Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-20

cd In smiles, nodded attention TO the read
ing while with their little deft hands
they glued the cornucopias and pasted OH
the pictures. Where were the SILK tops
to come from? Trunks OF old things were
turned out and snippings OF silk and even
woollen Of bright colors were found TO
close the tops. and some of the young
people twisted sewing silk into cords with
which TO draw the bags up. The beauty
OF these home made things astonished us
all. for they looked quite "custom-madc,"
but when the sure enough house" was
revealed to our longing gaze the young
people clapped their appreciation, while
Robert. whose sense OF dignity did not
permit him TO smile, stood the impersona-
ton OF successful artist and bowed his
thanks for our approval Then the COW
etcd eggnog was passed around In tiny
glass cups and pronounced good. Crisp
homemade girger-snaps and snowy lady
cake completed the refreshments OF
Cnristmas-Eve The children. allowed TO
sit up and be noisy in their own way as
an indulgence. took a sip Of the egsnog
ont OF my cup. and the eldest boy con-
fided TO his father: Now Just know this
is Christmas. In most OF the houses in
Richmond these same scenes were en-
acted, certainly in every one Of the homes
Of the managers Of the Episcopalian Or
phanage. A bowl OF eggnog was sent to
the servants. and a part OF everything
they coveted OF the dainties.
WORK OF sTUFFING STOCKINGS.
At last quiet settled on the household.
and the older members of the family be-
gan to stun stockings with molasses-
candy. red apples. an orange. small
whips plated by the family with high
colored crackers; worsted reins. knitted
at home: paper dolls, teetotums made %
large horn buttons. and n match. whicT
could spin indefinitely: balls Of worsted
rags, wound hard. and covered with old
kid gloves: a pair OF pretty woollen gloves
for each, either cut Of cloth and en-
brodered on the back or knitted by some
deft hand out of homespun wool. For
the President there were a pair of
chamois-skin riding gauntlets. exquisite
ly embroidered on the back. with his
monogram in red and white silk, made, as
the givcr wrote. under tine guns or
Fortress Monroe. late at night. for fear
Of discovery. There was a hemstitched,
linen handkerchief, with a little sketch in
indelible ink in one corner; the children
had written him little letters, their
grandmother having held their hands:
the burthen of which compositions was
how they loved their dear father. For
one Of the inmates of the house, who was
greatly beloved. but whose irritable tenn
per was his prominent falling, there was
a nrettv cravat the ends of which were
embroidered as was the fashion OF the
day. The pattern chosen was bee, ana
on II was pinned a card, with the word
.'amiable" to complete the sentence. one
of the aides received a present OF an IL
Illuminated copy Of Solomon's proverbs.
~ rfn
the pictures came. He studied it for some
limo. and announced: II have changed
my opinion of Solomon: he uttered such
unnecessary platitude. Now. why should
he have said. The foolishness of fool
* his folly'?" on Christmas morning
the children awoke early and came IN
n see their TOYS They were followed
by the negro women, who. one AFTER an
other. caught" us by wishing us merry
Christmas before we could say it TO them,
which gave them n right to a gltt. Oh
course. there was present lor every
one. small though 1t might be. and one
who had been born and brought up at
our plantation was vocal In her admira-
zion Of a CAV handkerchief. AS she left
the room she calculated: lord knows.
mistress knows our insides; she jest got
the very thing / wanted.
MRS. DANlSS SIRANIb Ih@'oh-' 49,
For me there were six cakes Of delicious
soap made from the grease or nam
boiled for family at Farmville; a sKelii
Of exauisitely fine gray linen threau spun
At home. n pin-cushion Of some PLAIN
brown cotton material made by some pooi
woman and stuffed with wool from her
net sheen. and a little baby hat plated
bv the orphans and presented by the in
dustrious little pair who sewed the straw
tooether. They pushed each other silently
10 sneak, and at last mutely onered the
hat and considered the kiss they gave
the sleeping little one ample reward 1or
tho Industry and far above the fruit with
which they were laden. Another present
was a fine. delicate little baby frock with
out an inch of lace or embroidery upon H.
but the delicate fabric was set with fairy
stitches by the dear invalid neighbor VINO
made IL. and It was very precious In my
ewes. There were also a few Of Swim
burne's best songs bound in wallpaper
and n channels needlebook lett for me by
Young Mr.. p, now succeeded TO his title
i'm England In ii was a Brobdinagian
thimble "for my own finger, you know,
said the handsome, cheerful young fellow.
After breakfast, at which all the family,
great and small, were present. came the
walk to st. Paul's church. We did not
use our carriage on Christmas, or, If pos
sible TO avoid it. on Sunday. The sanity
Dr. Minnegerode preached sermon on
Christian love, the introit was sung by
beautiful young society woman. and the
angels might have joyfully listened. our
chef did wonders with the turkey and
roast beef and drove the children quite
out of their proprety by a spun sugar
hen. life-size. on a nest full of blanc
mango eggs. The mince pie and plum pud-
ding made them feel as one OF the gen.
tlemen laughingly remarked. like their
Jackets were buttoned," a strong descrip-
ton of repletion which have never for
gotten. They waited with great impa-
thence and evident dyspeptic symptoms
for the crowning amusement of the day
"the children's tree" Ny eldest boy,
chubby little fellow Of T. came to me
several times to whisper: do you think
| ought TO give the orphans my l. ID.
studs?" When told no. he beamed with
the delight Of an approving conscience.
All throughout the afternoon first one lit
tie head and then another popped in at
the door TO ask: isn't it o'clock yet?'
burning with impatience to see the "chil-
lrens tree"
DAVIS HELPED SANTA CLAUS.
When at last we reached the basement
Of st. Paul's church, the tree burst upon
their view like the realization OF Alad-
din's subterranean orchard, and they
were awed by its grandeur.
The orphans sat mute with astonlsh-
ment until the opening hymn and prayer
and the last Amen had been said. and
hen they at a signal warily and slowly
gathered around the tree to receive from
4 lovely young girl their allotted present
The different gradations from Joy to
ecstasy Which Illuminated their faces
was worth two years or peaceful life"
TO see. The President became so enthusi-
astic that he undertook to help
I'm the distribution, but worked such wild
confusion. giving everything asked for