A Kindergarten Christmas

A KINDERGARTEN CHRISTMAS

Friday, Dec. 19, was the closing day of the first term of Miss Martha Taylor's private kindergarten. The fathers and mothers of the children, their grandparents and other friends, were invited to be presented at the Christmas celebration held in the parlors of Miss Taylor's home, 701 Ingalls street.The rooms were decorated with Christmas greens, and the little children in their holiday attire were a merry sight.

After the opening song came a Christmas story, then the children sang a Christmas story. Then all the little people retired to another room, whence presently came the sound of tinkling bells, and lo, into the presence of the guests came dashing eight prancing reindeer with nodding curls and dancing feet, driven by a diminutive Santa Claus, in red coat and back. The merry team dashed through the rooms, singing as they sped "Children, come and greet me, see the gifts I bring ye." After a time they were stopped by Santa Claus before the folding doors. These rolled back and disclosed a glistening tree! The tiny children were amazed for a moment. But they soon recovered themselves, and forming a circle danced around the tree, singing a charming, rollicking German song of Christmas, "Sieh voll Goldesschaum Usern Tannenbaum!" They danced and courtsied, passed under arched hands, danced again, then stopped around the tree, while Santa Claus distributed among the guests the contents of his bag and to the parents the presents from the tree, made by the children, themselves, with their own hands.