The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-02-06
CHRISTMAS IN THE SOUTH.

the South--Fire Crackers for Christmas.
NV dear little Princeton friends, we
will be pleased to welcome you to the.
Christmas exercises of the Kindergar-
ten and connecting school at Masonic
Temple, Friday, Dec. 20, one o'clock,
p. NJ. .-.. -E# -. r. .%
December: Snr{st Gians.
Well, we'll! you are actually SILVER
ing as we start out for school this
morning. You who have already felt
the mercury drop to 40 degrees below
zero, and, as you see by the thermom-
eter hanging on our front porch, it is
degrees above, this blessed minute!
Still, it is cold, we must admit, and
has been for full week, and as this is
something very unusual for this Sec
ton; they accuse US, ''children of the
cold," of being responsible for this
condition..
We have had snow-the real article
two or three times this month, and
you ought to have seen the children
when the first flakes appeared! They
fell, thick and fast, nearly all day the
5th, but melted almost as fast, so that
when we went home at night, only
few thin patches of white were visible.
Then, a week ago to-day, the
"weather clerk" gave us such sur
prise! It was uncomfortably warm for
heavy clothing in the morning, but all
at once, the big, golden arrow above
the town clock on the dome of the
courthouse, whisked around toward
the north starr State, the snow fai
ries came tumbling down, and by the
time school closed, the boys were
actually coasting on Echol's hill. You
would have laughed to see their sleds,
though. You know they so seldom
have occasion to use them, sleds are,
almost, an unknown quantity here, and
these had been hastily constructed
from bits of board or almost anything
that came to hand. They were enjoy
ing it greatly, however, but I could not
help thinking what a revelation it
would be to them could they enjoy one
days sport on the snow and ice of our
hills and ponds.
Well, those white patches you see
here and there, are some of that same
snow, so you may know we have had
week of pretty cold weather for Ala
bama, although the coolest registered
during the time was but 4 degrees
below zero.
We do feel it though, very sensibly,
and our furs were never more comfort
able in the home State than here on
this particular morning.
We will take the shortest route
through Clinton street this time. It
is too cold to enjoy looking about very
much, but we see the handsome, new
flag, purchased by the patriotic boys of
.Huntsville,e floating in front of the
public school buildings; some boys on
their way to school pass US with their
ears we'll tied up. We meet a few
colored children who almost forget to
show their white teeth in the face of
this cold, which is their greatest
enemy, and see occasionally black
'mammy'' with red or blue bandanna
wound picturesquely about the head,
out emptying the ashes. Even the
saucy little English sparrows are care
fully seeking the sunny, sheltered
spots, and are chattering away in a
disconsolate manner. Aside from these,
we have seen few birds the past week;
some CHEEKY, little chickadees, blue
jays and an occasional hooking bird;
and the turkey buzzard, which is
nearly always to be seen winging. his
lofty flight, either singly or in hocks.
These are about all. By-the-way, this
is not the part of the sunny South
where our robin winters, for I have
never seen robin since coming here.
You are surprised when we enter
the school room this morning to find
our standard blackboard converted
into chimney with fireplace beneath,
and near it pretty little cedar tree,
that is to be decorated with the paper
lanterns, stars, chains, etc., which the
little hands have prepared, and its
branches hung with gifts-blotters,
match-scratchers, calendars, for father
and mother. also some hooks. TOYS and
other things contributed by the child
rem for some little friends who do not
have many of these things, and who
have been invited to enjoy our exer-
cises.
"Donnegan," Margaret's colored
driver, who brings her to school each
morning, and comes for her at noon,
procured the tree for US and we fixed
the ''chimney'' ourselves, covering the
blackboard with builders paper and
Out1ininp IT. with chalk tn ranrosop+