The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-12-31

was only too glad to provide.
And so it happened that on the next
Saturday afternoon the sugar-barrel
stood all ready to send, as l told you at
the beginning of this story. At last
the cover was fastened on, the express
man came, and the barrel was sent on
its joyful way, leaving behind five
happy hearts, to whom the quickly fol-
lowing Christmas was gladden. than ever
before with the thoughts of what was
going on in Ridgeville.
Nor was that their only reward.
About a fortnight after Christmas came
a letter from Chloe Rankin, which
made Phebe's eyes almost dance out of
her head and which filed all their
hearts with gladness. AS this whole
story is strictly true Except that the
names are altered), so is this also the
very identical letter which Chloe Ran
kin wrote to Miss Wearman:
ROCKVILLE, NELSON Co., VA,
JANUARY l, 1884.
{" Ny Dear Miss Weormdn:-The
barrel got to Arlington Station on the
18th. Arlington Station is eleven miles
from here. The joyful time came off |
Monday. You have no idea how many |
hearts you have made happy by your
loving kindness and labor. Words are |
not enough to express the joy.
"The barrel was such very nice |
onel | sat up one whole night looking |
at the things and reading some of the |
nice books. Ererything cas just done
up to perfection. L cried and | cried, |
laughed, and l prayed my Heavenly
Father to bless my dear friend and all
the dear ones who so kindly assisted her
in giving us so much pleasure.
"Nearly hundred or more received
gifts from the tree. had Santa Claus
(and Just let me say here, if had it
and was able, wouldn't have minded
giving any sum of money to have you
here to see and hear what went on).
Santa Claus had two large sheep-skins
fitted on him, boots that came over his
knees, some large dark gloves, red
round cap on his head (the one that
came in the barreD, a mask made of
light-brown paper; it had long whiskers
reaching almost to his waist. The
whiskers were made of wool, and looked
quite natural; the cheeks were lightly
painted pink, the eyebrows were of
wool. Santa Claus was stuffed with
pillow and several other small things.
The little bells and rattles you sent
were pinned on him; his arms were
covered with picture papers; he had
several strings of red berries around
his neck. They hung so as to form
different circles, some falling just a
mite below the others. There were
little toys hanging out of his boots;
ribbons and light toys were fastened on
him.
"The children knew nothing con-
corning Santa Claus or the tree. / told
them / was going to sing for them and
have recitation, and wished them to
help me out with my entertainment by
singing the carols and reciting the verses
| had given some to learn. | strung
some corn and some red berries for the
tree. These hung in festoons around
the tree, the red and white twisted to-
gether.
&c will give little description of the
evening. The doors opened at seven
o'clock, the children recited the First
Psalm, / prayed, carol was sung,
three recitations, and then singing
again, and so on till all had recited
!, (singing between each three).
"The tree is lighted.
, Remarks by Chloe Rankin: Now
children, do you see these pretty things
+ on this beautiful tree?'
l 60 Yes, ma'rm!
"'Well, wouldn't you like to have
something from it ?
, "' Yes!'
g "' Well, want very much you should
; have them, and they have got youl
&, names on them; still, can't touch {
e single thing unless Santa Claus comes
D and gives permission
81 said: will go, children, and lis
e ten, and see if / can hear or see hin
e coming over the mountains. If / heal
n him in the distance, will give you
e sign by singing
e ~ walked outside the church ant
e sang:
!, He's coming, children he's coming!
e i know he's drawing near
n Santa Claus will soon appear!
Listen children, listen! hear
The Jingle of some bells!
U He must be coming, yes, coming;
y Santa Claus doth now appear!
a "And then | came quickly in, fol
lowed by woman who pretended t.
= be all out of breath, and exclaimed:
Ii "' must get out of Santa Clau
way!'
t. "The children begin to call; i
d comes Santa Claus, with whom
y shake hands and introduce to tn
y school Such shouting and laughing
re Finally the children all came to orde
and shook hands with Santa Claus, VIII
IS told them he loved all children.
sc g More than hundred children re
g ceived presents. / invited our whit
S, neighbors to bring their children t
re see the tree. There were about tw
hundred persons present. Many cam
a, from miles away. Many said they ha
10 never enjoyed themselves so much j
re their lives, and would like to come tn
he next night to see the tree and SAINT
Claus again. / wrote letter for tn
H. dear ones who helped you.
s. Respectfully, CHLOE RANKIN"
~ There are dozens of just such poo
~ schools in the South who had n
Z. Christmas unless some other girls lik
W Madge and Phebe and the rest SCI
~ them a box or a barrel. If any {
a' you who have read about Chloe Ran
&c kin really want to to find just whel
-: another one would be most welcom
~ ~ you can do so by writing to Miss Luz
VI low, Hapton Institute, Hampton, Vi
If you do, i can assure you your Chris
IL.