THE ORPHANAGE NEWS LETTER.
Christmas tree, prettily trimmed and
heat itit; two large black stockings;
tilled to the brim with good things"
was t|uicklv smuggled into a corner.
When all had taken their places
Mr. and Mrs. Coe were invited to
stand in the center of the room, when
the children fell into line, following
thebe'- who carried the Christmas
tree, and marched around and around
them in a circle, singing to a pie tv
air, "Merry Christmas! l’apa Coe!
Merry Christmas! Mamma Coe! Mer
ry Christmas! every one!" suddenly
breaking off with, "A jolly old
fellow, whose hair is so white
will be making h i s visits this
Christmas morn, etc.” When they
came to the lines where laughingly
they sang, "He will Iring a bag full
of candies and toys for ike good jol
ly bapas and sweet merry mammas,
so hang up your black woolen hose'.
So hang up your black woolen hor. '
the mystery of the small Christmas
tree was revealed. Next came a
lively chorus, “Greet Old Christmas
With a Song,” followed by a sweet
carol- “Christmas Hells”.
Undoubtedly Mr. aud Nrs. Cne
were both surprised and pleased, for
tliere was no mistaking the real, and
true, ring of love and confidence in
the tones that came from the hearts
of the sitigers-and how glad they
were to present the “tree”, which
was received in the same spirit for it
was their little “i ll", hut was the ex
pression of a love far greater than
often accompanies a costlier gift.
Then came the distribution of gifts
to the children. Could Mrs. Porter
have heen at the opening of those
packages sent by her mission hand,
she would have discovered that Mi.
and Mrs. Coe were not the only sur
prised people that Christmas morn
i»K
If all tlie people of Southington
could know how many hearts were
made glad, surely they would have
been repaid for all the deeds of love
which they have showered upon
these children formally years.
The useful and the pretty gifts w ill
long he a source of pleusuie in the
mission,
Letters accompanying the pack
ages were much appreciated and w ill
he answered at an early date.
The Christinas dinner was not a
minor event. The dining room pre
sented quite a festal appearance with
its bright pictnies, and here and
there branches of evergreen; but
those were not so cutertaiiiing to the
guests as the roast chicken, cranbei
ries, potatoes, and corn, with ice
cream to follow. The cook must
have felt complimented that day, if
the good hearty dinners eaten were
taken as a proof of his skill.
between the courses the Superin
tendent, who has the rate faculty of
making a good social time for boys
and girls upon any festal day, stn -
cetded so well on this occasion, that
the meriiment caused one of the “ba
bies" to mysteriosly whisper in
“Grandma” Campbell's ear, "Isn’t
Papa C< e acting very na ugh t\ at the
table to-day?" Which comment was
heartily enjoyed by all, especially by
Mr. Coe himself.
In behalf of the children of K. B.
O. we heartily thank all who have
done any thing in any way for them;
either for the Christmas directly, or
for any support during the year or
years that have passed. We belie.e
your gifts have been accepted of God
anil are doing their own work towards
the coming of Ilis Kingdom iu
Alaska.