Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-01-03
CHRISTMAS FESTIVALS.
How the Sunday Schools of Shepherdstown and
Vicinity Celebrated the Holiday Season.

Vicinity Celebrates the Holiday Season.
The Christmas cantata, eThe Birth of
Christ" was very acceptably rendered
in the town hall on Christmas eve by the
Lutheran Sunday school of this place
under the skillful direction Of Rev. G.
Fl. Rockey, who trained the performers
and managed the entertainment with
the most pronounced success in every
particular and to the entire satisfaction
and pleasure of the audience and partic-
ipants The hall was filed to the doors
with an appreciative audience, whose
frequent applause showed how well the
people were pleased with the perform
ance There were seventy persons In
the chorus, and the voices were support
ed by two pianos played by Miss Ella
Kelsey and Madame Ruhl. of Charles
town, S. p. Humrickhouse and 0. E.
Spohn cornetists, and G. W. Humrick-
house and Rev. Hockey, violinists. The
stage was appropriately and prettily
decorated.
The cantata opened with spirited
chorus. Following this was pretty
solo by Miss Fannie Licklider, who then
led quartette with Mrs. NJ. E. Spohn
NJ. L. Eichelberger and 7. J. Dale. The
next scene was a striking and beautiful
one, showing the announcement TO the
shepherds of the birth OF the Saviour
by the angels. The stage was partly
filed with dark fir trees, among which
were seen the shepherds in picturesque
oriental costumes. These were repre-
sented by NJ. E. Spohn, William Black,
Fl. NJ. Turner and Fl. L. Snyder, each
of whom had solo, joining in a quar-
tette. The announcement was a beau
tiful solo. particularly well rendered by
Mrs. C. H. Hockey, whose every word
was distinctly enunciated. Miss Lille
Kerney was the second angel and her
solo was followed by an extremely pref
ty duet by the two angels. Soft chant
ing behind the stage added to the erect
of this scene, which was closed with the
hallelujah chorus. Miss Ada Wilson
sang well the Star solo, and Miss Irene
Humrickhouse as guardian angel also
had very pretty solo.
Part second opened with a sprightly
chorus, in which many tiny bells were
rung by a group Of children with fine
effect. Miss Sallie Miller as Faith, Miss
Daisy Line as Hope, and Mrs. NJ. L.
Spohn as Charity, sang solos beautifully,
closing with most melodious trio. Ten
little flower girls in beautiful costumes
then marched upon the stage, singing as
thew came, making an exceedingly pref
tv picture. Almra Marten sang the
crowning song as solo while Charity
was crowned queen. Mrs. Spohn with
her usual excellence sang a fine solo,
There is joy" and the scene closed
with the ring chorus.
Then the Frost King appeared in
glittering winter costume and had some
fun with the children who mistook him
for Santa Claus. Perhaps the prettiest
scene of all was when four sweet little
girls knelt at the mothers knee and sang
a touching little prayer, Now | lay me
down to sleep" Then they hung up
their stockings, toddled to their beds in
bare feet and night-gowns, and were
soon snugly tucked away. The children
who did this part so we'll were Elizabeth
Spohn, Rachel Turner, Alice Billmyer
and Mary Pendleton. Miss Bessie Will
son as Goddess of Dreams and Miss
Katie Johnson as Goddess of Love ap-
peared on the scene and sang sweetly
over the sleeping children, and Miss
Leila Reinhart appeared as an angel to
watch them as they slept. The curtain
rose upon the same bedroom scene
again, and Santa Claus-most cleverly
represented by II. NJ. Turner-appeared.
He filed the stockings, and as he de-
parted the children awoke and scram-
bled out Of bed to examine their stock
ings They brought down the house
by the natural way in which they took to
their presents. A group of children
sang a chorus to Santa Claus, and that
worthy again appeared, and joined them
in some effective rendering of solos and
choruses. Then all of the performers
appeared upon the stage, and the audi
ence arose and joined in singing the
grand old doxology, Praise God from
whom all blessings flow"
The performance was smoothly and
prettily rendered in every respect, and
reflected much credit upon the efficient
leader and all who participated. The
costumes were all handsome, some of
those worn by the ladies being particu-
larly beautiful.
Monday night the cantata was rem
dered to large audience in the hall at
Uvilla. On Friday night Of this week,
in response to numerous requests, ii
will be repeated in the town hall in
Shepherdstown.
Thursday evening the Lutheran Sun
day school had Christmas social and
''nickle-harvest" service combined. In
the upper room there was an interesting
service, after which the smaller scholars
were treated to candy and oranges. The
older scholars, the teachers and friends
of the school adjourned to the lower
room, where coffee and cake were served
and most enjoyable evening was spent.
The nickle harvest yielded 1927.
The Christmas exercises of the Pres
byterian Sunday school in Shepherds