Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1911-12-28
CLAYTON.

upon a sleeping town. The air was
crisp and clear and the beautiful lit
tie village of Clayton slept. Suddenly
through the stiffness of the morning
we were awakened by the "chug chug'
of monster automobile, and then in
a few moments was followed by an
other. Who could be astir SO early
on Xmas morning? We rub our eyes
to get awake. All! we have it, This
is the day that will go down in his
tory for this little town of Clayton
This is the day we must be up and
doing. Through the crisp air we hear
the calling of familiar voices: Roy
are you there? Harry Moore, is that
you? Come ON Walker and Norman
get in this car and we will go after
Bill Kindle, and SO on For these
men were willing workers to gather
the turkeys and deliver them to the
ladies on committees and so faith
fully did they work that by eight
O'Clock forty-four turkeys were bak-
ing beautifully in Ringers spacious
ovens. Meanwhile in the spacious
opera house was scene of beauty
and activity. Forty men and women
were working merrily, getting the
tables and everything in order for the
big dinner The first floor was be-
yond description. No dining room at
home ever loked more neat or dainty
no women or girls ever looked sweet
er. Precisely at eleven o'clock six
big autos deliberately decorated with
holly, wreathing and Xmas bells,
and containing Harrison and His
HIo,, IN,
numbers of other people paraded the
town This was enough. 1t made
us all kids. We could have stood
on our heads. We could have shout
ed but somehow or other we controll-
ed ourselves and marched to the opera
house. And Oh. what sight met our
eyes. AS long as we are permitted
to live, we shall never forget. On the
stroke of twelve, the smaller children
were seated at the heavily laden tab
les. The band occupied one corner
of the room, and as Rev Mr.. Burns
stood up to make a short talk you
could have heard a pin drop. In
few words he told why the dinner had
been prepared, and why we were there
on this beautiful Xmas day. Then as
the band played we sang, sang as me-
yer before in our life. And OH how
we were thrilled; we were almost
carried away, as the words of the
grand old song rose and swelled:
Praise God from Whom All Bless
ings Flow. /" Then the blessing and
then-"Oh you Christmas dinner.
Oh you turkey" The carvers carved.
The mattresses waited and the. cooks
cooked. Not one hitch in the whole
performance. Four times the long
tables were filled with children and
grown people, and while the children
waited for their turn, they were anus
ed on the second floor with music and
moving pictures After every one
had had their fill, we were all invited
to the second floor After we were
all seated seven hundred strong,
Charles Moore sang Some One is
Coming Then the curtain was rails
ed and then, OH You Santa Claus.
OH you Christmas tree, Oh! you Mr.
Hallocki Shall we ever forget! Not
SO long as the moon and the stars
shall shine will we ever forget. Each
child was presented with a bag con-
tanning candy, nuts, raisins, pop corn
and an apple, and then they all went
home tired and happy We will me-
yer forget the willing workers and we
are sure that the people of Clayton
made this Christmas Day just as
Christ would have us do and that it
will be written against their names,
We'll done, thou good and faithful
servants, Well done!"
Carl Beckett and wife, Of Philadel
phia, spent Christmas with his par
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. Harmon Beckett.
Mrs. Anna Hill, Mrs. Mary Zanes,
Mrs. Chas. P. Crane and Mrs Her.
man Houck visited Mrs. Harry p.
Crane Tuesday at the Jefferson Hospi-
tai, where she went under an opera
ton for appendicitis two weeks ago.
Mr.. Lee T. Hallock entertained
friends and relatives from Danbury,
Conn.,, on Christmas Day.
The musical program rendered by
the choir of the Presbyterian Church
Sunday evening was of high class or
der and all who heard it are loud in
their praise.
The Christmas exercises in the M.
E. Church Saturday evening were
big success. Too much praise cannot
be given those who took part in the
program. On Sunday evening the
choir gave musical cantata and the
large overflow congregation went
home well pleased and satisfied with
what they had heard and seen.
Elmer E. Smith and wife, of Allan
tic City, spent Christmas afternoon
with H. E. Houch.
William Davis has purchased ho-
tel property in Absecon, where he
will move in the near future.
Well we people have been blessed
with Santa Claus this Christmas for
sure. The churches had Santa Claus;
they had Santa Claus at the opera
house. and to top it all, didn't Santa
come to Clayton last Saturday after
noon on the 233 and make visit at
Houch's grocery store? It got noised
around that he was Gaming and twn