The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-21

pirate programme for an evenings enter
tainment.
During drawing and manual arts periods
the children made gifts for every mother
and every father In the primary grades
these We're very simple the products of
painstaking, cramped little fingers. The
older children made iron holders, match
strikers and pretty calendars. Chains
Tor the tree We're made from colored
paper, and other decorations were added
The big boys went to. the woods for the
tree. 1t was put in the schoolhouse, and
trimmed with the decorations the chill
dren had provided. They all helped in the
work of getting the room ready decorat-
ing the tree, and fastening on the pres
ents they had made.
On Christmas eve their parents assem-
bled as their guests. The children en-
tertained with the Christmas songs and
recitations they had prepared and after
ward the presents were taken from the
tree The children had great deal of
run and pleasure with the tree, and the
motive was entirely unselfsh
A Christmas Surprise
A primary teacher used similar plan
in the Thanksgiving exercises of her
pupils. The children worked faithfully
to present for their parents an attrac-
tive Thanksgiving programme. 1t was
combined Mothers Day and Thanksgiv-
crate affair. For this reason and others
the teacher decided that the Christmas
affair which followed 1t should be espe-
cially for the children.
To this end she said very little about the
celebration to be given on the last day
before the Christmas holidays, but she
urged the children not to be away from
school on that day.
AS the holidays approached the Christ
mas spirit was introduced. The little folks
sang Christmas songs, read the Christ
mas stories given in their readers listened
to Christmas stories, and based their Ian
guage lessons ON the same theme They
talked about Christmas and sang about
Christmas and thought about Christmas
but they remained blissfully ignorant of
the teachers preparations for the final
day, the last Friday before the HOLIDAYS
After they had left school on Thursday
afternoon, some of the big boys helped
the teacher cover the transoms and put
dark red curtains over the windows
These We're drawn back, and the room
presented the usual appearance. Next
morning the teacher arrived at school
very early and slowed out of sight some
mysterious packages she had with her
When the time came for the closing ex-
ercises the teacher began with the story
of Christs birth, from st. Luke She
told several Christmas stories, shading to-
ward the Santa Claus spirit. Then, as
they sang Christmas songs and one or
two good night songs, the heavy GRIM
son curtains We're drawn and several
pretty candles were lighted, Transforming
the plain little room with their soft light
The good night songs continued till the
ehildren's heads nestled in their arms
and each one was bowed on the desks
When all the children were Sound
asleep the teacher went from desk 20
desk, placing on each tissue paper pack
ages of candy. popcorn and animal cakes
She clapped her hands and everybody
awoke, surprised to find that whole
night could have passed and Santa Claus
could have come and gone in so short a
time. 1t was very pretty scene, indeed.
was unusual at school, and the cfiifirdiirfenSs
shining eyes and delighted surprise made
it still pretter.
In few moments the candles weresex-
tinguished, the curtains were raised. let
ting in the December sunlight and tile
children were dismissed for their holiday.
A Child's Gift
Several years ago in my own coun-
try school teaching I received Christ
mas present that I have treasured ever
since. / was teaching primary and had
some of the most 1ovable children l
have ever known. One little girl often
waited for me after school and walked
with me to the place where our home
ward ways divided.
One afternoon shortly before Christ
mas as we walked along together she
said:
Miss Harrison, T want to give you
Christmas present What would you
IiSe?"
I knew that Christmas funds in her
home were very limited and as gent
~ as I could I tried to discourage her
showed both in and out of school was
quite enough.
''Yes'm, but I want to give YOU a
Christmas present"
My arguments were not match for
her eager fondness and at length she
said:
Miss Harrison, would a box of candy
do your"
I think she debated the matter still
further, but she said nothing more
about it. She was so happy in planning
10 buy that Christmas present but the
money for it was not to be had.
On the last school morning before
the holidays the children and I were
gathered around the stove warming
before school opened. Everybody in the
group was as enthusiastic as could be.
The one or two Christmases they re-
niembered were recalled, with their
pleasures and surprises, and they were
telling of what they would give and
what Santa Claus would bring them.
Presently the little girl who walked
home with me came and stood by me,
but she didn't have the present she
had hoped to give me. She slipped
something into my hand and when
looked down I saw 1t was tiny pink
tea cup. There was no saucer with 1t,
and a piece was Clipped out of the
side In the handle was tied a piece Of
tan st of
a packing house. 1t was green edged
with red and was the nearest ap-
proach she could find to Christmas rib
bon, and the little broken cup was the
only realization Of the more preten-
tious present she had meant to give.