Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-12-24
OUR HOLIDAY PARTY.
BY G. E. G.

BY GEO.
That we should have our winter
party had been fully decided, but
what kind of party it should be was
a question that still agltated us.
But first let me tell you who eve"
were, and then will tell you what
we did eve" were 81 number of
boys and girls who for several sum
mers had camped out together on the
shore Of one OF the great lakes, and
every winter we had held reunion,
between Christmas and New Years.
Dora wished to have us decide up
on german, but to that the objection
was quickly raised that several of us
did not dance We thought we were
too grown-up for bubble party, and
an ordinary fancy party seemed
rather tame. Despair was settling
down upon us, wnen Harry said:
'Why not have all the holidays
come together? Christmas and New
Years are already here, WAY not IN
vite St. Valentines day, Easter,
Fourth of July. and the rest of the
gala days, to meet them?"
We were delighted with the idea,
and so after spelling a great deal of
paper the invitations were arranged
on the following plan:
lyon are invited to participate in Camp Re-
union, az the Meworth Homestead, on Tuesday
| evening, Dec. 30Ih. You will meet the principal
Holidays of the year. and they will be pleased to
see you in your Interpretation of --(St. Yalen-
| tines day..
With one or two exceptions a boy
and girl were asked to represent
each day, and there were two prizes
offered for the best costumes.
And now, such plotting and plan
ming and general getting ready as en-
sued Every one Of us was reading
cyclopa jias and studying dictionaries
to find out what Twelfth Night really
meant, and who ST, Valentine actual
ly was and how Jack should represent
May Day. Tt was easy enough for 8
girl but what could a boy do?
Harry, as the host, was to be Christ
mas Day and preside over O Christ
mas-tree
Carl was to be St. Valentines Day
and his time was taken up in writing
Valentines for all of us; bat he finish
ed them all-twenty five of them,
each sealed with red wax, with a
heart stamped on 1t.
The party was to be on Tuesday,
and at last everything was ready.
What lovely sight, Is it a fairy
land, or is it the very home Of the
Holidays themselves2 The "big par
Tor" scarcely recognizes itself. Yards
of evergreen rope, festooned from the
ceiling in every direction, making it
real bower. Over one fireplace we
read Merry Christmasr' and over
the other, Happy New Yearw The
floor is waxed and shining. and in the
corners are inviting seats covered
with rugs and bear-skins.
And then this fantastic company in
bewitching and bewildering array !!
Can these really be the boys and girls
we have seen at camp in flannel suits
and Tim o ShanterS? How can I
hope to tell you all about it?
There goes the Fourth OF July. Miss
Fourth is draped in flags and trimmed
with pin-wheels; she has q gilt mel
met on her head, and she is carrying
gorgeous transparency OF red, white
and blue silk. with 1884" on one side
70 on the next, and Liberty
Bell" on the third. ST. Valentine
hands her a letter; as it is only val
entine, let us look over her shoulder
and read it with her:
''To be bound to kings and princes doth often
Hurrah for this, our country for it chose bet
ter par
OF its independent character, you're perfect
presentation;
AS such yoa have my fealty, my homage and my
heart"
What jingling Of bells the next
two make! There is no mi stalking
them. Dick as a Jester, and Fife as
Folly, are evidently April Fools Day,
More bells-and here comes Mistress
Christmas Day, white and sparkling
from the crown of her powdered head
20 the sole of her silver boot; all dia-
mond dust, swan'S-down, and tiny
silver sleigh-bells, she looks the very
essence of Christmas. And beside her
is CarPs little sister, the baby of the
camp, dressed to represent the might
before Christmas" with holly
wreath on her head. another around
her skirt, and on her back are two
stockings.
Hung with care
In hopes that ST. Nicholas soon will be there
And here he comes, with toys enough
IN his pack to ill forty stockings
He, too. is in white, all trimmed with
rabbit fur, and but for his merry voice
and hearty greetings, we should never
dream that it was Harry Melworth so
disguised is he by his costume and
long white beard. Here are the
| Thanksgiving Days-Rob, as stately
Puritan, and Lena, as a Thanksgiving
dinner The dress she has on is over
a hundred years old. She has put GA