The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-12-29
,s,ya 3 CHTLDHEN,s CHRISTMAS.
oh r1ssHsaas Trees and exercises sG the
churches ssnt1 school EKoesse.


Christmas, the day looked forward to with
longing hearts by children all over the civil
lied world as the time when Santa Claus
that mythical parsonage in whose existence
it is the privilege of youth to implicitly be-
lieye-makes his annual visit and gladdens
their hearts with presents the time when
the little girl hugs her new doll closely to her
heart and thinks there never was soch a nice
ssdolly'' as the haxen-haired one did II ever
occur to our readers that nearly all dolls are
born blopdes) which she takes SO much de-
light in dressing and covering with Kisses,
candy, molasses, and other kinds OF "tatfy )"
the time when the small boy makes the house
musical and his parents distracted with the
sound OF the melodious tin horn and harmon
ious drum, the day when he breaks a road On
the hillside and nearly his own neck, and
maketh it dangerous for pedestrians with his
new hanusled Christmas, the day which
bringeth all these good and blessed 60 things
has come and gone, and young Benton is
happy, unconscious Of the fact that the old
folks are worrying over the problem Of how
10 keep Jack Frost from taking up his resi-
dence inside of their domiciIes with no coal
in the market and wood $12 to $15 a cord,
and scarce at that.
Keeping up the time-honored custom, the
Episcopal and Catholic churches provided
Christmas trees for the children Of their Sab
bath schools, while the school children, aid
ed by generous contributions from a number
of citizens, got up q Christmas tree OF their
own, so that there is probably no boy or girl
in Benton who did not receive q present of
some sort by which TO remember the Christ
mas time Of 1880.
Fl EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Held its Christmas tree festivities on FIJI
day evening, in the Court House, which was
largely attended. The room, inside OF the
railing, was decorated with figs, and the
tree, handsomely decked with presents and
good things, made a very nice appearance
from the front. The exercises commenced
with a duet by Mrs. DR.. Turner and Mr.. e. s.
Price, after which followed singing by the
children and by the choir, a solo by Fay Tur-
ner, q little girl eight years Of age, and which
was very sWeetly rendered and earned for
her hearty applause, and 6 solo by Miss
Phoebe Wright, the children joining III the
chorus. The presents from the tree were
then distributed. and, inter @ few remarks by
the pastor, Rev. S. @. Blackiston, and the
singing Of the Doxology, the audience fled
out to the accompaniment Of footing horns,
dropping a~pples-and crying babies.
SCHOOL HOUSE.
The exercises at the School House came
off Saturday evening, and. despite the H.
clement weather, q large crowd gathered to
encourage the young folks, who bad taken 80
much pains to get up an entertainment that
would please. To the teachers, Mr.. E. r.
Clingan and Miss NJ. E. Finnigan, and the
scholars, who, with the exception of some
slight assistance in the decoration Of the tree
from a few ladies, performed all the labor
of collecting funds, purchasing presents and
fitting up the room, much praise is due for
the manner in which the entertainment was
conducted. Neatly printed programmes Of
the exercises had been distributed with the
AasAsceAoAos oA0 tuC pAOBlhii4LlC WAS CaF-
rled out with one or two exceptions of
music by volunteers who were unable to at
tend by reason of illness in the families. In
entertainments where all do well it is hard to
particularize, and We will only remark on the
pains taken by the young ladies in their cos
tunes for some of the pieces, and the general
excellence of the performance. The tree was
loaded down with presents, and the children
consequently were happy. We learn that the
scholars collected 1927 on the outside, and
$47 was taken in at the door; Sill was ex-
pended for the tree and presents, and that,
after other incidental expenses are paid.
there will be o balance Of 800 or $25. which
will be placed in the bank for the benefit of
the school.
TIE ATHOLIC CHURCH.
The Christmas tree at the Catholic Church
was the last Of the three, and took place on
Sunday evening at the new church. The
church was filled, and we noticed some who
were standing. After the opening ceremon-
les there was some choice music by the choir
and then Father Camp delivered an interest
ing address to the school, in which he spoke
OF the origin OF the custom Of giving pres
ents on these occasions. He spoke Of the
priceless gift which the Heavenly Father had
given bis children in his only-begotten SOD,
and urged uDOn the scholars nf fha Sabbath