The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-01-17
.CHRIsTMAs T1MEs.
Bill Arp Making Fun for the Children
Atlanta Constitution,

Il
Bill Arp Making Fun for the Children.
Atlanta Constitution.
| I never got thing-not thing. Ok
Santa pranced all around my household
| and left me out at last. But I did receiv,
my share of fun and happiness. They
let me look at and handle all their pres
ents and kissed my face until it WAS righ
clean. A whole barrel of apples came
from Rome, and don't know who sem
them, but they let me eat some because
paid the freight. These children snd
grand children have got an idea that
am Santa Claus and don't want anything
sent some pocket.knives to the little
boys at Rome, and one little chap, whc
can hardly walk, is mad because he
didn't get q knife, and says he will never
speak to grandpa again. His grandma
sent him beautiful picture book, but
the little rascal has got away ahead Of
pictures and wants gun and s bowie
knife, / reckon. When I was ten years
old I got barlow for a Christmast gifl
and was proud and happy, but three
year. r.o!d is too much of man for a bar
low now. don't know what to do with
the generation. One of our grand daugh'
ters told me ahe didn't have but seven
dollars. She wants ten, I reckon, and
will soon be putting out their washing by
the week.
We had q Sunday school Christmas
tree last Friday night, and it was pret
ty sight. The children we're all dressed
in their best apparel, and were seated in
rows according to age. The besutiful tree
reached nearly to the ceiling, and was
illuminated and loaded down With story
books and dolls, and toys and oranges, and
pretty things and the little chaps behaved
beautifully. AS the gifts we're taken from
the tree, it was splendid fun to watch the
eager expectant faces as they waited fol-
the name to be read out. There was a
lovely doll on the top of the tree, a doll,
with angel wings, and almost as large as
sure. enough baby. Every little girl
wondered who it was for, and every one
had hope until the good preacher said
"Children you may look at that doll, but
you must not wish for it. That doll is
for that sweet little girl who has been
sick 80 long, and is still sick. You know
that her good father died the other day,
and she is an orphan now, and ] am sure
that you will all be glad for her to have
that DOLL" And they were glad. I could
tell it by their faces, for they all loved
her and pitied her. After awhile there
was little woody sheep cut from the tree.
It Was mounted on stick and would
bleat when it was shaken. When the
name was called I had to advance forward
aud take it, and the children laughed and
cheered so felt right sheepish and want.
ed to bleat too. I offered it to little
girl but she said she didn't need it. Just
then I saw preacher coming in, and so
I had his name put on the card and
called ont again, and SO the sheep kept
travelling and bleating, and made lots of
fun. A red jumping-jack Was given to
the leader of our choir. He is a tall,
stately gentleman, with red hair and long
red whiskers, and is everybody's friend,
and when he was called up his genial
face turned as red aa his beard, and the
whole concern liked to have took IRE as
the children laughed and clapped their
hands. like red hair and red haired
people. 1 think the rich auburn hair
of the Scotch is the prettiest hair in the
world. I wish I had some on the top of
my head, but I would be willing to com
promise on gray or green, or any other
color. Well, we,hsd lots of fun, and it
was all innocent. Ifanybody had their
tender feelings lacerated ne don't know
it-though there are some feelings that
stick out on purpose to be lacerated. It
was the largest Sunday School We ever
had, but I'm afraid it will not last. Now
the next thing we want for our little
church is an organ. We want hundred
dollar organ for half the money, and some
organ man had better embrace the oppor.
tunity to lay up some treasures in heaven
and get in the papers on earth. We
could get one from Mr.. Cleveland or Mr..
Harrison, for they are both good Presby-
terians, but no don't want to bother them
about little thing like that. The Meth
odists and Baptists can run State Gov.
ernment right well, but when it comes to
running big thing like the nation, we
are just obliged to have Presbyterian;
see by the papers that Mr.. Cleveland is
going to prance around with Mrs. Harri-
son and General Harrison is going to
dance with Mira. Cleveland at the inaugu.
raj ball, but that is just 8 little Presby.
terian dance that our folks call twistifca.
tion.
It is considered orthodox even by Sam
Jones, and does not imply falling from
grace. In fact, it is the only dance that
Grover can perform with alaccricity and
it suits the occasion, as be is going tc
twist out and Benjamin is going to twist
in about that time. I am awfully sorry
for General Harrison. 1.-THE hungry Re
publicans from all the other States are
besieging him like ours from Georgia,
don't blame him for having bis life insur
ed. His good old grandfather was tor
mented in his days and actually dice
from the augers and gimlets that Office
seekers bored into him, and I'm afrait
the grandson will surrender and his las
sigh be,
"Oh, where shall rest be found;