The Newtown bee., 1894-06-15
Affairs About Town.
BIRDS, FLOWERS AND MUSIC.

It is seldom that charming weather so beautifully coincides with the thought that Is expressed by service as hap pened, last Sunday, when Children's day was observed in thousands of churches throughout the land. The opening words of quotation from Lowell, made by the pastor of the Congregational church at the celebration of the day here, fitly voiced the beauty of the day. "And what iS~so rare day in June?
 Then, If ever, come perfect days,
 Then Heaven tries the earth If it be in tune,
 And over 1t softly her warm ear lays"
 In every place where special services were held there must have accompanied them special joy and gladness, and nO- where could this have been more true than of the services in Newtown.
 The decoration of the church was un. usually elaborate and, withal, very tasteful and neat. To those who planned and prepared the floral display, one and all, the greatest praise is due. Above the platform, running from gallery to gallery, worked in daisies against a background of green, was the motto, "Receiye the kingdom of God as little child" In the center of the platform were gates of laurel, and these were con- nected with the words above by wide pendants of green. Hanging baskets, filled with buttercups, daisies and other wild flowers intsrtwined with evergreen, were suspended from the gallery in the spaces between the pillars. As novel and decidedly pretty feature Of this ser vice, brdcages were hung about the room, and the feathered occupants made the flower-scented air vocal with their pure, rich notes.
 Allison F. Smith, the superintend ent of the Sunday school, in the opening of the service, alluded to the origin of Children's day. Though the idea of setting apart one day to be devoted sacrsdly to the children may have been conceived many decades ago, the formal recognition by any de- nominatIonal body was resolution passed by the Universalist convention held in Baltimore in September, 1867. Mir Smith spoke feelingly ot the joy and brightness of the day as real expressions to us of Gods great love, and he closed his remarks by wishing that all might find their way out from the gloom of any doubt or sorrow into the full sum- shine of Jesus smile.
 A pretty exercise was the recitation entitled s'Daisies, rosebuds and panses, by three little girls, each of whom held bouquet of the flowers whose beauty she described. The feclLablOn Dy han- nah Wixsom, HWhat the birds thorght," gave the audience to understand that the birds have deep love for the ser vices of Children's day and sing all the more loudly and merrily then. Flora Lowell told how "Jesus bids us shine," how each dear child of His is asked to do his part in the corner of life's garden where his lot falls.
 There is one incident of the service which those present will not be apt soon to forget. Little Eleanore Northrop was lifted upon the platform by the pas tor, and there, with her head barely reaching the top of the gates of laurel before her, she recited very sweetly ssTm little infant scholar" She fin- isbed. and, holding her dainty handker- chief to her mouth, while all were won- dering if there was another verse, she turned to MT Barker, who had brought her to her position, and remarked, ssThat,s all there is of it.n A burst of laughter greeted this exclamation--it was altogether SO innocent and artless nnd perhaps tear of joy involuntarily sfole down some cheek at the thought If the little feet thus early guided in the nath that leads to Heaven. The chil-