Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-01-08
LOCAL iMTELLIeEHGE.

CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTs.-T
happiest and prettiest sight beneath the stars
is the laughing face of a happy child, the
hottest and purest light this side of heaven
is the sparkle of merry children's eyes as
they give back the dancing light from the
twinkliug tapers on the tree of peace and
good will; tho sweetest carth>music, the
songs of these little ones, "blessed of heaven"
a, they sing the old. old story of the star,
and surely never were eyes brighter, or
songs sweeter, or children happier, than those
that gathered around the Presbyterian Sab.
bath School tree on Christmas Eve. The
of US from the hallowed associations of the
past, had been transformed into bower Of
evergreen, beautifully lighted by many>col-
ored lanterns, and on the walls scripture texts
framed in ivy leaves told of Christmas and
the Chriss>Child. In the place of the pull
pi, stood the wondrous tree, bearing rich and
rare fruit for the little ones, and above its
many sparkling lights the motto of cherry
Christmas" crowned the tree. And it
was a t'Me1S Christmas" tho room
was crowded with merry children and
happy old folks, all with "Christmas in their
bones" After the singing of appropriate
hymns the distribution commenced. Miss
Sallic Travers, the esteemed organist, was
presented by the teachers and scholars of
the School with beautiful wall pocket con-
tanning material for future musical notes.
Nessrs. Cleon Moore and c. Frank Gallaher
were both presented with exquisite ginger
bread medals, richly decorated and engraved.
Mr.. Dies;l, the librarian, was the proud re-
cipient of handsome of peppermint
candy. These gentlemen returned thanks
in appropriate and wcl-tmed speeches.
Then every child present received a gift
from the tree, another hymn was sung, and
all went hoslewsTd, their hands full of
good things, their hearts full of peace.
A thing of Besusy is joy forever"
This is true of all things good and pure,
and look ing back over the past at the Christ
mas trees of our life time, that stand as sig
nal lights q: beauty aud JOY along the way,
we feel that it is peculiarly true Of all things
hrlomc;Dy to chiilrcn aud Christmas. On
Christmas night it was our good fr>
tune to be present at the Sunday School
Tree at the Methodist Church. Standing
high above the heads of the grown folks,
stood the ChiIrcn's Tree. How beautiful
ard joyful it l""k.d rndinnt with light as if
2afl,cd in lie light Of the Star of Bethlehem
Amidst is green branches golden oranges
y,ig5 Jed hide AID sc,k with rosy checked ap>
pies, while huge bags OF candy hung tempt
iugly dawn ,"wssis the children's eager
lands. In the very heart of the tree Ca
nary nestled very quietly in its gildcd cage
no need for bird music here where the sweet
forth in songs of "Peace earth, good will
to man." After the fruit OF the tree had
been gathered for the we'll pleased little ones,
the scholars turned tho tables on the teach
ers and all received presents from their classes
The pastor aud his wife were not forgot
ten, and the Superiutendcnts received appro
pirate and we'll chosen gifts from the school.
One blushiDg young man came forward to
to carry away in triumph dancing supple
jack. The bird aud cage were presented to
little Allen Ferguson, the ''pet of the con-
grcgasion," and the tender light of the dying
tapers kissed the golden curis of the little
iour-year-old as he knelt and played with his
treasure And so we left the tree ,stri ppcd offs
fruits, alone in the deserted church, but its
lesson of peace and charity, its lesson of
beauty, remains in our hearts "a JOY forever"
Around the corners and through the bare
arms of the leaacss trees, the wind whstled
a sad lament for the dying year, as the Fl piss
copal Sabbath School gathered in Washing
toa Hall to enjoy the last hours of the year
around the Xmas tree. Behind the footlights
the lights like stars began one by one to ap>
pear family through the curtain, and then
amidst the applause of the happy children
the curtain was drawn and beautiful
tree disclosed, filling the entire stage. Like
the other Christmas trees this year, it
was what the boys call Gan eating tree"
and its fruits were oranges, apples and candy.
The distribution was made by the Rector,
Mr.. Meade, who seems to possess in high
degree the happy faculty of interesting and
entertaining 'the little ones"
The Swampooders from Swampoodledum-
vile, invaded our peaceful village on Christ
mas and New FEARS N oruings and took the town
bv storm. 1t is i'm possible to describe bur-
Iesaue;you can enjoy and laugh at it but to crit-
c;se or describe it is beyond the mower of