Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-12-31

light gave an antique look to the room
Tue exercises opened with prayer by tn
Rev. F. X. Graves, and the Christmas can
tata, 'Santa's Surprise Party" followed
Miss Ella Bailey presiding at the organ il
a very acceptable manner. The opening
chorus by the children and "The Doll,
! Lullaby by Miss Stella Morse were wei
received. The bright girls who acted al
walters performed their duties very nice
ly, and the "Merry Brownies" Ernes
Drew, Osborne Graves, Pearl White, An
son Burroughs and Gilbert Fortin, ga
mirthful touch to the program. The
song, "Lonesone Lutte Nicholas" by
Glen Bailey was good, and pretty reel
I tation. entitled ssThe INCEST Birthday, ,
was given by Maud Putnam Tue super
intendent of the Sunday school, DIR. A. c.
Bailey, made an ideal Santa Claus and
sang the selection, "Home, Sweet Home, =
in his usual fine manner. The duet,
"Grateful Hearts," by Santa Claus and
Mrs. Santa Claus miss Nellie Wyman)
was rendered with feeling, while "Fairy
\ Whispers" by little girls in star -decked
dresses was like glimpse OF the elves.
/ The cantata ended with tableau, Santa
Claus standing with outstretched hands,
Mrs. Santa Claus beside him, and the chill
dren and fairies kneeling and gazing at a
star that was seen through an elevated
window opposite, while a quartette sang
| softly "Jesus Is Born" The exercises
closed with the distribution of gifts from
the Christmas tree, and surely no other
tree bears such precious fruit or flashes
such a wealth of color as the sombre fir
at Christmastide.
There was a large number present at the
Baptist church to hear the cantata, skiing
Winter" The curtain opened showing
the court of Winter draped in white, with
evergreen trees laden with snow, and the
Ii. l.
and cushions. Mr.. John Hutchinson,
with flowing beard ana wearing a cloak
of ermine and crown resting on the
whitest of hair, took the part of king. At
the sides, as the kings pages, stood Homer
Rogers and Clyde Cassidy in suits OF pink
and white, the rest of the court being
filled with a chorus of attendants. All
Joined in a chorus of welcome to Christ
mas, and the king, in fine solo, told the
story OF old. Misses Winnie Chadwick,
Mabel Wadleigh, Mamie Hutchinson and
Lizzie Holman, representing JOY, Mirth,
Hope and Love, in a quartette, were fol-.
lowed by solo from Miss Chadwick, a
duet from Misses Hutchinson and Hol-
man, and song from Miss Wadleigh, in
their several parts. Santa Claus was then
called and, upon his agreeing to further
the fun, the chorus burst into grand
glee with sleighbell accompaniment
Scene second discloseda group of young
people trying TO keep awake for Santa
Claus, and passing the time away by writ.
ing their wants in letters TO the old saint
all writing in rhyme-when there en-
tered slyly the Dream Fairy Mrs. John
Hutchinson). dressed in flowing gown
OF blue, and, waving her wand, she sang
the beautiful solo of FEATHER, o Hear Me,
at which the back curtain opening dis
closed the Queen of Slumberand Miss
Lucy Wall and her court ladies, who
sang a response that was followed by
Cradle Song in chorus. The queen wore
court dress OF pink gauze, trimmed with
silver stars, and on her head was a silver
crown. Colored lights were thrown on
this scene. giving beautiful effect. San
ia Claus, arriving, gave the sleeping chill
dren each a present. Scene third opened
with a chorus OF small children ci-cling
round Christmas ttee and singing, when
in came Santa Claus to join in the fun
but, stopping suddenly, ne cracked his
whip, and he second curtain rolling back
revealed the combined courts of Winter +
and SUNDERLAND. the king and queen
seated upon the throne, and all voices /
in grand final chorus. Nearly
forty young people took part in this can (
tata the role of Santa Claus being played .
particularly well by Willard Holman.
Much credit is due to the committee on /
music and also to Miss Mary Dubois, who /
nhu tudTKt VI tHt HAdEN
A Afterwards, all betook themselves to the I
chapel to see the unloading of the trees.
The Christian church had a unique and I
decidedly novel program for Christmas.
The service commenced with a voluntary +
and opening prayer, and three espe-
,ially fine anthems were rendered by the
choir. Misses Hortense Peters and
-ieneive Lamson gave brief but pleasing
and Mrs. Emma Peters and
NJ iss Emogene Buck read two appropriate
selections, the former choosing 1.-The
Christmas Tree" and the latter "Annie
ind Willie's Christmas Prayer" quar-
cite, composed of Charles Stevens, DIR.
md Mrs. @. A. Wheeler of White River
Junction and Miss Grace Lamson, con-
ributed greatly to the musical excellence
II the exercises. At intervals during the
service messages were received over the
of Santa Claus progress toward
an office being arranged right
here in the church and managed by the
superintendent, DIR. Blan-
hard, with whom the novel scheme origl-
lated. AS there was no sleighing this
lear, Mr.. and Mrs. Santa Claus arrived on
bicycles, wheeling from the vestibule
Town the aisles to the pulpit platform
md creating quite an impression by their
unusual appearance. Evidently RENDERS
ire out, and the Claus family is iiicted
With the general leaning toward pro-
yressive ideas. The cyclers, MIR. Will
Ryder and Miss Winnie Mann, were fine
y costumed for the characters which they
represented. After the exercises in the
,hurch, the congregation repaired to the
'estry to listen to a very pretty opening
ong by thirty children of the primary
lass, a solo by MIR. Charles Stevens, duet
" M isses Grace Lamson ana Louise Hast
ngs, aud several selections from Curtis
rchestra. In the room were two trees
oaded with popcorn and oranges but
10 presents, the latter being distributed in
more surp ising manner. A cable car,
learly the size of Boston street car,
nd the ingenious contrivsnce OF Mr..
Will Wood, rolled Unexpectedly into the
estry. 1t was heavily freighted with
lifts, and in it were seated Mr.. and Mrs.
ANITA Claus, while the conductor, Mr..
Vood, directed its progress and iingled |
he electric bell most naturally. The
DOM was crowded with people, the num-
er present being estimated at something
Ike three hundred.