The morning news., 1899-12-23
SANTA CLAUS AHEAD OF LIME.
HUNG PRESENTS ON HALF A DOZEN
CHRISTMAS TREES YESTERDAY.

Little Tots at the Baldwin Free Kim
dergarten Had the First visit
From Jolly Old st. NichOIas-TOys,
Candy and Songs for the Children
and the Happiness of Making 9th
ers Happy the Reward of the Old
er Ones-A Merry Time at the Fe-
male Orphan AsyIum-seeond Pres
byterfan Sunday school Children
Remembered.
The first Christmas tree of the season
was that of the Kate Baldwin Free Kin
dergarten yesterday morning. The enter
tainment was unique in every way. The
rooms were decorated with vines and ever
greens, and were bright with paper orna-
ments made by the children. The entire
work on the tree had been done by the
little ones.
After the children had taken their seats
the Christmas songs were sung, and a
Christmas story was told. With their
bright eyes fixed eagerly on the tree and
with look of the keenest pleasure and
expectation on their faces, the little ones
sang just before the presents were dis
tributed:
Once within a lonely stable
Where the sheep and oxen lay,
A lovely mother iaid her baby
In manger filed with hay
Mary was the mother there
And the Christ the baby fair.
God sent us this lovely baby
From His home in heaven above;
He came down to show all people
How to help and how to love
This is why the angels bright
Sung for joy that Christmas night"
Each child had made two presents, one
for papa and one for mamma.
The little ones were playing San
ia Claus themselves The girls
and boys received the little gifts they had
made, and those whose mothers or fathers
We're there presented them at on,e.
Jhe others took care of their
presents until they got home. This was
what they had been planning for and De-
ing so mysterious about al this week or
more, and never word had been asked
as TO what they were going to get or
whether there was anything for them,
Inc unselhshness and self -fo-ge full tess
was wonderful. There was a surprise in
store for each one. First a big bag Of
| candy, and apples and oranges, and nuts
Then came the presents. A tea set for
each little girl, a harmonica for each lit
tie boy. and horn for every child TIL hsn
Bedlam was let loose. Each one bew and
smiled and clapped with delight.
Cornucopias of candy were pre-
| sented each child by Mr. and Mrs. Men
des, and little Dorothy Baldwin delighted
each little heart with bright new penny
With closing song, Goodbye to All, -
! the children departed. heavily laden. and
as happy as they could be.
Among the presents the children had
made for their parents were some very
useful things The little ones had worked
hard and faithfully over them Many a
needle -pricked finger had been sucked, and
many little foreheads had wrinkled over
the hard work, so gladly done for mamma
and papa" The children in Miss Elliott's
class had made shaving balls and needle
books, those in Miss Anderson's calendars
and needle books, those in Miss Pritch-
! ARDS picture frames and catch-alls, those
| in Miss Burroughs picture frames and
! saehet bags, those in Miss Snowden's blot
| ters and needle books while the smallest
ones, in Misses Spring and Daniels classes
| made calendars and needle books. OF
course, the work of each grade was rel
! atively hard. Such a gathering of proud
mothers and children is seldom found
| The children brought donations to be CIV
| en- to those who were not as well off as
| they were, and barrel of flour and bar
| rel of apples were in the collection.
Miss Backus gave each of her teachers
a pamphlet, bearing on the outside, pic
| ture of the Madonna. and inside ''While
| Shepherds Watch" by Margaret Deland
| Mrs. George Baldwin gave each teacher q
box of fine chocolates. while Mrs. Mendes
furnished large and beautifully iced CAKE
| for their lunch.
The horns which each child received
were bought out of the kindergarten fund
but the tea sets and harmonicas, Miss
Baldwin gave, and the candy was sent by
Mr.. Drum, the oranges by Mrs. Erwin
the apples by Mrs. Chas. Hardee anl
the nuts by Mrs. b. H. Hardee.
THE ORPHAN GIRLS CHRISTMAS.