The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-24
CHRISTMAS TREE WAS
LADEN WITH GIF rs
Children of ST. PauPs Sunday School
Are Entertained BY Teachers and
Santa Claus.

Yesterday afternoon in st. Pauls nan
at 3 o'clock a Christmas tree and enter
tainment was given to the Sunday school
children of st. Pauls parish the hali
was taxed to Its utmost capacity to ac-
commodate the crowd which was present
over five hundred happy, noisy young
sters, all dancing with delight In antlcl-
patton of the visit which Santa Claus
had promised TO make, thronged the
building, ard many grown people were
also In the assemblage.
The exercises began with chorus
with Hearts Truly Grateful" sung by
the children of the Sunday school In
a manner to make the spirits rise to the
stars, after which regular programme
was rendered. The last number on the
programme was a song by the children
santa Claus Is Come and as the hnal
notes died away, Santa Claus himself
accompanied by four courlers, appeared
ON the scene carrying immense bundles
of toys on their backs, while the young
steers fairly screamed with delight.
Old SANITY" and his couriers bowed
down under the weight of their loads
forced their way through the crowd to
the platform at the end of the hall where
an immense tree, laden with presents and
ablaze with countless electric lights.
spread its branches
Raising his voice high over and above
the din Santa Claus proceeded to call ont
the names of the children as he took the
presents from the tree, and away back in
4 I.a "a N
of the children as they answered. santa
Claus has a present for Minnie Smith; Is
she here?" Here | am and then a
little tot of six or seven would edge her
way through the crowd and thank the
kindly faced old gentleman who handed
her a doll or box Of condy. A little girl
aged 1, a daughter of Mr.. Theodore Poull
insisted on speaking to Santa Claus
SANITY" said she, looking UP with love
and admiration at the good old man, "did
YOU get the letter ! wrote you last
night?" II certainly did" said he. "Wil
you send me the doll [ asked you for?'
she continued. MY dear little child"
said Santa. taking her hand. hang up
your stocking beside the fire tomorrow
night and you'll find more than the doll
| there on Christmas morning.
More than two hours time was required
to distribute all tho presents, and never
was there happier gathering of children
| than that which left for their homes as
| the shades of evening gently fell upon
| the city and the bright fires lighted up
| the households to which they returned,
their hearts filled with the joy Of the
| festival season.
This was the programme rendered dur
ing the afternoon
Chorus-"With Hearts Truly Grateful"
! Children of Sunday school.
| Observation-Disclosures Thornton.
| Christus--Marie Mcclure.
observation-disclosures Thornton.
Merry Christmas Mamie OBrien.
| Chorus-"Merry Christmas to All"
Sunday school children.
| Violin Solo-"Little Orphan Annie"
| Aerostie-Sehool children.
Recltation-"A Beautiful Legend" Nora
| Dennis
Doll Song-Twenty-five little girls.
Chorus-"Santa Claus Is Come
/ The entertainment was arranged and
carried out under the direction of Mrs
r. y. Wheeler. superintendent of the
Sunday school classes. assisted by about
forty young ladies who act teachers.
The part of Santa Claus was acted by
c. c. Fleming, and his courlers were
Tom Melton oByrne. Edgar Thornton,
! Vincent OBrien and Joe Meighan
| In speaking of st. Pauls Sunday school
Mrs. Wheeler said 1T was the largest
class In the state of Alabama, there be-
| ing at present an average attendance of
over five hundred children.