Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-25
MAKE MERRY.
Happy Children Gather at
Feast in City Hall.
The Little Ones Have Lots to Eat and
Many Presents.
Christmas Tree Heavily Laden Brings 10y to
the Young Hearts.

NUMBER oil about 100, mad one great
| joyous dinner, Thursday, in City hall.
| 1t was a Christmas dinner with all the
parts, with turkey and cranberry
| sauce. of course.
| To the efforts and able management
| Of the Non-Partsan VS. the young peo-
pie have to thank for all this. For a
long time they have been planning the
affair. and up to the very hour of din
ner o'clock. they were busy putting
on the finishing touches, and setting
things ito right.
Before the stage stood IA Christmas
tree, laden With all kinds of good
things for good little boys and girls.
1t was a big tree, for there was a big
crowd there waiting for what might
| fall each for what fortune might
bring him.
And while the merry throng ate their
ill there was the tree, as big as life
and twice as natural, standing before
| them. just aching to be shorn IF lis
many dainty gifts.
The children gathered in the alder
mems room. There We're some to"
young to talk, even. All they could
| do was to look about in wonder With
their poor little "stumpjacks' just too
| hollow for any fun.
Say" said one little chap, as the
| line stood waiting as only an uneasy
crowd Of child life can wait Say, do
YOU know I've had no breakfast /
wanted ter be good an 'ungry. And
ma said 'twouldn't hurt me to make
room, as | waz Soin' TO have such 'er
feast But where is it ALL and when
are we eoin' ter get at it? Say
| Little Roland Harthorne, he of the
rosy cheeks and blue eyes, always
| with a smile showing through; even
Roland looked the hungry boy all over,
as he stood with his drum waiting in
| the entry for the signal 10 start He
had a pretty band over his stocky little
shoulders. to which the drum was at
tached-and a good drum it was. too.
Upstairs in the hall. all the while
| there was a hurrying here and there
| of willing ones. putting on the last
| dainties, and putting everything in
! order.
At o'clock all was ready. Mrs. G.
II. Cunningham, the chairman OF the
grand committee for the grand dinner,
stood at the head of the stairway.
The eager column then moved on,
winding through the wide hallway up
the stairs to the hall above, where the
tables were spread.
Oh. such sight. There was music
from the piano, at which Miss Alys
| Marble presided with grace and played
| a lively march.
| But the sight of those tables was too
much for that big throng of little
people. They lost step altogether. But
they kept ranks, and there was order.
In across the spacious hall they
marched, in twos. Here and there was
| q little tot, with big sister by his
side; and one was too tiny to walk or
else the big sister thought he might
he afraid-at any rate she carried him
| in her arms.
| 1t was one happy, hungry procession.
And what sight was there, my
children. Tables. long and white and
niled high with the best the land at
forded, and lots of it.
First there was a prayer to thank
God for his blessing.
Then when that was said, the little
ones did what they were there for.
They did eat.
Here was little Johnny. he who had
had no breakfast, that day. He pitched
in with a.vim. He neither saw, nor
heard: nor thought OF anything. He
did simply eat
Then there was my little lady, aged
| s years. with Il ragged coat and the
| face of an angel; so bright and pure.
| There she waited one little minute.
half shy, at so many strange people
about She couldn't wait for long, ana
soon her little hands We're busy with
the rest, making glad music
Thus a half hour passed away.
| Those in charge were very busy. On
the regular committee were Mrs. Z. H.
Cunningham. Mrs. Lila b. Staples
Miss !. c. lie Prohon, Miss Jennie Pat
terson. and Miss T.. NJ. lie Prohon. the
aids were Mrs. j. II. Hobbs. Mrs.
Otis c. Webster, Mrs. +. T.. Newbert.
Mrs. DR.. e. j. Roberts, and Miss Eliza
beth Myrick
Mr.. and Mrs. +. Fl. Beal were busy
looking after things generally, and
! making arrangements for the little
guests.
The several churches which greatly
assisted in furnishing all the good
things. were represented by Miss
Louise II. Tracy. Miss Mary e. Libby,
Miss Caroline Jones, Miss Gertrude