The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-23

u III
1.-THE presents for our own family were
placed on it first, d on Christmas day the
ceremony of plucking its fruit MAS d Ily at
tended to bv our own CHI Id en- and their
intimate friends Then the day after
Christmas IA new crop followed, for TINS
Christmas tree was "A tropical plant, bear
ing more than once III the season, and at
evening the children of st. Johns orphan
age were invited in n body to our house.
The little crea ures came, and marching In,
captured Santa Claus, surrounded his do
main, and laid eager hands on the loot.
There were warm mittens and hose, candy
and toys for all, till every little apron was
full. | never shall forget those bright,
happy faces, as they came to me, each CIV
ing me a tiny hand to shake in adleu, and
then marched two by two down the street
to their asylum.
"On that day received gift myself, a
trinket worth $4,000, the joint remem-
brance of my husband and brother; but
ssure you, there was not half the pleasure,
aside from the love that prompted it, in
receiving their beautiful gift, that derived
from the be ming eyes aud happy smiles OF
those baby faces; those dear motherless
children to whom had been mother for
one day.
"Do you adopt the tree generally in
your Christmas festivities, Mrs. Whit
neyp -,
Yankee idea of the stockings all In row
by the fireplace 1t seems more like the
right thing, and is far less trouble. Then
one has the pleasant expectation along
with the momentary suspen'e, as he
thrusts in his hand to see what he will
findn
81 have no Christmas Of my own to talk
to YOU about" said Mrs. Fairchild, flor
we have never had any children. But will
contribute my mite to your Christmas liter
allure. if you like, by telling you something
of a German Christmas we had one winter
when was in Brunswick studying the Ian
guage Of that country.
1.-THE family with whom we were stopping
were well-to-d o-though | presume not of
the higher class, since they took in boarders
but there were several chill lren.
"'rwo or three weeks before Christmas the
little ones had call from no less a person
age than Santa Claus himself, who came to
quire all about their behavior during the
year. 1t was their father masquerading in
Santa Clans costume, and it was the most
astonishing hing to those little ones to find
how much he seemed to know about them.
He asked their mother If they had been
obedient to her, and asked them if they had
earned their catechism and prayers. They
all assured him very earnestly that they
had, and one little tot fell on her knees,
and clasp her tiny hands. repeated
her baby prayer on the spot, to clinch her
statement with proof positive es to the mat
ter.
"He expressed himself satisfied and
took his departure, the children not
daring to look after him, much as they
would have liked to get one peep at the
reindeer turnout, for fear he would think
them an unseeming, prying set, and be Of
| Tended"
ION Christmas eve the gayly decorated
| tree was placed in the drawing no m, all
taking part in the happy task, for in Ger
many the gifts are not hung on ths tree as
| they are here. This part o. the ceremony
is left for Kris Kringle, after eve ybody has
retired, aud the presents for each individual
a. e placed in little heaps by themselves Oh
tables around the room, where the tree
forms the centerpiece.
The Germans sev good example to the
rest of the world in their me1hJd of observ-
ing this festival.
Every living creature has his Christmas
for this one day everybody has something
Of good time, if on no other day OF the
year.
In the family in question, who only did
as all do, the servants had their good time,
too. Each servant had his heap of gifts
among the rest; and they had their day for
enjoyment, also; for there three days are
given up to tlis Observation-Disclosures
eve to preparation, Christmas day to the
family, and the day after Christmas to the
seryants