The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-01-02
her work and has been very successful as
teacher. During the entire time she has
driven from her home some three miles ana
has not missed single days attendance.

D0f work ana mas been very SucceSS!ui 90
teacher. During the entire time she hal
| driven from her home some three miles and
has not missed single days attendance
AT the cozy, comfortable home OF Mr. and
! Mrs. w. E. Barker, Dec. %, 1907, was heid
one of the most enjoyable family reunions
and Christmas gatherings that Eye scribe
ever had the pleasure Of attending. Inc
day was beautiful one, cool and fair, ana
all who were hidden to come were present,
unless detained at home by Illness Inc
! guests were met in a most cordial manner
| by Mr.. and Mrs. Barker and daughter, Miss
| Erma, and made to feel at once that sit was
good to be there" To be able to entertain
company of people of all ages, varying from
5to Is years, is an art, and Mr.. and MIS- Mrs
! Barker and daughter are certainly first.
class artists in that line. In conversation
and "reminiscences of the past by the elder
people, and playing of games by the young
er ones, the time passed rapidly until about
~ 80 p. M, when the call was given to
gather about the dinner table. Three large
tables laden to their limit with the most
appetizing viands prepared by skilled and
painstak ing cooks were quickly surround
ed by the 80 people present, and all proceed
ed to compliment those who. by their skill
full work, had made such a repast possible,
dinner in manner to do it Justice would be
impossible. Words would fail in the at
tempt. But as the proof Of pudding is in
the eating, in like manner the proof of this
dinner was furnished by those surrounding
the tables. After dinner all who could DO
so arose, and returned to the parlOrs to find
the doors thrown open into large room ia
which stood Christmas tree, beautiful in
decorations and in the great abundance OF
gifts with which it was laden. At this
stage of the proceedings, merry jingling
and with clatter and patter of feet Santa
Claus stopped at the foot of the stairs,
(there was an unkind rumOr that he missed
his footing and fell down the stairs,) and
at once burst into the room in a typical
Santa Claus manner, with Jelly laugh,
aldermanic rotundity all that the most
fastidious could desire in him. Solomon in
all his glory was never arrayed like this
same old Santa. And when he began dis
tributing the many gifts he fully proved his
identity, had there been any doubt about it
before. Every one present was beautifully
remembered, and some were fairly loaded ,
down with gifts. One young lady was near
to nervous prOStratiOn caused by suspense |
and long continued exertions in removing |
wrapper after wrapper-each one very
and securely tied-until when the |
last string was cut, and the last wrapper |
a beautifully engraved and |
unique gold bracelet was revealed, at sight |
of which she quickly recovered her normal |
condition. Following this part of the pro-
gram came music as IOllOWS: Mrs. Maud |
Hogan, whistling solo with piano accom- |
Master Carl Hogan, songs; Miss
es Iva and Florence Hogan, songs; (the two
latter are little misses aged, respectively,
8 and years); Miss Rena A. Barker, piano |
selections. All of which were very pleas
ingy rendered and thoroughly enjoyed.
After which conversation, interspersed with |
frequent laughter, reminded one of the
noise caused by large, very large, swarm
of bees. AS 4 O'Clock approached it became
necessary for your correspondent and ac-
party to leave for the train
which would convey them to their homes.
The verdict of the entire company was a
unanimous one to the effect that the oc-
casiOn had been one never to be blotted
from the memory, and marking one of the
brightest spots along the pathway of life.
Of those present were Mr.. and Mrs.
Blodgett, Mr.. and Mrs. Patterson, Mr.. Will
bur Blodgett, Belfast; Mr.. anu Mrs. Adams,
camden; Mr.. and Mrs. J. NJ. Barker, Miss
Rena A. Barker, Waterville; Mrs. s. A.
Barker, Mr.. and Mrs. S. j. Barker, Master
We're and Miss Ruth Barker, Troy; Mr.
md Mrs. II. G. Gates, jackson; Mrs. Maud
logan, Master Carl Hogan, Misses Ger
rude, Iva and Florence Hogan, Mr.. S. S.
Roberts, Mrs. Dora Sanborn, jackson;
lr. and Mrs. F. Ii. Dutton, U nity.-By One
# Them.