The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-12-21


CHRISTMAS 1882.
o.o.C. +:
George Wnhipgton Jones
You are cordially Invited 10 attend our:
:Ch istmas Festival,
At City Hall, Thursday, Dec. 18th, at:
:2p. m.
cn1LpaEN's CHRISTMAS CLUB.
/: No. 579.
..............a
Let us skip the busy days of prepsr.
alton, when the secretary Of The Chill
dren's Christmas Club recorded twelve
hundred names; when the Park. street
school sent in the names of ono hun.
dred members who brought to their
teacher books, toys and clothing, to he
sent to the City Hall; when comfortably
clad children came through the city
bringing in their sleighs. on their sleds,
in their arms bundles Of clothing and
toys, baskets of provisions, books,
sleGs, skates-much that was dear to
them, given in the spirit of true char
ity.
One child could bring ''only plate OF
biscuits" another q dozen apples for
the dinner" one had no toys at home,
out brought five.cent piece she had
treasured ITO buy somethin';" for some.
on little teller that hasn't nothin';;" one
took all her money and brouaht to
her Sunday school teacher a painted
candy bird-cage, and said, II want it to
20 on the tree for some child poorer'n
me-"
And how were the children invited
those children who were to be the guests
Of the club?
Six hundred invitations were printed.
An invitation committee was formed to
distribute these invitations with the
greatest care to persons who would lie
responsible for every ticket; that is,
they gave no invitation to any child
without knowing the parents or some
thing of the recipients history, and
writing the child's name on the front Of
the card, with the giver's name on the
back.
For three days before the festival.
these little "guests" could come to the
clothing room, and from the donations
made by the members" receive boots,
shoes, dresses, hoods. trousers and Jack.
ets-whateyer they needed TO present
neat and orderly appearance at the
Let us look into the city hall at half.
past one,. on the afternoon of Holy In.
nocent's day, December 2sth, the most
fitting day for this children's feast.
The gallery is reserved for those MEM
6ers of the club who have no work TO do
during that afternoon. But besides
these, no other spectators are admitted
TO the hall; no grown persons, except
the committees who are to assist during
the festival in various ways. The stage
supports lofty tree, decorated that
morning by the members, while, on
tables behind, are heaped presents for
six hundred children. Around the edge
of the hal, eettees have been placed for
the guests, while the entire center is
converted into dancing hall.
Thirty long tables are loaded with all
that makes Christmas dinners the best
in the year. Ten plates are laid at eaS1
side of those tables. A lady is standing
at the foot Of every table; a member Of
the club stands at either side as "waiter, :"
to see that no guest lacks anything.
In the anteroom, the reception com
mittee, consisting of fifteen bows and
fifteen girls, under the direction OF a
gentleman who has consented to take
charge OF the guests, await the arrivals.
Looking dowa the broad staircase, we
see the lower hall filled with children,
whose eager, upturned faces are reward
enough for all the labor.
SuOn the six hundred have had hats
and caps and cloaks safely checked, and
marshaled in thirty lines OF twenty, each
line headed by one of the reception
committee. The doors are thrown omen,
the band plays a march, and the long
procession files in-twenty girls, then
twenty boys; up and down, in and out,
through the six long aisles. betwe. n the
tables, and twice around the hail before
the last one has entered.
such line OF faces, beaming with ioy
or timid with bewildered awe; rough
hair smooth to-day; grimy hands clea ily
no disorder, as rank after rank enters,
and the quick ewes take in tie beauty oj
the Christmas garlands, the towering
tree, and, best of all, the good will and
love radiatiEg from every face.
Among the presents sent in was a
large doll, handsomely dressed to which
was pinned this note:
there is any little lame girl at the
festival, this doll is for her"
AS the line wound along, q tender
murmur ran through the hall, for there,
leaning on clutches, came q lame girl,
and every boy and girl whispered on tho
instant, ''That doll is for her"
The children stood around the tables.
the leaders taking their places at the
head.
The musicians lay aside their instru.
ments, and'a deep quiet rests upon
those ranks of children, as the president
OF the club rises and extends the Oh, ist.
mas greeting of the Children's Christ.
mas Club to its Ruests.s
After that clergyman took them
back to that day, eighteen hundred and
eighty.tw years before, when the great
and cruel King Herod sent out his de.
cree that every child under two wears
Old should be put to death, and his exc.
cutioners went forth and slaughtered
every one; out the little Christ-child vas
saved. Saved for what? To live to teach
people that little children are precious o
their Heavenly Father, and that in
every little child is something that will
live forever-the price of which is far
above rubies.
The band then played gayly, and the
guests WOO had waited so patiently and
the feast.
Every plate had been previously filed
with a generous supply Of turkey or
chicken, and every table had an u ofail.
ing source of ham, tongue, pickles, cake
and pie. and for nearly an hour the lit
tie hosts and hostesses served their
guests before conducting them to the
settees awaiting them.
You can judge best whether the din
ner was appreciated, by my telling you
OF one little girl who, when asked il sh..
preferred chicken or turkey, replied,
II amt never tasted chicken;" and of
the boy. who put aside. In q little pile
beside his plate, the incest part of ey-
erything given him. When asked il she
did not want to eat that, looked up shy
~, saying. "Please may I carry that
ZONE to mother? She's sick"
While the children are marching
around to their seats, those thirty tables
disappear as If by magic, caught up bv
ready hands, leaving the floor clear for
games and amusements.
Where were the most eager faces-
among the members" in the gallery of
the guests" about the hall? Which
were the happier?
think there was no difference. for
when our hearts are full to the brim with
Joy, they can hold no more, and If
screams and peals Of laughter, and quick
clapping Of hands, mean joyousness.
they were both as happy as they could
be.
There was so much to enjoy!
A little girl recited beautifully mTwas
the night before Christmaa:U a nueer