Morris tribune., 1895-12-18

! scripts begun to accumulate ready ior
| the press. Our editors unlike most OF the
| guild accepted with thanks, whatever
was offered them. They did not respect
/ fully decline nor toss headlessly into the
waste basket the production of even the
Youngest oftheir contributors though they
! did in some cases try to show their supe-
| rior wisdom by correcting and touching
4 nm some of the papers before sending them
| to the printer. But then that was proper
editorial work.
For our paper we selected medium sized
letter sheets, with gilt edge such as was
1 then very stylish, and ruled on margin
! neatly with double lines. On the title
page in large text was the name, Our
| Christmas Offering" while in the little
place where publishers put their names
we put this little couplet, Published by
those who love you WELL And printed with
affections pen" Next came the formal
| dedication TO Our Dear Grandparents"
which was followed by brief preface as
an introduction. This began with
| Merry Christmas Greeting" by one of the
| editors, and was followed by the various
| contributions, all told, numbering less
| than score and some were only beginners
| in the art of writing. As tor the articles
there was something OF a saneness in the
tone, must confess, for how could it De
otherwise when W. were interested in the
| satfiesubject After all we had respect
able variety. There were attempts at
| verse in honor of the occasion, a story re-
calling Christmas eve at grandmothers,
with various other articles mixed in to
/ iven up the work, but in all was an under
ary defects On the cover we exercised
all our ingenuity and skill. We made it of
bristol board, ornamenting,th edges and
corners with handsome lowered gilt
paper. The lettering was done by mark
ing in large text the different letters upon
the back of gilt paper and carefully cutting
each one, then glueing them in half
circle upon the cover, until the title, Our
Offering" was formed. Within the circle
one of us painted in water colors boquet
of arnaranth and cedar emblemS OF the
fresh, beautiful winter of grandparents
lives On the back of the cover another OF
our number drew a Comical picture of
Santa Claus, laden with basket of gifts,
from the top of which could be seen peep
ing a book labeled "Our Offering"
The book was hardly out of press a few
days before the holidays came, and then
began preparations for the table in good
earnest There was vacation that week
so we worked at our ease and even the lit
tie ones were eager to help, for we all of us
like Mrs. Stoves PUSSY Willow" had
been taught to be helpful in the kitchen,
and were not entirely unprepared for the
great undertaking before us.
Harry came home in season to make
raid on the poultry yard and help dress, or
rather undress, the feathery bipeds, while
little fingers could look over rice and rails
ms, and be useful in various ways, for we
decided to do all the work ourselves; only
asking mothers advice when it was need
full to do so.
At last our preparations were completed
and our book put enclosed in a wrapper
and properly directed and put into uncle
O1in's care, with strict injunctions to SO
far act the part of ST. Nicholas, as to leave
it on the table in Our grandparents room
after they were asleep, so that it would
greet them the first thing when they arose
Christmas morn.
Well, Christmas came, bright and beau
tifu1. Some who had contributed to the
book were prevented by distance or other
regret. But many responded to our invi-
tation. and early the day grandpa and
prandrla were tucked into the sleigh and
brought to our door. AS soon as they were
helped out we saw that grandpa had Our
Offering" in his hand, which he waved at
us, while his gaze as he greeted us with
merry Christmas, my dears," spoke vol
tIines, and told how deeply Our simple gift
had touched his heart. Dear grandma
could not see we'll enough to discern how
the book looked, and said with emotion,
that she never wished her eyesight more
than on that Christmas day.
What surprise the book was to them.
At first they could scarcely inag CINE where
Santa Claus had picked up such home
made looking volume, but when the truth
dawned upon them they were delighted
with our unique gift, even before it's con-
tents had been read-that part however
came as soon as all were assembled in the
parlor-though we who had performed the
work would have much rather preferred
not to hear our own productions read, as
they must be OF course, to the whole COM
pany. At the reading there was a look of
pleasant satisfactioa-on the countenances
of each of our grandparents, sometimes
merry laughter and then again we would
see the mist rise in grandfather's eyes and
the full round tears roll down grandmoth-
er's cheeks, as our love nlissives, one after
another, were read.
How did you children ever come to
think of getting up such delightful pres
ems for u.s." asked grandmother. You
CO 1d have purchased nothing half so
pleasing to u.s." added grandfather. Bin
ner was on the table in due time and duly
appreciated by our guests, and il it was
not perfect it passed SO to them, / am sure
What" says grandpa, you children
cook the dinner as well as write our bool?"
why mother" continued he, turning to
grandmother, lis not this about equal to
the Christmas feasts that you used to pre-
pare?" To which grandma replied that
none she ever concocted tasted ha1fa good
as OURS, which she knew was seasoned
with love, as well as other good things.
Then they declared that everything all
day had been nothing but pleasant sur
prises,
All was like fairy doings for them, who
supposed their fair days long since passed.
We thought il just as nice for the fairies
to visit the old as the young, and that