The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-24
CHRISTMAS AT KlNpEReARTENs.

Perhaps no where else in the city are more extensive preparations made for Christmas than at the seven free kinder gartens where for weeks in advance hundreds of busy little fingers are fash ioning gifts Christmas was observed at all the kindergartens on Friday, when some two hundred and fifty children en- tered into the celebration with the enthu- siasm that means everything to child hood and which gives a new meaning to the holiday season.
 Those in search of material for Christ mas stories would not have far to look in even a casual visit to one of these kindergartens where inspiration is furn- ished by the groups of children ana no words could paint the scenes enacted there where the Christmas celebration takes place.
 Said a woman, her face radiant with the memory of the delight of the chll- dren and of some touching incidents of the morning:
 Two hundred and fifty children made happy. Is 1t not a glorious thought? And how more glorious still by express ing loving thoughts of others. Yes, tnls is the plan that the kindergartens fol- low; for here even the smallest ehlld at the "baby table" with the teachers help, fashions a little gift for father ana mother Days before the Christmas holi- days the spirit of the glorious season is felt here and the plans lead towards the climax that day when fathers and moth- CTS are invited to visit the kindergarten the tiny notes telling the day and hour being carefully guarded and safely de- livered.
 "You cannot feel what 1t all means un- til you have been an eye witness to sucn a scene as was witnessed by visitors at the various free kindergartens of the city on Friday" she continued. At each kindergarten the spirit was the same, one general plan being carried out, yet mould ed and fashioned to meet the needs as known only to the individual principal. The beautiful green Christmas tree' made to glow with the varied colors or the paper chains fashioned by the little ones' needle books ornamented with holly leaves and berries. plotting paper cunningly cut shaving paper, in circular cases or In fluffy balls just ready for use Ana as the circle happy faces, happy, shining, Christmas faces glowing with the sup pressed ecstacy of anticipation of the pleasure they were to give father ana mother Beautiful Christmas songs were sung by the children, and the music charmingly adapted to the high treble or the little child and the blessed theme that ones soul Is at once in harmony with the text of the season, Peace on earth' good will towards men There IS here an unconsciousness of the conVentlonai inc people speak as If the whole world was A band of brothers, and the feelings of the heart can be expressed without any shrinking from tine thought after comment There was not a dry eye when that father, forgetting that anybody ex- isted except his boy and himself, when his name was called and the small boy reached his side holding high the Christ mas gift lovingly made for father: oh, George, he said, that's not TOT mel
 "His face shone with a radiance never to be forgotten. as he lifted the little fel- low and kissed and hugged him to his heart. Every one felt as If the spirit of that first Christmas Day was stirring at our hearts depths