The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-01-05
J. Christmas Trees.
Renortei for the y1aelNlAN.l

Amid The glttering regala, the all prevail-
ing mcrrment, and the wild excitement of the
festive time just gone by, prompted by the de
sres Of his little ones, who attended two Sab
bath schools during the closing year, your
correspondent was led to witness two Christ
mas Tree scenes, well worthy passing notice
blythe reporter The first in order took place
on Thursday night at the Baptist church in.
the city and was attended by a large crowd
mostly ofthe Young and middle-agcd classes
of society Two Christmas Trees one on
either side Of the pulpit, on which Santa Claus
seems to have wantnnly lavishcd his gifts,
stood like good and happy couple, bowed
down with the fruits Of life of industry,
economy, peace, piety, plenty; holiness, chart
ty and all the other Heavenly GraccS. Up
wards of t1ur huHdf9d gifts fer the UTee hHH-
drei andJtty scholars, teachers and officers
belonging to this school, studded The green
hougts of those trees and their surroundings.
The exercises d the evening after singing and.
shoEt prayer by Rev. J u. Frost, were open
Cd by 4 ief,address of welcome from Super
intandent Todd How true is it that the
eloq0ence of The greatest masters Of the art,
those who hold listening Senates cutanced,
conlG not have entirely arrested the attention
OF the young folks at such time. The sight
of those trees just ready To drop their luscious
sweets into their laps and mouths, especially
to the Juveniles, was too powerful and fascina-
ting for any words however well chosen or
H., al
SILENCE which relgped during the delivery Of
the address showed that the address itself was
not only good, but very good. The rendition
Of another song by the choir, several speeches,
a dialogue from the children and a congram-
lalory address by the pastor followed in quick
Succession, and then the distribution OF the
100 gifts all more OF less according TO meri;,
occupied at least two hours.
Just here we take occasion to say thnt the
size, systematic management and increasing
prosperity OF the school attest the fact that
Mr.. Todd is i'll every way, as an executive |
head well qualified to supervise the !
machinery OF such an office
The second in order, took place on Friday .
following at the Mission or Stuart's Chapel, /
some two miles west Of Staunton, and not far
from The line Of the G. and O. road Here an
other Christmas Tree with its oppressive load, I
greeted the eyes Of the joyous beholders /
Quite in contrast with the preceding evening, |
the gifts were soon distributed, and so pro
fuse was the expenditure that every one was
seen to go way with his hands as well as bis
GIL, Il 4
This school has been, we learn, for some years
Under, the management of some half dozen I
or more ladies of Trinity church, Staunton,
viz: Misses Maggie Stuart, Mary Foster. Mary |
Mitchell, Ada Smith, Rebecca Scott, Fannie
.flout, Mrs. Anna Baldwin and perhaps 9th
ers,
The efforts of these ladies are worthy Of all
praise Through sunshine and storm, year
by year, as OFT as the recurring Sabbaths call
TO the services of the sanctuary, does this no
bic, devoted and christian band of women
administer to the happiness of the poor, many
Of them ilclad and. penniicss, boys and girls
who attend this school. We say w0Daejl in the
highest sense of the term, because there is no
other word in the wide vocabulary Of our
mother tongue that expresses the true sense
and exalted idea OF the other sex. Verify .
tlleir reward goes before them. Out Of such
work as theirs must and does issue the grand
est results. From just such ranks comes the
boy and the girl who is to be the peer of the
ptoudest, the benefactor OF his race, the hero
and herolncs whose fame to fill sind whose ex-
ample to follow, for ali time to come, will en-
gage grateful and atlmiring world, s.