The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-01-10

As pure as snow;
God grant that |
May keep II So
American Teacher.
@
DEAR CHILDREN: 1t seemed to me as if
was never going to find time to write you my
promised letter and tell you how l spent
Christmas, and what Santa Claus brought me !;
but tonight [ am all alone, with bright fire
and no prospect OF being interrupted, so I'm
going to write you n long letter. Tho day be-
fore Christmas the rain began to como down
early in the morning and it poured in torrents
all day, SO l had to stay i'll the house. AS the
evening closed in and | was all alone l began
to feel a little lonely, and sad thoughts began
to come, for l could but think of one who was
very dear to me, also alone, way out in the
west among strangers, with mono to wish him
CHERRY Christmas,' or to say a word of
home. Well, | knew ii would not do for me
to encourage these sort of thoughts, for you
know We can make ourselves very miserable if
we want to, so [ knew the best way to do, was
not to thinl, of the happiness that was out of
REACH but that, that was already mine, 50
struck a light, and as l did, 10 and behold /
was no longer alone; loving eyes looked down
upon me and tender smiles greeted me; true
they were only pictures but they were all my
treasures, they seemed to say, 1--WE are yours
our circle is unbrolten, and tho distance may
separate us, our loving hearts are oven now go
ing out to you in your loneliness" Need l tell
you that my sad thoughts left me, and my
heart was filled with gratitude that God had
spared us another year an unbrollen family.
wish you could see my pictures! q dear little
girl had given me some Holly and / had
dressed the mantle and pictures in thor
Christmas dress, and they looked down upon
me so CHEEKY that [ could not feel sad any
longer, and then / did Just the best thing in
the world to kill the blues, that is, went to
work to make something that l knew would
give some one else pleasure, and | think YOU
will be interested if l tell you what that was
] have q dear little boy and his sister who live
across the street from me and | concluded
would make them some 'Indians p" for | knew
it would please them, and | will tell You how
to make them so you can try it somo time.
You take a dried iig, make the face by pinch
ing the fig so rs to shape nose and then be
meath that the mouth sew in black beads
each side of the fig to make eyes; then stick
your fig on a small stick about as long as your
finger and right underneath it o raisen to form
the neck, then put another fig on the stick for
your body; tho arms and legs are made of
small WIG MlllGu-AAu-ll1l- lLll-T.llAEllS
turn up the wire at the ends for hands and
feet and stick one raisen on; now you are
ready to dress them, n bright piece of red
cloth wrapped around like q blanket and
fasten with big black bead; put red piece
of cloth over the head to cover tho back of tho
fig; put a little red paint on the checks and u
few chicken feathers stuck in the head and
YOU have n good likeness of an Indian | made
Oh 5f'p Il :.
arrows ON his back, and you can make little
''papoose" and tic on your "squaw's" back,
and You don't know how funny they look So
that is tho way | spent my Christmas Eve.
Christmas morning got up feeling bright and
happy; after breakfast ! sat down to look over
the paper and my little dog, "SIce- Vice."
(who you ali know 50 Well,) came and laid
down by me, for had given him his breakfast
as,1 always do. This little dog has BENNY con
slant companion for thirteen years; he never
leaves my side when l am in the house, 50 you
know ! am obliged to love him after stay
ing by me a little while lie went out on tho
font piazza and laid in the sun, and as /
looked at him thought how lac seemed to be
enjoying its warmth and left him, but in d
moment heard u strange sound, and went to
see what was the matter, when / found lac had
dropped dead. need not tell you how sad il
made me- but there came one thought that
gave mo much comfort he had not suffered a
moment from perfect health without suffer
ing he was gone But / miss my little pct
more than can tell you; he was % faithful
little dog and was my constant companion.
Bat ! m.'st tell you nothing more sad, but how
good every one has been 10 me aud how many
nice presents I received. My Sunday school
class all brought me pretty things one "a