the
incest and most valuable presents for their
children and when those were exhausted
we were forced TO give the poOrer elias Sc
cheap trinkets We had candy and oranges
enough for the whole school, but the silk
70 put she shares OF twenty or
thirty in paper parcels, tied
with twine instead OF narrow ribbon. | took
especial pride in my class. They are all such
well bred, nicely dressed, pretty children
that worked hard 10 have hadSome pres
ent for each of them, and though it cost a
good deal Of time and money, was satisfied
when saw their pleasure and gratitde. |
was not ~ home two hours all day Christ
mas / scarcely saw the children excepting
al dinner, for / had 20 help decorate the
church and arrange the presents on the tree
for wanted 70 90 sll could for the school
The committee had two or three little dis
putes. and everybody had their feelings
hurt, bat the minister's wife tried so hard 70
be calm aud peaceful and to change the
conversation every time 1t grew ''fussy,'
tina, finally harmony settled down, and we
went home at least quietly.
The tree was tall and graceful, and from
ths topmost b0ugh 10 the lowest branch
glittered the tapers and swung the presents,
and the children could with difficulty be
kept still, and at la went aud sat down
bltstftiF Vic DfJcN anu AiLl1Ns Ouf
lister spoke so gently and lovingly of the
6ayior OF his wOndrouS birth. his tender
babyhood Of the mother love OF Mary, of
the gracious gift of God, until my heart
grew soft and I forgot all excepting the
mercy OF Jesus. We sung 80 Us Child
OF Hope is Born" and the children never
did better They seemed TO catch the spirit
OF the blessed time. Then the superintend-
snt talked to the school 50 that even the
smallest child could understand that the
Christmas gifts should remind us of the
Christ child, the gift OF the Father to save
the world. Then We sung Jesus Loves Me,
and grew Interested in the children around
me. One little faxen haired girl sat as if
ENHANCED while the minister was speaking
but she sang with q sweet voice every word
OF the hymns. Che held tightly by the hand
little hoy. her brother l imagined, younger
lhan herself. They were shabby, bat 50
clean and nice that you would forget the
Ihreadbare garments and remember only the
fresh sweet faces. TIE other children called
her Emma, and seemed TO watch her
a. if she was a leader. In q moment the Of
fcers began to distribute the presents, call
ing the children by name, one by one, in
terspersing the gifts 20 the older persons.
Beautiful dolls brightly dressed were given
TO the girls, one of whom declared, well,
this makes the third ] have got to-day"
Little Emma watched each one as If mo-
mentarlly expecting 20 hear her own name,
but never losing hope for an instant. Jewel
boxes, work boxes, toilet sets, pictures
books, were almost showered upon the misses
who were too large TO care for dools, and
yet who expected something. and the best
seemed TO be given TO the richest girls
Skates, large brilliantly covered balls, games,
scarf5, and score of other gifts we're for the
bows. large and small. and each received the
candy package with the name at
tached Here and there the poorer
children's presents were hung, but the com
rnittee seemed TO have almost hidden them
from sight. Emma grew so nervous that
pitied her and wished that they
would hurry to her. Her little brother
cIapped his hands, happy and bright,
but she only leaned forward and kept her
gaze fastened on the tree. The brown paper
bundles OF candy were now given out, and
the little folks around me received nearly
snts. A bright red spot glowed in the pale
cheeks and the parted lips quiyered with
anxiety, as the boys and girls sitting by the
anxious child were called up. At last the
NAMES Emma and Fred Morris" and the
wee ones, still clasping hands. almost flew
ap the aisle and stood on the tiptoe of expec-
tation at the altar while the gentleman
handed a small picture card and a dingy
paper bag OF candy and an orange TO
each They came slowly back, disappointed,
saddened. grieved. almost heart-broken.
What did You get, I'm; let's see; doll?'
Only this," and the sobs would come, and