The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1888-12-20

sign the pledge Fortunately, il was
80 early in the season that very few had
thought much about Christmas gifts.
Some they found who seemed decidedly
glad to shirk the bother of selecting eN-
pcnsive gifts for friends OF course the
Urls met with few rcbutls, but they eX-
pected some opposition, and bore it
hrayely. 1t only served to increase their
zeal Now. said Mabel, "our project
i, fairly on foot, and just "a soon "a the
club is fairly organized, we will 20 to
work in good earnest, finding out the
children who are most nee ly and desery-
ing. ''What will be the name of our
club asked Edith. why, it names it.
self should think The Christmas Lin
tied Club to be sure Yes indeed J.!
how stupid am Edith fastened to re-
ply Il feed anxious to have the meeting
fully attended tomorrow night said
Mabel As She arose. to 20 home. And |
am sure it will he" She continued, for |
really think that our Club is to be Il grand
Success"
There was full attendance at the
meeting and much interest even enthu-
~iasm-was manifested The officers
regularly chosen and everything was con-
Quoted in a manner most satisfactory to
the two young orignators of the enter
prise. "Why " suddenly exclaimed one
Young lady, we club member can have
Il tree as the children. We shall want
one to hang our twenty-five cent presents
on This snggestsn was received with
much applause, and was immediately
acted upon. Is was put to vote, and in
very few moments Limited Tree. -
was decided upon. Not an article on it
was to cost over twenty-five cents. At
this announcement Edith's big brother
grayely declared his intention of i'm
mediately establishing "A twenty-five cent
store, and solicited the patronage of all
present,
This created a general laugh which did
not subSide until the chairman with re-
sounding raps and dignilled mien, called
the meeting to order. 1t is to be feared
that this wasn't very bu-ine>s-like
meeting, but was certainly most en-
| joayble one.
And the Club was an assured fact And
when at the second meeting, the conf
mittee on collecting the funds, brought
in their report and full money bags, there
was general rejoicing.
| Then the committee appointed To eN-
pend the funds went busily to work.
Willie the committee on arrangements
set about discovering place wherein to
| have the Christmas Tree, As well aS an
other where the Limited Tree could be.
There was also IA committee on enter
tainment All the while these various
committees were hard at work, and every
thing was progressing beautifully, there
was general under current of fun rs
the girls met by twos and threes and
compared notes in regard to the arrange
mcnts for the Limited Tree. Surely,
such funny gifts, useful gifts, unheard of
gifts and gifts of all sorts, were never
heard outside of the Christmas Limited
Club The committee ON arrangements
succeeded in finding hail not far from
Gray's Lot, which was perfectly suitable
for the children ; tree.
The Limited Tree would be in another
hall in a different portion of the town,
the night after Christmas, it was decided.
The club proper was composed princi-
paly Of the young people; but with quite
Il >prinkling of wisc mammals and papa's,
whose words of counsel We're more ap-
preciated as Christmas drew near.
"Buy useful gifts WAS the advice
from nearly all the elder members. And
uStlul HllIS were bbN8uls bub llltlt WIS
also a goodly quantity of cheap toys pro
! vided, to say nothing of The bags of can
| dy and peanuts and pop corn.
At last the evcntful nigh was come,
and all was in readiness for the coming
of the little guests. And they came
trooping in with biz eyes and smiling
faces Many of them were scantily clad;
hut thanks to the counsel of the wise
81 h.l
hail, they were in much better trim to re-
pei the advances of Jack Frost. Many Of
the presents were presents and it WAS
sight calculated to do ones heart good,
to see the tired faces light up As wee
Jamie Rugged in delight, and at the same
time, a gingerbread horse and Il warm
little coat; or as sturdy little magglr
prunccd about in her new ovcr-shocs
wildly waving Il bag of popcorn with one
hand and dminutiyc doll closely clasp
ed in the other.
After the distribution Of gifts there was
fine rendering of few beautiful Christ
mas carol, which was received with hear
~ applause. Last of all, Il big basket of
apples, and anohthcT of doughnutS, cut
and fried in all possible shapes, suddenly
appeared in the center of the hall and
each child was hidden to help itself To
dOughnnt and an apple apiece. And then
came great scramDling and much laugh
ter, which was quickly followed by
general breaking up. 1t was hard to tell
which were the most pleased, those who
gave or those who received. All, certain
~ went away happy. And the Limited
Tree
We'll, it was in its way as much of
success as the Christmas Tree of the
previous night, hal proved, Edith's big
brothers elegant brass ring and Miss
Alice's gorgeous gilt bracelet hung sng-
gcstvely and ,ntentedly side by side,
and were duly presented by one of Santa
Claus pretty daughters, with becoming
gravity
Many Of the wise mammas were made
happy with gifts of large kitchen-aprons
or dainty-but extremely plain-white
ones. While others received tin pans
towels, handkerchiefs, feather busters,
etc, etc One of the papas was the sur
prised recipient of a beautiful tin watch.
Another received Il drum another trump
ct.
Still another found himself the pos
SCISSOR of most useful red bandanna.
Thus it went on, until all in the hall
were wiping their eyes-"probably over
come with 10Y at the magnilCence OF
their gifts" whispered Edith to Mabel,
as a fat, good natured, eltcrly couple IN
corner, tourished their handkerchiefs
and shook their sides.
To cap the whole, after the tree was
stripped, those wicked papas and biz
brothers set up such din with their
drums and trumpets, that the girls sank
into their chairs in disnay while the WISE
mammas were fain to clap their hand
over their ears and shout an appeal for
cessation of the horrid racket After
this little episode, specch-naklng papa
spoke his little piece to such good
purpose and with so much earnestness,
that many eyes were again moist but not
with laughing this time.
There was something in it about "our
thoughtful daughters" that caused the
rirls to look at each other with little
smiles and bushes and then to look mod
estlv downwards, until there was slight
allu.ion to the wise mammas and their
"kind and valuable assistance Then
the girls held up their heads and gazrd
at the mammas, who were in their turn
gazing dounwards. The gentleman con
cluded with a request. Namely, that all
present who felt satistled-yeS more
than satisfied -delghted with the two
trees, more especially the one of the night
before, would please arise. And they
arose.
Every one in the room was on ms, or
her feet in twiukling. And there was "A
great clappng of hands and waving OF
red baudannas and kitchen-apronS.
After this came music, which was the
last feature of the programme. And all
went home feeling well repaid for any
small sacrifice they might have made, IN
view of the grand success of the some
what novel, but praise worthy under
taking of the "Christmas Limited Club,
There are $40 national banks in the
country with capital of 5000 ooo'oooi
surplus fund, sls5,oOo'ooo; other nndi'
vided profits, 100000, and the out,tand-
L. . II