Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24
CHRISTMAS ADJUSTMENTS.
suypestions for the Entertainment
of Both Grown Folks and Chiia'e"'

hold but the time comes when they are
supposed to be grown up beyond the oe-
sire for the Christmas-tfee, with It's rlch
fruit OF surprises one of the jolliest
Christmas celebrations / ever knew was
when the grown-up children had Christ
mas-tree In a spirit of reminiscence Just
before the holidays, the girls had been
discussing the pleasures Of bygone trees
and lamentlng that they were too old TO
have a tree. whereupon the mother oe-
clared that they should again be treated
as children In this household 1t had al
ways been the custom TO have CHRIST
mas party of some kind, and so this year
IL was decided that there was also 10 De
a genuine Christmas-tree. Inc lhNl'a-
lions were strictly informal, and all were
asked as little children and tOld 10 Dilns
a little gift to be placed on the tree the
price not 10 exceed cents. 1t IS needless
10 say there were no regrets sent ana an
entered most heartily into the spirit OF
the occasion. The tree was the hand
soonest spruce that could be found, ana
lowered to the ceiling, and its outspredu
branches nearly filled the library. Many
of the ornaments used were those that
had adorned Christmas-trees in the child
hood days, and the many garlands OF sill
yer tinsel had been used i'm decorating az
the silver wedding Of the parents Ehs
lish walnuts were carefully haiVed, anu
inside each was bright new penny Oh
thar wear. fresh from the mint, on which
was painted red heart for good luck III
love. and a little paper containing a wish
or fortune for each one. Any book or
quotations or sentiments for autographs
will furnish these in abundance. rms Is
a pretty one:
Good luck. and may you never know
Aught else but jos, where'er YOU go
May health and wealth your steps attend
And angels guard ul LIES end.
These nuts were closed and wrapped in
tinfou and tied TO the tree with SILK
thread forming pretty ornaments until
they were carefully pulled on by lhe
merrv-makers. As each guest came wiz"
"a raclape. lt was numbered and put INTO
"a bag It was astonishing that the size
of tine package was no criterion or lue
size of the present. An old-Iasnlon'"
doe-knife was brought i'm a box suillciei1-
lv LARGE TO hold bridal OUTFIT and was
tfod with a rope large enough 10 serve as
a cable for a steamboat. AT the appoint
cd time a salycr was passed, from " lii0I
each guest took number ana u,gn
Santa Claus. with "a great jingle OH pe'i7
came down the stairway ana N"7
with hearty welcome.
Then the packages were drawn from
the sack and distributed according TO lhe
members. but all were instructed not 10
omen their prize until an had been drawn
| Then there was fun. indeed. Later re-
frcshmerts were served. The Tree H1u
been lighted at the advent OF SbHlo
| Claus. and fully displayed ats rich grown
of goodies. Bright yellow oranges anu
rosy apples I'm abundance hung rom ilo
| bOughs. Squares of pink, blue ana "Hile
netting had been cut. ana an aio""ll-
/ of candy. nuts. ana raisins hau Deeh Pu'
I'm and lied I'm round ball 10 hang ON
the tree In The diulug-room laIHe
punch-bowl was filed with ice, ana DID IL
/ were stacked bottles of soda water Oh an
colors and hav0rs. Large dishes or balls
of uopcorn and delicious round Dough
nuts were also on the table. There were
plates of tiny doughnut balls IN the cen
/ tire of which was "a big, fat. raisin' odiled
! almonds and peanuts. with olives, COM
pleted the menu After the oranges ana
/ bags of candy had been taken from lhe
tree. il was still beautiful with lls gar
| lands of popcorn, cranDerries, ana paper
rings. or ,,,os-
ent. a king and queen of reyels had Oeen
chosen. and everything they decreed was
done The house was elaborately oeco-
rated with holly and mistletoe, ana u
merry maiden was causnI unGJI t cbiId-
| ter the penalty had 20 De palu IN emu
! hoods faith The following day lIc Iee
/ had additional visitors ln peNy OF H.Il1
| hackhirds of AN sizes gathered up 10y lilD
| family laundress, from the Dapy lh "lil3
| fo The big l0-year-Old. and as they sAIeu
| with bg-eyed wonder az the btaulllul
| troo their haupiuess was increased by lhe
| present of a big popcorn Dal ana d o's
| of candy. ..,4.. ,,.,.,,,
| only the family is present is TO nave lhe
distribuiOn Christina 1--we, so that "a Sood
| man, may be safely counted on Tor CHRIST
| mas morning Each present ls calelully
! Wrapped and marked. The print-shop u
| fraaiv drawn ON for an cOlOrs OF poster
| rauer SO that the color Us often AN IN
! 1arfive 10 rhvme. With each present Is
| "a Uttle sentiment after the Jingle method.
| For Instance. with charming piece or
/ underwear was THIS.
Here's a dainty confection OF lawn, RIB
As sweet Wee, and pretty as your own dear
| face.
with a copy Of the Stuart baby was:
| Here's little Dutch baby 50 quaint and
say my diar cousin what do you think
THE rtue family dog was not forgotten,
as was evidenced by the new collar and
verse.
Thinking bells and ribbon red,
Slip this oyer Dudes head.
A pair of slippers was separately wrap
ped in yellow and pink, and each one
had verse:
Where you find me wrapped IN yellow
You will say. Oh, where's my fellow
And the pink-wrapped one contained
this:
When you find me wrapped I'm pink
IL will surely make you think
As sure as rate
There is a mate.
II IS astonishing that when the jingle
machine is started. how readily the non
sense rhymes run out when everything
was ready. the presents were heaped IN
| a large clOthes-basket and everybody
| was seated on the floor around IT, Dig
| nitv flew T. the winds and all are merry
! children. as each reaches for package.
The name Of the owner lis read, ana IL
rs PASSED over Some times one waits a
| long time for his own thin6s, as each
| one is PASSED 90 It's rishtful owner. men,
when the bottom OF the basket Is reach-
| ed all the packages are opened, ana ali
| r.,ofoa that every expressed or fancled
wish has been gratihed. After an, we
should remember that the true spirit or
| Christmas is 10 remember 20 MAKE otners
happy and in SO doing, we add 10 our
own happiness There is little verse
mat embodies the true idea OF Christmas
/ am no child. yet still / love
Above an saints, old Santa Claus'
For he has simmered down 20 one
The countless ages many laws,
| DO good" Is all his Testament,
"Be good" is an that he commands
! II. eIf.. cha stockings with the seeds.