, 1884-12-25
UNDER THE MISTLETOE.
Christmas Trees at the Episcopal
And Methodist Churches.
A Beautiful Ideal Cottage Garden
GLADDEN. the Baptist Children.
CongregationaIists Have a Fairy
Cave and Beautiful Display.

Christmas trees and Christmas eve cele-
brations were held by the various Sunday
Schools last evening, and despite the
arctic character of the weather the at
tendance at the churches was large.
At the Episcopal church a large Christ
mas tree was decorated with wax candles,
and colored ornaments and presents for
the members of the Sunday School. The
church was dressed in holiday attire.
Around the sides were notices and scrip
tural texts and garlands and festoons
the whole presenting a very pretty ap-
pearance. After a short service the pres
ents we're distributed. The affair was
solely a Sunday School one. each member
Of the school receiving some present The
attendance was quite large and the event
was a pleasant one.
The Sunday School of the Baptist
church had a Christmas house and passed
a very pleasant evening. The house was
made in imitation of an ideal winter
scene. The gable end of the cottage oc-
cupied the pulpit platform. The chimney
and snow covered roof were very life-Eke.
The end of the house was covered with
evergreen branches ladened with imita-
ton snow, and when the interior wa
Illuminated the effect was very beautiful.
Through the windows the light streamed
with that peculiar whiteness noticeable
when the panes are covered with frost,
and through the open door pretty Chinese
lanterns were visible. MI. Pitt Covert
~personated Santa Clause for the nonce
and distributed the presents. Each mem
Der of the Sunday School received some
Christmas souvenir and many members
Of the congregation were the recipients Of
presents.
AT the Methodist church a large Christ
mas tree glistened with ornaments and wax
candles, and presents for the children ofthe
school Bonded each limb of the tree. A
short service preceded the distribution OF
the presents. The event was the blend
ing Of a home and Sunday School Christ
mas tree, and in addition to the presents
given by the school nearly everyone re-
ceived some gift from relatives and
friends. All had a happy Christmas eve
and dispersed to their homes with their
arms full of holiday presents.
The young people ofthe Congregational
church had charge of the Christmas tree
and celebration given by that society.
Two trees were arranged, one on each side
of the Sunday school parlor, and in the
center a beautiful cave appeared. The top
of the cave was covered with boughs and
leaves and imitation snow. The interior
was a solid wall and ceiling of ice. from
which hung stalactites, while a colored
light gave a beautiful and fairy-like APP
pearance to the scene. On orchestra CON
sisting of Miss Clara Stanley and Messrs,
David, Smith and Robey rendered a num-
Der Of selections prior to the appearance
of Santa Claus. In due time a Jingle of
bells was heard from without, and a mo-
ment later Santa Claus emerged from the
cave. Mr.. Fred w. Ransome per-
sonated the jovial dispenser of
Christmas gifts and acted the
part most creditably. Each member of
the Sunday School received some present
in remembrance of the season. The rooms
were decoroted with earlands. eyergreens,
Autumn leaves and notices, and present
ed a beautiful appearance. The attend
ance was large, the entire auditorium be-
ing filed, and the celebration was one of
the most successful ever given in the city.