The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1903-01-02

SELECTED REGULATIONS AND USEFUL
PRESENTS.
Well, this heading puts it all togeth-
err. 1t was all things taken in toto, as
they say, that made the Christmas pro
gram OF the Congregational Sunday
school splendid success. 1t was not
one blossom does not make a summer
or one warbler spring. or course
Mrs Leonard S. Smith, who gave reci-
tat;ons for the children, was good.
We expected she would be, and that
is why we had her come. or course
the singing of the carols was spirited
and hearty. 1t could hardly help be-
ing so with such catchy tunes. Some
one has said that he did not believe
it was right to let the devil have all
the fine music. Well, he got cheated
out of some Of his property this year,
anyway, for these Christmas carols
were lust of the sort the children like
to sing. You do not have to work to
get the children to sing them: they
jus6 sing themselves.
Where shall we begin, for The BEES
columns have much to say about what
other Sunday schools did that enjoyed
their festivals as we'll as we? Let us
begin with the audience. 1t was a
good large one. We often wonder
what those old galleries are left there
for, just to gather dust and remind us
of what poor architects our grandfath-
ers were it seems sometimes: but here
is use for which they have been left,
to hold the overflow at Christmas en-
tertainments. South Britain sent
over a delegation and Hawleyville was
represented in the throng. 1t was
amusing to stand at the door as the
people went out and think of the diff
ferent sections from which the people
came. Jesus was right when he told
us that the entrance into the Kingdom
of Heaven was through the doorway of
childhood. A. P. Smith, superinten-
dent of the school. happily started the
exercises by introducing a telegram
from Santa Clau~, da ted from the Rev
Cyrus w. Francis church in Brook
Merry Christmas and saying that he
was soon to be with them in NeWtOWn.
Mr. Smith quoted from Lyman Abbott
the thought that what was wanted to-
day was not creed, but the desire to
lead the helpful ministering life. Rev
Mr. Barker pleasantly introduced Mrs
Leonard S. Smith of Bethel; and her
entertainment of the children was
simply charming. Her manner is so
natural. You 60 right along with her;
for the time you are the nO-mistake boy
who is remarkably good ''jest fore
Christmas" or the Mrs BrOwnlOw who
cannot explain why her invited guests
do not come. or the Caleb who thought
that wife could be had just for the
asking who would make his bread, sew
on his buttons and be his drudge. When
it was suggested that Mrs Smith had
some encOres tucked away that might
be brought to light if called for, the call
ing was made unmiStakable with the
applause. The selections were all SO
good and all SO fitting that the wonder
was with some where they all came
from. OF course they came from the
repertoire of one who has studied the
what as well as the how in seeking how
to entertain an audience. The chill
dren we're all asked to vote aye" at
the close of the exercises if by that
word they would express that they had
enjoyed the Rotations of the evening.
One or two midgets could hardly keep
back their "Aye" until Mr. Barker had
finished his count of l, 2, 3; but when
afte1 the the "Aye" did come. it was
a mighty shout whose reverberations
must still be ringing in Mrs Smiths
ears.
In the course of the program Rev Mr.
Barker told enough of the history of
children of Isreal to show how it was
that the thought of a worlds Deliver
er had reached the far Eastern land.
He took the children into the life of a
heather girl in India to illustrate by
contrast how Christ has blessed the
life of the children in Christian Amer
lea. How glad we all ought to be that
Christ came Into the world through
the gateway of childhood, and not as
He might have done, as full-grown
man or in Heavenly splendor attended
by the legions OF the sky!
Santa Claus was well impersonated
by George r. Wilson)the little folks
need not read this part). If Santa
Claus with his many years OF happy
labor and many leagues of travel is
now very old man, then, if Mr. Will
sons impersonation is correct, the Wig
or of his youth is not slackened nor his
natural force abated. All the tOddlerS
received presents from the green tree;
and if with their armful some of their
sweets would get out of the Christmas
box, perhaps it was only fit express
sion of their oyerflowing -gladness.
May the happy"thoughts of Christmas
and the kind wishes then spoken not
pass away until the whole earth:echoes
with the notes of the first Christmas
carol and until Jesus rules in the