The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 18??-1882, 1881-12-23
Preparing for Christmas.

WntIe TOUR DTlBut udppy Cuilufou Wtl'
crowded around Aunt Helen, who hat
come from her distant home to visi
her nephew and nieces.
oh, Auntie,' said Helen, (the eldes
of the hock, who was now twelve
years old), You must stay until after
Christmas, and see our presents ant
our Christmas tree
Yes said Harry; (the next in age)
i know you will be pleased; mamma
knows how to trim Christmas trees
she always thinks of something to sur.
prise us. We gathered a large basket
Of mosses in the mountain and l am
almost sure they are to be used about
the tree
Then little Mary told of the beauti.
ful doll she had found sitting under
the rec; and even baby Emma, who
probably had no remembrance of any
thing that had happened so long ago as
Christmas, added her little prattle
about toys and dolls.
Aunt Helen waited until there was a
lull, which came when the four children
were quite out of breath. Then she
told them that she fully expected TO
spend the holidays with them, and in
quired if they had begun toprepare for
Christmas.
They were quite certain mamma had
begun to prepare, for the large closet
was kept locked, and when Jane had
been seen carrying in some parcels they
had been told to run away quickly for
Christmas was coming.
Helen whispered that she had made
a case for papa's clothes brush, book
mark for mamma, and was now knit
ting reins for Harry.
Aunt Helen was pleased that her
Christmas work was so far advanced,
but added, while we are trying to make
our own dear ones happy, and give
them pleasant surprises. we will not
forget the poor, but we will each try to
bring joy to some sad or neglected
One.'
The next day proved to be dark and
stormy, just the day for pulling out all
the old toys, and with mammals help
deciding which should be given away.
There wore dolls, animals, furniture,
and MANY other things, which, when
they were piled in one corner of the
nursery, presented such dilapidated
appearance that it seemed that children
who could take pleasure in such toys
must be indeed miserably poor.
But when Aunt Helen d brought
the glue and secured the broken pieces
in their places, when the dolls had been
supplied with new heads or arms, ac-
cording to their need, when all the lit
tie garments had been nicely washed
and ironed (which was James donation
to the poor children's box). you would
scarcely have believed they were the
same things. Indeed, fear Harry
would have restored some of them to
his own shelf in the toy closet, if Aunt
Helen had not reminded him of the
great pleasure they might afford some
child who might be sorrowful even on
Christmas day,
Several days had been occupied in
these repairs. The children were hap
py to help in every way, holding the
glue or the string, running up and
down stairs to bring such things as
we're required.
'And now,' said Aunt Helen, we
must begin new branch of business.
Again mamma was called upon to
say which of the old books might be
spared for the poor. She would have
been willing to have them part with
quite large number, but the children
were loath tv give them up. One had
such a lovely story, another such beau
tiful pictures, for one reason or another
there were many great favorites. Aunt
Helen was glad that they priced their
books; she did not reprOve them, but
proceeded to show them how toimprOve
the appearance of the few that were
to be given away, by securing loose
leaves or covers and covering with pa
per those that were s0iled or defaced
The next day was employed in max
ing scrap books. Papa had brought
home several old directories, and little
Emma, who was proud in the possess
sion of her first pair of scissors, was
instructed to cut out every other leaf,
that is, to cut one leaf and leave the
next. This gave her employment for
several days. The picture papers and
pretty advertising cards were gathered,
and when the pictures were carefully
trimmed and pasted into the books they
certainly were very pretty scrap books,
The children decided that getting ready
for Christmas was very delightful
work. Nor was the mother idle during
this time of preparation. She had
brought forth all the garments that
could be spared from the family ward.
robe and had, with James help, been
very busy, darning, patching, replac.
ing buttons and putting all in complete
order.
When all was in readiness they were
tied into neat parcels and delivered to
the families for whom they were in
tended, on Christmas eve.
have not space to follow each par
eel. No doubt each carried with 1,
comfort and joy, for Mrs. Sinclair was
well acquainted with the needs of those
poor people, and in her Christmas dis
tribution was especially careful to sui
her gifts to the tastes, as well as to the
necessities of each family.
will, however, tell you of the parce
sent to Widow Lee, poor woman wht
earned living for herself and TIVE
children by washing and scrubbing
Her home was but one room in crowd
ed tenement; she was quiet, hones
woman, working early and late, to pay
the rent and provide for. her family