The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-12-20
Card of Invitation.

CHRISTMAS 1882.
/: C.C.O.
!: George Washington Jones
You are cordially invited to attend our:
At City:Hall, Thursday, Dec. 18th, at:
s: cH1LDRENs CHRISTMAS CLUB. ::
!: No. $40. !:
Let US skip the busy days of prepar-
alton, whom the secretary of the Chill
dren's Christmas Club recorded twelve
hundred names; when the Park. street
school sent in the names of one hun
dred members who brought to their
teacher books, toys and clothing, to be
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 sof @prov,sions, books,
sleds, skates much Z thatswaa dear to
them, given in the spiritsof true; char
ity.
One child could bring "only plate of
Biscuits" another dozen apples for
the dinner" one had no toys at home,
Dut brought a fve.cent piece she had
treasured Ito buy something" for some
on little Teller that hasn't nothin';;" one
took all her money and brought to
her Sunday school teacher, a painted
candy blrd-cage, and said,'I want it to
90 on the tree for some child poorer'n
me-"
And how were the children invited
those:chlfu rem 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 be
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
TIE, 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-whatever they needed to present
a neat and orderly appearance at the
festival.
Let us look into the city hall at half
past one,. onthe afternoon of Holy In
nocent's day, December 2Sth, the most
fitting day for this children's feast.
The gallery is reserved for those men,
bers of the club who have no work to do
during that afternoon. But besides
these, no other spectators are admitted
to the hail: no grown persons, except
the committees who are to assist during
the festival in various ways. The stage
supports a lofty tree, decorated that
morning by the members, while, on
tables behind, are heaped presents for
six hundred children. Around the edge
of the hall, settees 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 each
side of those tables. A lady is standing
at the foot Of every table; q member OF
tie club stands at either side as "waiter,"
to see that no guest lacks anything
In the anteroom, the reception com
nittee, consisting of fifteen boys and
fifteen girls, Under the direction Of a
gentleman who has consented to take
charge Of the guests, await the arrivals.
Looking down the broad staircase, we
see the lower hall filled with children,
whose eager, upturned faces are reward
enough for all the labor.
Soon the six hundred have had hats
and caps and cloaks safely checked, and
marshaled in thirty lines oftwenty, each
line headed by one of the reception
committee. The doors are thrown open,
the band plays a march, and the long
twenty boys; up and down, in and out,
through the six long aisles, between the
tables, and twice around the hail before
the last one has entered
Such a line Of faces, ;beaming with joy
Or timid with bewildered awe; rough
lair smooth to-day; grimy hands clea lily
scrubbed; no harsh words, no jostling.
no disorder, as rank after rank enters,
and the quick eyes take in the beauty OF
the Christmas garlands, the towering
tree, and, best OF all, the good will and
love rai!latirg from every face.
Among the presents sent in was a
large doll, handsomely dressed to which
was pinned this note:
eff there is any little lame girl at the
festival, this doll is for her"
AS the line wound along, tender
murmur ran through the hall, for there,
leaning on crutches, came g lame girl,
and every boy and girl whispered on the
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 Christ
mas greeting Of the Children's Christ
mas Club to ita guests.7
After that clergyman took them
back to that day, eighteen hundred and
or ,txy-f yx,o hof -hn %ho
and cruel King Herod sent out his de-
old should be put to death, and his exc
cutioners went forth and slaughtered
every one; but the little Christ-child was
saved. Saved for what? To live to teach
people that little children are precious t 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
respectfully were invited to partake of
the feast.
Every plate had been previously filed
with generous supply of turkey or
chicken, and every table had an uofail-
ing. source of ham, tongue: pickles, ca ke
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 if she
preferred chicken or turkey, replied,
IT amt never tasted chicken;" and of
the boy who put aside, in little pile
beside his plate, the incest part Of ev-
erything given him. When asked if she
did not want to eat that, looked up shy
ly, saying. "Please may I carry that
home to mother? She's sick"
While the children are marching
around to their seats, those thirty tables
disappear as if by magic, caught up by
ready hands, leaving the floor clear for
games and amusements.
Where were the most eager faces
among the members in the gallery of
the "gnests" about the hall? Which
were the happier?
I 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. "'Twas
the night before Christmas" a queer
hobby-horse as large as life curveted
and pranced about the hall, taking fright
at everything, and convulsing the house
with laughter as he waltzed in time with
tho Toroio sop,o uanf)omon- conO funnv