The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-12-29
CHRISTMAS GONE!
And the Closing of the Old Year IL Hast
ening-Christmas Musings and Doings.

II had rained on Christmas eve, and
Christmas was wet. Wet with a soggy,
sozzly Se,ness that fairly soaked itself into
the atmosphere until every one WAS Cypress"
ed in spirit by the prospect of day of
gloom. But although the exterior was su
per. charged with moisture and forbidding
clouds the interior of the great American
home was all joy and brightness.
The little ones had wakened at the first
glimpse of dawn, and found the evidences of
Santa Claus visit. Ths morning air, Us one
wendell his way by the half hundred homes
was ladened with the blast Of tin horns and
the merry roll Of the drum, with here and
there note from new piano or organ-the
gift Of and indulgent papa to a dear little
sweet SIXTEEN" after the little ones who
is so interesting and so sweet as the ''sweet
sixteen" How she gurges when George
brings in new banjo or bottle OF perfume
and half dozen gloves.
Among our German friends who attach
even more Importance to the day as one of
JOY than do the Americans, the Christmas
tree was omnipressnt. Some were large,
some but few feet in length. Some accom-
modate load Of candies, fruits and nuts
and . cart load Of presents, while others
we're decorated with wax candle here and
there, and few dozen fancy cookies
cookies cut in the forms Of beasts and BIRDS
serving as it were to dispel the emptiness
and take away the attention so long concen-
trated upon the windows Of the toy stores.
Christmas without Christmas tree at home
would be new and somewhat bitter expe'
rience to the German child, for about it
clings the fascination of tradition, which
makes the day 80 dear.
IN THE CHURCHES
Three masses were said at St. COLUMBIA, and
two at st. Francis Catholic churches. The
altar and chsncel were decorated beautifully
at st. COLUMBIA. Father MeGlnnus said the
six o'clock mass, the full choir responding.
At $50 mass was again said Father Ksat,
ing officiating. The last mass was said by
Father Rhonleau. At the first and also the
last mass Mr. Thomas Farrell sang solo parts,
and his voice at the last mass was especially
good Ii was Mozsrt's twelfth mass. and
has never been rendered more splsndidly
than on Christmas morning. Father Nc
Glnnis lectured on the "Nstivity Of Our
Lord He is brilliant speaker, but rather
weak of voice; his frame being too slight
mould to keep pace with his energetic
mind.
The NJ. E. church held its Christmas ser
vices on Sunday, and its Christmas tree or
Monday evening-Cnris,ma eve. great
Christmas tree, fully twenty feet in height.
stood in the pulpit just before the organ
with the organ lights streaming through it
The church was filed to the very walls. Mr. |
and Mrs Santa Claus were present in per |
SON and dispersed hundreds Of gifts. The |
parents of the children whose homes were
happy. brought their presents to hang for
those fresdes less cherry. kilograms
were received from Mr.. ". s Cheeyer, now
ut Hamilton, Ont, and b b, Holland, at
indianapolis, Ind Mr.. Chsever regretted
that he could not send Rev. Holmes dia'
m1nd pin. The tariff for which MIR. Holmes
had voted precuded all attempt. Mr.. Hol-
and had called upon President-elect IIari
rison, and finding picture of Bswman's
wins on the table was sanguine of Bow
mans accession to public Office. 1t was
big Xmas tree time
Tho Congregational church dispensed
with the usual tree, and on Wednesday af
ernOon gave a tea to the infant class, fol
owed by csntata by the Sunday School on
Friday evening. The tea was what the
young ladies' would name a "Dear Little
Thing" Not nearly all of the little ones
we're ont as the afternoon was bluslery, but
about fifty of them braved the unsociable
elements and njnyed themselves as little
mes seldom do. Little red chairs were
provided tor them and they were seated at
ow tables After their tea, which was
especially to their tastes, recita.
ions and singing was INDUCED IN, The
antata last evening was a splendid affair,
md all available space was filed.
The Baptist present was held on Christ
mas evening The entire front of the anii-
orium was turned over to the managers,
Who, with the aid of the carpenters, had
transformed it into huge stage, which they
severed with green carpet. Through the
.indness of Manager Hodkinson, scenery
vas procured from the Opera House, and an
bbey erected About it sprang up a garden
f evergreens, upon these grew the presents.
little child rected the legend OF how the
monks, represented by little children in
oninos, had planted the presents which
we're then ripe. They were picked and dis.
ributed to over four hundred Sunday school
and to the adults Of the congrega-
ion. 1t was an elegant novelty, this Christ