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

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| Up the flight at the left of the stage
goes the long procession, on to the stage
and near that glittering~ tree whose
broad arms stretch out as if to, welcome
them. Then present is laid in every
hand, and on goes the line down, the
steps at the right, and out into the dres,
sing rooms, and then home.
The. lame child whom we saw when
she came in, received the doll sent fol
her; and among the fathers and moth.
ers there, not one can keep back the
tears. . q. ..
"They slung me pair O. skates!'
cried one boy who literally could, not
restrain his JOY. It seemed to be al.
ways the right thing for the right child
Was it because they have so few that
any gift is precious?
But even this is not all; for after thew
are wrapped IN their outdoor garments
(Which are all too thin), apples and or
anees are slipped into their pockets, and
packages of food for sick mothers are
put into their hands.
| Thus closes the happy day.
Looking up the deserted staircase, a
little later, gentleman saw, all uncon-
scious of time or place, a child sitting
there, with a doll-her first doll, prob
thy swaying to and fro, grooming a soft
lullaby.
| Will you print all this, St. Nicholas?
Will you ask your readers it there
shall not be other Christmas clubs this
year? If all the children in every city,
every town, and every village, shall not
have one good dinner, one happy day,
every year?
If you will do this, dear St. Nicholas.
/ am sure may give you the thanks of
all the members of the Portland Christ
mas club, who have learned by expert
ence that there is no way SO sure of
making their own hearts glad as to make
glad those of theirless fortunate BROTH
ers and sisters.
Go thou and do likewise.
THAT WOMAN'S CONGRESS.
"A Characteristic Account by a Dele
gate to the Late Chicago Meeting.
Correspondence of the Cincinnati sCommer-
| cial Gazette.
Dear Sue:-You know II promised to
tell you all about the Woman's Congress,
in which ssyou fare so interested, and
which we went to Chicago on purpose to
attend-that is I did, but fSally wanted
to match some feathers and have her
hair banged. She is dear girl but does
not seem to have the remotest idea about
| the higher life, her duty to womanhood,
and all that sort of thing, you know.
1t rained the first day. It was just
| horrible. Chicago weather certainly
| proves that habit is stronger Ethan prin-
ciple, for the mercury slid up and down
| in the thermometer, the wind blew
from all points of the compass, --and all
| this after we had been promised fair
weather.
We went to drive after breakfast with
| Jack, and he would take us out to the
park, although we told him we were un-
der mortal obligation to 60 to the meet
! ing. He said he guessed there would be
enough earnest women to carry the
| thing through without us. l don't like
| to hear Jack adopt that tone. If there
| is one thing women Dug ht to do it is to
encourage each other IN the cause, by
J their presence at least.
When we got back the meeting had
adjourned, but it did not make much
difference, for it was business meeting
minutes, and reports, and things.
| don't believe you would care much for
| them.
In the afternoon we heard paper
you would have liked 50 much. forget
the title; but it was all about children
and drunkenness and poverty and
| crime. It was read by an eastern lady.
They just love such things. She wore a
black dress, and looked so sweet and
noble up there on t;re stage. When she
said the state ought to Interfere, and
women ought to make it their business
r., coo ~ - Colt r;1)oI 70 thu hoo ri
and was willing to do anything to help
the good work. Then there was DIS
cuSsion of the paper that did not hear,
because I was trying ID remember what
had done with Sally's sample of velvet.
That night there was grand banquet
at the Palmer House. l did want to
hear Miss Barton speak on 'The work
of the Red Cross" BUTT was imp ossible.
We had made up our minds to go to the
banquet, and knew that we should be all
tired out and fit for nothing if we tried
for both.
1t was lovely party, and I have sent
you the Society Journal, in which there
is full account.
was glad we had taken evening
dresses With us. 1t was such satlsfac-
| ton to show the world that woman can
| take a serious, earnest, view of life and
still pay some attention to her appear
| ance.
The next day it rained so hard that it
| really seemed foolish to 20 out. We had
| accepted an invitation to lunch, so we
| spent the morning getting ready.
We really ought to have declined, but it
seemed little rude to do that, especial
| ly as she said we should 60 down togeth-
| er to the afternoon meeting. Luncheon
was delayed by calls, and there was
baby-a dear little thing-but she just
would not 60 to sleep, and we could not
leave her crying. I felt really guilty
| when we reached the hall and found the
session nearly over. It was not very en-
| joyable, one can not be interested in the
discussion Of a paner one has not heard.
It is trying, too. to feel that you are not
| living up to the level ofyour friends ex-
pectations. Some OF the ladies seemed to
| think we might have been early if we
hadscared to, and made themselves real
| ly, disagreeable, even after bad ex-
planned how it was. think really the
portion their time justly between their
conventional and their higher social du-
ties. Next wear I'll present a paper On
that subject if you will.help mes
I do think Jack is lovely. ), We met
him in barber shop where Sally went
to have her hair banged. He said she
looked like the wreck of an ILL spent life,
but if she would wear her hat very far
down over her nose he would take US
some place for supper and see that we
| were in time for evening services. I
think men lave better idea of time
than women, don't you?. I, was real
glad he went, for one: of the ladies' talk
ed so seriously and earnestly about SOW
! ing wild oats. There were manYsgentle.
men present and all.*looked, impressed
I when she referred to Darwin, or Hulk.
ley or Spencer, for you know it takes
strong mind to read those books.
On Friday morning was the election
of officers. More than half the ladies
forgot their membership tickets, fand a
good deal Of time was taken up making
out new ones. 1T was after eleven, be-
fore the ballots were distributed. "a list
of vice presidents and other officers is
made out by q nominating committee,
but each member can scratch any name
and substitute another. There were two
or three I would like.to have changed,
but did not have a pencil. AS Sally was
in, a hurry to go for her 4eathers; I just
voted the ticket as it was and left
There were some papers to he read
that afternoon, and a charming teaat the
rooms Of the .Fortnightly, that was
awtully sorry to miss, but We decided
hastily to come home with the Kinseys
F-yon know father does not like to have
US travel alone.
7 feel more and more how important
! it is for woman. to cultivate her mind,
and have come home with a fixed and