The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1888-01-01

presence Christmas would surely be IN
complete, and under this arch the in
vited ones passed on up to the front pi-
azza, where Mr.. Allen stood with n
smile of welcome and friendly hand
shake for all.
A long table had been placed In the
grove and on this the toothsome viands,
which were various and plenteous, were
being placed by Mrs Allen, the hostess,
and her able assistants Miss Clendenning,
Mrs Davis and others. During the
meantime the guests had formed into
groups and were discussing various
topics, mainly those pertaining to Christ
mas events. The boys heard the girls
express a desire for jumping rope, and
they Immediately set forth and began to
scour the woods in search of a good
grapevine, which was soon found After
bringing it to the house and presenting
il to the girls, the two combined forces
and sought smooth spot in the grove,
where the old but ever popular sport of
dumping the rope" was INDUCED in.
While this was being done the table had
been loaded and the dinner call given,
and as there 'twixt fifty and hundred
guests were present and there was not
room for all at the table at once, the old
maxim ''age before beauty" was car
ried out, and a majority of the old folks
sat down to the bountiful feast They
having finished, a second call was
sounded and the grapevine was discarded
and they who had waited until the table
was spread a second time now came to
the 'front.' Purlow seemed to be the
favorite dish with the boys, although
every one who was so blind and trusting
as to surrender dish of victuals to their
tender mercies generally had said dish
returned void and empty. Miss Glen
denning showed much ability as base
ball pitcher if we are to judge by the
| reatness and accuracy with which she
threw oranges to many at the table,
| which she was justified in doing, as 1T
was too much trouble to 20 round and
| distribute.
After the dinner was over with the
jumping rope was again resorted TO, and
| soon both young and old were Jump
| ing the rope" Much merriment was
| thus created, and, as there were two
ropes going, the fun was immense. We
must say, however, that Mrs. Eddie
| Williams was the most graceful of all
the '.rope Jumpers though she was
nearly equalIed by several others.
| No untoward event occurred to mar
the pleasure of the day, excepting one
| 4 he first tn M
the planks used as a seat gave way in
the center just after a number of the
guests had seated themselves thereon,
precipitating them to the ground very
suddenly, and giving Mrs. Middleton a
bruised arm.
1t had been threatening to rain nearly
all day, but the rain gods took compass
sion upon the assemblage, and merely
let fall a few drops to remind the Moul-
.rieans of their existence.
After wishing Mr.. and Mrs. Allen a
merry Christmas, a long life and happi-
ness unbounded, the company broke up
and its members sought their homes.
Through the kindness of MIR. Dick Will
liams, we are enabled to present list of
those who attended the dinner, and
which reads thus, there being ten States
represented, and one representative OF
.sour cousins across the pond = The
granddaughter of MIR. Allen and wife;
and her husband ! Mr.. and Mrs. Wells,
Mrs. Hughes and daughters Mr.
Urich and family; MIR. Stevens, wife
and children Mr.. Erwin, wife and son
Mr.. and Mrs. and Miss Matte Var
Sickle. and her brother, Ora; Mrs. Davis
and children; Mr.. Middleton and family
) Mr.. Cole; Mr.. Andrews and wife; Mr.
Roberts and family; Mrs. Smith and son
Mr.. Williams and wife and two grand
children; Mr.. Nichols and wife; MIR
Fripp. son and daughters: Miss Clenden
ming and her mother; Mr.. Fuquay anC
family; Mr.. Elderton and family
: Rannie Hough. Mr.. and Mrs Ed
die Williams are late arrivals from thu
North.
The Christmas entertainment at thu
Methodist Episcopal Church on. Christina
Eve is also something of which we mus
speak. the church was decked will
evergreens and the pulpit was trans
formed into a speakers platform. Their
was an abundance of cake, which wa
, furnished by the ladies of Moultrie, an
( popcorn and nuts in such profusion tina
0 the juvenile hearts were said To beat Ink
e SO many imprisoned birds would If shu
4 in a cage. The exercises opened wit
4 the song OF Joy to the World, followe
: by reading from the Scriptures b
It Rev. E. T. r. Fripp, which was in tur
v followed by a prayer by MIR. John Aller
9 Then the song open the Door for tn
Children" was sung, followed by n
J. sponsive service by the Sunday schoc
IS and its superintendent Following tn
> came the song, IAN Hail" wit
d the following recitations and resi-
n ings in their respective order; =
y Christmas Story" a reading by Mi'
is Sadie NJ. Clendenning; "Christm;
20 Hvmn,-a recitation by Miss Lulu Nil
If dletou: Christmas Pictures, recitatio
by Miss Grace Hall 'Our Royal Chris
Is mas Gift song by the choir; recitation
70 ..Giving and Living by Lawrence ID
,e Wis; a song by Messrs- Whitford an
d Kimball; reading by Miss Matte Va
,e sickle. Christmas Monoiogue;" recit