The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-10


left in the circle-wee baby Tommy. with
his scarlet dress and scarlet leggings. Tom
my will not bow. Sylvia tries it again.
with earnest. shining eyes fixed on Tommy's
face, but Tommy puts his finger in his
mouth and turns his head over his shoulder
Bow. Tommy" says one of the teachers
from the circle. Sylvia puts an instructive
hand the scarlet shoulder and bows
again. slowly and impressively Tommy
tries putting both fists into his mouth and
the twist of his head threatens dislocation.
Then one of the teachers steps from the cir
Gle and crooks the scarlet body into the
scmblance of a bow and Sylvia. with a
grave courtesy steps to her place with the
air of one whose duty is done, and well
done
Katy is another of the mites who is worth
place in ones remembrance. Katy is
shingled of hair. dirty of neck, and her
garb consisting of a red print frock COW
cred by a checkered apron, held precari-
ously at the neck and waist by single but
tons. leaves something to be desired. But
Katy's dimples are insinuating, and her
smiles as she stands at the head of the nurs-
cry line, ready to lead ii into the big room,
worth striving for. Quite in contrast TO
Katy is little Macy, with her neat golden
curls her big blue eyes set In trim pink
and-white face, and her starchy red frock.
What did Macy get for Christmas asks
the teacher, interestedly. and Macy is ready.
bod dis pity wed dwess, an I'm all clean
an pity in it," says Macy, with the unfail
ing feminine craving for admiration. dot
desc wed leggings, too, and can go out in
de cold all de time an not Diet cold She
sticks her little red-clad legs out straight
before her and contemplates the bright leg
gings with adoring eyes.
There is the inevitable irrepressible, too,
which every school, big or little, knows.
This time il is Clarence. Clarence comes to
the front when, the first songs and games
being over. the supervisor proposes that the
children shall look for the pictures that
Jack Frost has left on the windows.
who wants to look for Jack Frost
picture" she asks pleasantly Clarence's
hand shoots up. lonely but unabashed. No
body else, II seems. will make known a
longing for Jack Frost pictures. though
Nellie and Francis go willingly enough to
the windows when they are sent Clarence
sees something his window right away.
There are fir trees that look like Christ
mas trees. Nellie is shy. Clarence
moves up to Nellie's window and sees fir
trees that look like Christmas trees for her.
AT Francis's window, on which Francis dis
covers fir trees that look like Christmas
trees. Clarence finds also a river.
did everybody have nice Christmas?"
asks the teacher when they are seated
again. The Christmas thought is the mo-
tive that runs through all the games and
talk of the morning.
Clarence had. 81 got lot o. things. We
got two hankifers, an two bags of candy,
an cents, an little overcoat, an two
oranges, an we went to the Volunteers an
we got SIM oranges an SIM candy"
Clarence pauses for breath.
What did you get Francis?" says the
teacher smiling. Francis wiggles. Francis's
hands, which arc far below his sleeves,
show a nervous movement as he clasps his
fingers round his knee and smiles depre-
eating smile which is the more deprecating
for its partial toothlessness. Didn't get
nothing he says with visible effort.
There Is moments uncomfortable
pause. Everybody feels sorry for Francis,
who got nothing, and Francis winces WISH
bly, under the sympathy. Then the sweet
voiced teacher helps him out. You got a
gift here at our Christmas tree, didn't you
Francis?" she suggests encouragingly.
Francis brightens and displays the partial
toothlessness again. "Yessum, he did," says
Clarence eagerly. He got a fiddle horse
and wagon"
Did Esther have nice Christmas %
asks the teacher, dismissing Clarence with
a quiet smile.
Esther looks like an overgrown, brown
dumping, with her plump little body and
arms thrust into little dress several sizes
too small "Yessum," says Esther stolidly;
then her chubby face lightens with a sud
den inspiration: Il seen Sandy Claws, too;
he had two sacks of nuts and ten sacks
of candy an reindeers an"
IAN fir trees suggests Clarence
Yes. an fir trees" says Esther IAN
/ got little sleigh bell for New Years
too"
There arc others who have had Christmas
gifts and they ere all ready TO tell about
them when they are asked. Some of the
tots have brought little Christmas gifts for
their teachers and they beam with joy as
the packages are opened BY and by the
bright-haired teacher proposes that they
shall have a Christmas story. Somebody
tell US d Iii SlOfys SHt says Jep
don't you want to tell US a Christmas
story?"
Jep sticks his feet out before him and
his bashful hands seek the depths of his
pockets.
Come, now, and tell us that story you
like about Santa Claus" says the teacher
encouragingly.
Jeps chin is down in the folds of his
shirt and his face is red Twas a good
story-but l forgot it, he says, with his
eyes on his shoes.
Bet Jep got his new shoes fer Chriss.
mus" says Clarence.
Then the teacher tells the story and al
the children listen with the same breath.
less interest they showed when they first
heard the story, and the same joy and won.
der when the climax is reached.
In the first period the children of the old
er class are set 10 work with wet states and
bits of wet zephyr TO work out Christmas
thoughts. "A Christmas tree would be 50
nice" says the gentle-voiced teacher. rs
she works out tree on her own slate with
tho zenhyr and tUo Ifftla noiptad ctfctrs