Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-12-27
Christmas Festivities.


the Congregational church vestry and was found
to be packed with articles OF value for all the
teachers and scholars Of the Sunday-school.
In NoRTnFIELD.-The Episcopal and Universal
list churches had Christmas tree Saturday eve
ming, and the Congregational Tuesday evening.
Services were observed Sunday by all the
churches appropriate to the day.
In CHErsEA.-The village churches celebrated
Christmas with exercises on Monday evening
by children Of the Sunday schools, followed by
the time-honored tree. There were also sew
eral family trees at different places in the village
In Recommendations trees with exer-
cises were held at the UDiversalist church on
Saturday evening and at the Congregational and
Methodist churches on Monday evening. The
exercises at the several places were largely at
tended and very interesting.
In SBARoH.-The Christmas tree and table at
tho Congregational church on Saturday were
well laden with presents for both old and young
The singing and the literary exercises were ex-
cellent and all gave themselves up to the hearty
enjoyment of the occasion.
In ELY.-Christmas passed quietly here. There
were the usual services at the Catholic church
and well attended. A few families had their
own Christmas trees for the children. We noticed |
one before window at William Eustace's, and
there was a Christmas party and tree at the
Center.
In WEST RANDoLPH.--A special Christmas SER
vice was held on Sunday evening at the Congre-
gatonal church, consisting of music readings, |
recitation, Sermon etc. A Christmas service was |
also held at the Episcopal church in the afternoon
Sunday, with tree and sociabe on Monday |
evening at the Rev. Mr.. Whites residence.
In CABOT Christmas was observed at the |
Congregational church on Monday evening The |
Methodist Sabbath-school accepted an invitation
TO be present The exercises were interesting
The trees were well loaded with presents, pre-
senting fine appearance and many a sad heart
was happier in the thought that some kind friend
remembered them After the distribution of
presents, oysters were served in the ladies' par.
lors and young and old enjoyed a pleasant
social hour
In wooDBURY-sant Claus has been very
busy with his Christmas trees in town this year,
but among the notable of these occasions was the
festival at South Woodbury., consisting of the
usual programme of songs, Rotations and oyster
supper. The family gathering at Mrs. Emily
Fuller's was a very pleasant affair. The children
were all at home, with several of the grandch-
dren and great grandchildren. The tree was vel
laden and among the presents were some quite
valuable. The tree at the town hall Monday
evening was particularly for the children with APP
propriate exercises.
In MARsHFIELD-Christma festivities began
| at the Methodist church Sunday morning by a
sermon by the pastor from Haggai ii: T. In the
afternoon was concert, " The First Christmas"
| by six young ladies and six young gentlemen
taken from Mrs. Farnsworth's class, and the
pastor. The piece written for the occasion.
| 1t was very pleasing and well rendered, the
| speaking being very plain and the singing good
| the best concert to which we have listened for
| long time. The tree exercises at the Methodist
vestry on Monday evening was very we-ar-
ranged affair. The two trees were bountifully
laden, as well as long wire across the vestry
which was covered double and treble with dress
patterns, aprons, wooden sheets, scarfs and many
other things. There were some quite valuable
presents, and all were good and useful. The
ercises were interspersed with singng-a song by
Burt Shepard, Far Away" by Mrs. Kate
| Spencer, Nazareth" and the closing one by
Mrs Farnsworth go, How Fast the Days are
| Passing" The presents were then distributed
and all went home well pleased. The speaking
was good, especially that of Bessie Spencer
Allie Hickie, Blanche Lucas and Mary BuInsp
In wATsFIELD-T services at the Congrega-
tional church last Sabbath were unusually inter-
| esting Added to the usual morning service was
the recital Of the CXXI Psalm, by Mrs. W. A.
Jones class The sermon to the children from
CaDticles ii: ~: 1.-THE flowers appear on the
EARTH was full of food for thought and reflection
IN oil pb.,h had tbA ,,ln
Robinson briefly showed that the Songs OF Sol
ONION were composed for Orientals and would not
bear the pressure Of literal construction They
were intended to teach of love and beauty, which
occupy high place in our natures We have
love for parents love for children, love for friends
and love of God God loves beauty and this
world which he has made so beautiful. God
made man beautiful and delights in his nature,
especially the beauty of pure and true heart and
noble spirit This book tells of his love for his
church. The speaker compared children to
flowers, and called children Gods flowers Flow
ers were made by God, not so much for use as for
beauty and to reach the heart OF man. Who by
looking at beautiful flower and up at the sky
on beautiful evening would not admire and
adore the wisdom of Creator who has made
such beautiful objects There is in every child
power ABOVE nature-a power which is not OF this
world; a capacity to love; to know and to distin-
guish right from wrong to hope for the future and
live for the future There is no real life without
noble purposes. Parents who care for flowers
are reminded that God has given them something
to work upon more noble and beautiful-the
minds and hearts of their children. Here Mr.
Robinson showed the picture of lovely and
happy child, with innocent affections and pure as
pirations, and then showed the Importance of good
training in youth, carefully cautoning children to
look out for the bad but pleasant man who would
allure them Into paths of sin. Contrasted with
the child picture he showed picture of man
behind the bars OF prison, who, he said, was
the picture OF the same child grown to be man
and, through a sinful life, had come to a bad
end. He was not in old age the flower God
would have him. God does everything for us
and knows the value of every soul He has
given us his Son, and il we live in him, we will
finally appear not on earth but in heaven growing
in God and for God Christmas trees at the
Methodist and Congregational churches on Mon
day evening were well attended by old and
young. The literary exercises were excellent,
the presents were and all felt well paid
for the time and labor spent in preparing a good
time for the children.
MARsHFIELD The week of prayer will be OBJ |