New-York tribune., 1891-12-27

,;La orms in arboreal benedicton. ROCKS anu
stumns Il was explained, could be arranged aoou'
,ho haze of the trunk with cotton-battlng snow
Tho whole making beautiful copy OF Maiho
sorcst The idea found instant acceptance anu "
committee headed by Deacon BaococK w"S up
pointed to carry it into execution.
At = O'Clock on Christmas Eve IL IL sca'ooS ."
cxauperation to say that all Ruskin centre was =.
the Congregational Church. The ahair was unuo.
,ho ranagement of Squire Putnam, superintendent
Of the Union Sunday-school. beau'iiui uee
Ind been secured. The trunk was over owo ,eoo
in diameter, and broken off in strlKihs o",nno'
some fifteen feet from the floor lt was noio"'
which had made it easy to handie' tious. D
Dotv had remarked as he hfted lt 'ha' =" "a'
no oil arodest heaviest hollow tree that he
had ever seen. On the srasshhg o"V
osoue bonobs were the many presents, AMI long
,ostoons ~ nop-corn and tnsel and numbers OF
wax candies After prayer by the Reverend MI
Williams. of the Methodist Church. short aa-
dress bv the Reverend Mr. Beasley, pastor Oh !he
ohurcb in which the entertainment was DeIhs
lila and singing by the Ruskin Centre loeet-
hovep Society. Superintendent Putnam arose anu
hooop the usual humorous remarks to the chii-
dren which always precede the distribution Oh une
presents at an affair of this kind. Ohiioien'
said the worthy superintendent we nave d..
-, ,oo bero have we not? big forest
.ro. eucb as your fathers cut down
sor 6rewood. But it is hollow. in which
IL resembles the sins and pleasures VI
this world. How would some OF these orisn'
bovs whom I see before me like to climb TINS Tree
and look down into the hollow trunk! An 1
knew YOU would all like to! Perhaps there H
a squirrel down In that hollow trunk VINO
knows? In fact think that can hear q SOUR
rel down in it now. What little Doy VIII 'o'un-
teer 10 90 down in and drive him out? An zee
hands raised-one two, three, four ho'ie oo''
uisb to drive out the squirrel. But there are no
had. DANGEROUS beasts in our beautiful treesno
There was a fierce growl close behind the super
intendent. and he turned and faced gaunt and
hungry black BEAR which was clamberlng over
tho artificial rock behind him. lie saw another
hacking down the tree trunk, and the head OF
third coming out of the opening at the TOP Inc
audience saw all Of this, too. Mr. Putnam turheo
and as he bounded toward the nearest WINDOW ne
shouted: "Children, the tarnal thing appears 70
be loaded, after ALL" AS he went through 'ne
window the other people got uf ano
fought to get out of the doors' 1.
two minutes the bears had undlsputeo
possession of the Congregational Church building
They amused themselves by eating up the WAX
candles and popcorn, ending the meal Win tnc
nuts and candy put on for the children. Inc
variety of fruit borne by single tree seemed 70
surprise them somewhat, but after good many
grunts and playful roll in tn, cotton patting,
they retired to the hollow trunk They are sun
there, and different plans for dislodglng them are
being actively canvassed at RusIin Centre.
We can only add that we hope the people OF
Ruskin Centre may succeed in overcoming the
bears and get their presents for New Years at
least. And we hope that they will not be dis
couraged over the result of their innovation
Christmas-trees need new blood in them, as we
may say, and Ruskin Centre is the place to make
the first move.