The Alaska citizen., 1917-01-08
CHILDREN OF
 WOODCHOPPER
 NOT FORGOTTEN


 chopper. For on Sunday, Christmas Eve, in one of the most delightful events Of the season, centering in a monster Christmas tree decked lav- ishly to bring joy to the hearts of the little ones and concluding with a dance and supper, Woodchopper, in the Hot Springs district, celebrat. ed old Santa's day in way to i'm. press all deeply with the spirit of the occasion.
 The event was held under the auspices of Tofty Lodge No I537, l.. Q. o. NJ, and was presided over by Dictator Ed Williams The spa cious Moose hall held almost a ca. pacity crowd at the opening of fes- tivities, and many more dropped in as the evening advanced. short address of welcome by Dictator Will Hams was the signal for the ap. pearance of Old Santa's assistants. So many presents were on hand that it was found necessary to place them around and under the tree, and many a curious glance they received as the children came troop. ing in The dance was scheduled to open at ten o'clock, but owing to the many tokens sent, the amuse ment of the older folks was rele- gated to a late place on the pro gram and the children came into their own in true Christmas style.
 Of the little folks there were in the neighborhood of d score present Df all ages, and certainly none were the great event. Many visitors from the outlying creeks came in for the holidays, and to the prospectors, af- ter months of roughing it on the creeks and in the hills, the sight of the shining eyed children and charm. ingly dressed women enhanced the good will of the occasion. One little girl received a toy cat almost as big as itself. That incident in itself was trivial, but what was sienif- cant was the delight of the child, the pleasure of the mother in watch ing the baby and that of the old sOurdoughs in watching the two. Even the cat did not seem to mind One little fellow had received sey eral presents. when for perhaps ten or fifteen minutes his name was not called. The other children were getting their presents right along The little fellow plainly began to worry, and he stood up and called put in a voice not heard throughout the hall but still very firm: T want another one now, too" His demands were speedily fulfilled.
 After the festivities at the tree there was a short intermission to allow for rearranging the hall fol dancing. Feelings of a pleasurable ask we'll done was then the order of the evening for the elders, and the dance that followed was very enjoyable
 What mattered it if the dancers now and then tripped over a toy steamboat or two going full speed ahead on a crowded sea or If some of the men dancers had to take their turn holding the babies? The babies were really pretty enough to make holding them pleasure.
 A lunch was served in the hall at midnight, after which the dance was resumed The musicians sug gested that a photograph be used so that they could enjoy the dance also. After dance or two this idea was vetoed and the musicians had to go back to their tasks. Several spe cialties were on the program for the evening. Altogether it was most enjoyable occasion.
 At a recent election of officers for he local lodge L. o. o. M., Edward Williams was chosen to succeed Jake Howell as dictator. Howell goes to the Outside for the winter. Several limitations into the order are sched uled for the near future A bright future for the organization in this camp seems assured.
 STEAMSHIP OF