The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-28
THE ORPHANS MADE HAPPY.
Christmas Tree and Distribution OF
Gifts at the Home

Christmas Tree and Distribution Of
Gifts at the Home.
The children at the Orphans Home were very
kindly remembered Friday and the little
ones had much tomake them happy. Owing 10
press OF other matters, Matron Mrs C. ". Smith
and her able assistant, Miss Mabel Smith, could
not arrange a Christmas tree Christmas eve,
and 50 this essential portion OF the Christmas
time celebration was deferred until o'clock
yesterday afternoon.
The children were kept In the dark as to what
was In store for them, and when the boys found
their play rooEl door locked early in the fore
noon they thought il strange, and when they
were told TO go out on the porch and play they
hardly knew what TO think about the strange
proceedings Something mysterious was going
on in the play room. and although they could
not imagine why such mysterious air pervaded
pieions 10 the little girls When dinner time
came they were ell wondering and guessing TO-
gether at what would be revealed IL the play
room.
AtSo'eiock Mrs. C. (. Jenner, chairman of
the advisory committee of the Ladies Relief So
ciety, Mrs. W. E. Boone vice president of the So
ciesy, and Mrs L d. Clock, Miss Helen Jenner
and Miss Evans arrived at the home and were
admitted into the mysterious room. A few mo-
ments later the children were all told 10 form in
line. The boys knew there wss something in
the air, and complied with aiacrity. The inter
est on the little girls faces deepened, and ali
were impatient The smaller girls, as young as
4years, led the procession, and behind them
came the older girls and then the boys, none OF
them over 10 years old, and from that age down
to whitehaire, brighteyed little tots in dresses.
When they had marched 10 the play room, the
big door was suddenly thrown open
And such a sight met their eyes. a Christmas
tree in the center Of the room that reached to
the ceiling strings OF sugared popcorn were
each limb was laden with dolls and little rock
ing chsirs for the girls, horns, drums, soldier
caps and TN swords for the boys. while az the
base OF the tree was piled up picture books for
all.
The children looked in wonderment, and then
rushed into the room in g frenzy of delight, all
screaming IN chorus;
''oh, It's Christmas. It's Christmas. How
riee,''
For twenty-five minutes the place was a ran
demonfuu Of delighted little screams When
the noise had subsidized, and the first surprise
had worn awsy, the little folks walked around
the tree, and az each new discovery of some
thing new, would call each others attention 10
il in excited gestures
hearts content, Miss Mabel smith gave the
orsie. for all 20 be seated. Instantly the child
rem formed a circle on the floor about the tree.
the girls on one side and the boys On the other,
ana the giving oUt OF the presents was co1a-
Mencsd-
they were sT1i.s OF clothes for each Of the bovs
and shoes and stockings for ali. As each little
tots name vas called be would step forward
and accept the present. with modest little bow.
TIE girls were especially gracious
II was dgy long 20 be reEe1 bered By the lit
lie folks They were not only happy, but we're
rosy-cheeked weII-condi-ioned and healthy. One
little Erehin had fSllen down ana bumped lis
head while psayirg az school He had the bump
hznssaSsai up and forgetting that II "hurred' Me
was the ffyesiesr one OF all
4 coed dinner. having al the candy and nhes
they could eSr and so much enjoyment made
the children sleepy early. and az Ia ceicek
eaeh were draining sweerly OF wonderland II
their trnHdse beds.
TIE charftably inclined Of the city were good
70 the children of the Home and among these TO
whom the laCsies OF the relief society wish TO
the Golden Rule Bazaar. 2. singeruzr. schade
woodruff & Co. and others who made cash con