The Mineral argus., 1883-12-27

Sue Ol LLOEG NAUiIos n aAAl 10 DhC
at the foot Of every table; a member OF
the club stands at either side as waiter, p
to see that no guest lacks anything
In the anterOOm, the reception com
mittee. 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 ottwenty, each
line headed by one of the reception
committee. The doors are thrown open,
the band plays Il march, and the long
procession files in-twenty girls, then
twenty boys; up and down, in and out,
through the six long %aisies, between the
tables, and twice around the hail before
the asst one has entered.
Such a line of faces, beaming with JOY
or timid with bewildered awe; rough
hair smooth to-day; grimy hands clea lIy
scrubbed; no harsh words, no jOstling,
no disorder, as rank after rank enters,
and the quick ewes take in the beauty Of
the Christmas garlands, the towering
tree, and, best of all, the good will and
love raGiatiEg from every face.
Among the --presents sent in was a
large doll, handsomely dressed to which
vas pinned this note:
"If there is any little lame girl at the
festival, this doll is for her"
As the line wound along, a tender
murmur ran through the hall, for there,
leaning on crutches, came a lame girl,
and every boy aud girl whispered or 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 tine ChildTen's Christ
mas Club to its guests.i
After that a clergyman took them
back to that day, eighteen hundred and
eighty. two years before, when the great
and cruel King Herod SEN out his de-
cree that every child under two years
old should be put 10 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 partakc Of
the feast.
Every plate had been previously filed
with a generous supply of turkey or
chicken, and every table had an uQfail-
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
setCees awaiting them.
You can judge best whether the din
ner was appreciated, by my telling you
of one little girl who, when asked if shs
preferred chicken or turkey, replied, .
Il amt never tasted chicken;" and of
the boy who put aside. in q little pile
beside his plate, the incest part of ev-
eryrhing gwen him. When asked if she
did not want to eat that, looked up shy
ly, saying, "Please may | carry that
home to mother? She's sick"
While the children are marching
aroundt ID their seats, those thirty tables
disappear as ifby magic, caught up bv
ready hands, leaving the floor clear for
James 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
ream and peals of laughter, and quick
clapping of hands, mean l~oyousness.
they were both as happy as they could
be.
There was 50 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
the music, some gentlemen sang funny
songs and tod the most amusing stories;
and suddenly who should appear but
Santa Claus HIMSELF He was "'clothed
all in fur from his head to bis feet" and
carried on his back a pack containing |
six hundred bags of candy.
As the sunlight faded, a tiny ray sud-
denly flashed from the highest branch
OF the Christmas tree, and a little voice
cried, "Oh, Bessey, see the staTp' Then
another and another twinkling light
crept out, till the graceful Christmas
tree stood bansfigured, all agleam with
light.
A pretty device had been to tie among
the branches "sun-boWs," as a wee one
called n prism, and the tiny candles
were reflected in a hundred sWaying
mirrors.
A quiet awe had rested upon the chill
dren as they watched the stars creep
out; but as a flood of light burst upon
them from the ceiling a grand hurrah
went UP. Then a strain of music ame
soft at first, but SOC swelling into a
chorus
praise God, from whom all blessings fow.'
Where are the presents all this time?