8
Christmas at the Institution
Christmas morning dawned cold and bright. A deep snow had fallen during the night, and the bright eyes that looked out at the windows beheld a lovely scene. The limbs of the many evergreen trees that surrounded the institution were thickly covered with spotless snow, molded into many strange forms, while millions of tiny icicles and snow crystals glittered and sparkled like diamonds in the sunlight. These, combined with the smooth, white, glistening carpet spread over all the ground, formed a picture of such beauty as none but God, the creator of all that is pure, and good, and beautiful, could design or execute. “Christmas trees! Beautiful Christmas trees! Many Christmas trees!” said a dear little girl in rapidly executed signs, while her animated countenance told, in language almost as plain as her “silent words,” the pleasure she felt as she stood at the window admiring the beauty of the outside world. Soon others came flocking to the window to gaze with her upon the grand winter scenery. Their delightful gazing was presently cut short by one of the other girls coming up to them and saying, “Hurry with your toilets. Breakfast will soon be ready, and you know the rules do not allow us to be late to meals.” In response to these words, all began rapid preparations for the morning meal and soon were gathered around the breakfast tables.
At morning service, allusion was made by the superintendent to the time when the Savior of mankind was born, and wise men, beholding his star in the East, sought him that they might worship him; and how there suddenly appeared a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, goodwill toward men.” “That event,” he said, “Christmas Day is designed to commemorate, and it is, of course, to be a holiday.” This announcement was received with much satisfaction by the pupils. They then proceeded to their apartments to don their gala-day attire. The large sewing apartment was again arranged for a playroom, and the girls proceeded to amuse themselves in various ways until dinner was announced.
Upon entering the dining room they found a liberal supply of good things awaiting them. The feast was even more generous than their Thanksgiving dinner had been, and it looked so appetizing that many could scarcely wait till thanks had been returned to God for all his bounty. The slow process of carving of turkeys had come to an end before attacking the viands. At last, however, even the most voracious appetite was satiated, and all left the dining room in usual order. The afternoon was spent in various ways, according to the inclinations of the pupils.
The shades of evening gathering around brought the scattered population of the institution together once more, all radiant with the day’s enjoyment, and soon supper was announced. Every plate at the long tables contained a liberal supply of toothsome sweetmeats. Besides the usual supply of bread and butter, there were dishes of honey, apples, and cakes, all so divided that each had an equal amount. The greater part of this meal was smuggled into capacious pockets for future enjoyment, the dinner having so effectually banished hunger that few felt like eating more.
Upon their return to the study room they were marshaled into line and conducted to the now brilliantly lighted chapel. As they entered, some looked inquiringly at the thick curtain extending from side to side of the room, hiding the stage from view, while others, who had before witnessed a like arrangement, sat in silent expectation with their eyes fixed on the curtain or curiously watched numbers of guests as they were ushered in and shown to seats. Quite a number of citizens, having heard of this proposed entertainment, had come, curious to know what kind of an entertainment the deaf and dumb could give.
It was not long before the curtain rose, presenting to view a beautiful scene. Kneeling upon a cushion, amid tasty surroundings, was a little girl clad in a dress of snowy white. Her long black hair fell in curls over her shoulders and shaded her face, most lovely with the beauty of health and innocence. Closing her eyes, she, in the beautiful language of signs, so silent yet so full of expression, repeated the Lord’s Prayer. Amen, she silently and reverently said at the last, as she bowed her head. Then the curtain fell.
Next came a pantomime scene, entitled, “Which shall I follow, Religion or Pleasure?” When the curtain rose, there was seen to the right a young girl elegantly arrayed in a costume of gauzy pink tarlatan, with jewels gleaming in her hair, on her neck, her fingers, and her wrists. She was beautiful and represented Pleasure. To the left, beside a large, white cross, stood another young girl with hair of a golden tint that fell in curls over her shoulders. She was dressed in a plain, flowing white robe to represent an angel, or Religion. Between them stood another girl, younger and more beautiful than either. Her hands were clasped, and she seemed uncertain as to what she would do. Pleasure, with a winning smile upon her countenance, was holding up a roll of bank bills and jewels in one hand, while with the other she beckoned to the perplexed young girl to follow her. On the other side stood Religion, beside the cross, with an open Bible in one hand and a crown held out in the other. Pleasure beckoned gaily, holding her glittering jewels aloft enticingly, while Religion pleaded mutely. The young girl looked first at one and then the other, hesitatingly, for a few moments, and then went forward and, meekly kneeling, embraced the cross; Religion placed the crown upon her head. As Pleasure witnessed this, she turned away with a scornful smile, and the curtain fell.
Then came a representation, in two parts, of the four seasons of the year, given by four little girls. Spring was personated by a girl dressed in a gauzy, white costume decorated with bunches and sprays of artificial flowers, and she held in her hand a basket of flowers. Summer was represented dressed in white, adorned with flowers, and carrying a sheaf of grain. Autumn appeared likewise in a robe of white, carrying ripened fruits. Winter was shown as a girl in scarlet hood and cloak, holding in her arms a stick of wood. This was the scene presented to view in the first part. For the second part, these representatives of the four seasons were all arranged in line, and their burdens of flowers, grain, and fruit laid aside. When the curtain again rose, Spring, in silent language, recited a verse relative to that genial season. When she had finished, Summer, in turn, recited a verse appropriately fitted to the warm, glowing summer season. Next, Autumn recited a verse tending to bring to mind the glorious, though melancholy, autumn days. Then Winter, in her verse, told of ice-locked streams, howling blasts, snow-covered fields, and of the pranks of her ally, Jack Frost. Again the curtain fell.
Next came a declamation, delivered by a boy.
Then five little girls, ranging in age from eleven to thirteen years, took their places on the stage and delivered in voiceless language the following beautiful hymn, entitled
LOVE, REST, AND HOME
Beyond the toiling and the weeping
I shall be soon;
Beyond the waking and the sleeping,
Beyond the sowing and the reaping,
I shall be soon.
Chorus: Love, rest, and home—sweet home!
Lord Jesus, tarry not, but come.
Beyond the blooming and the fading
I shall be soon;
Beyond the storming and the shading,
Beyond the hoping and the dreading,
I shall be soon.
Chorus: Love, rest, and home—sweet home!
Lord Jesus, tarry not, but come.
Beyond the rising and the setting
I shall be soon;
Beyond the calming and the fretting,
Beyond remembering and forgetting,
I shall be soon.
Chorus: Love, rest, and home—sweet home!
Lord Jesus, tarry not, but come.
Beyond the parting and the meeting
I shall be soon;
Beyond the farewell and the greeting,
Beyond the pulse’s fever beating,
I shall be soon.
Chorus: Love, rest, and home—sweet home!
Lord Jesus, tarry not, but come.
Three of these little girls would begin a verse of this hymn and proceed to the chorus, when the other two would join in this part. Their easy, graceful movements in concert, with no visible means of keeping time, surprised and delighted the visitors. “How is it possible for them to act in such perfect concert without even watching each other?” inquired one of the guests of the superintendent. He smiled, and answered, “Where there is a will, there is a way; and they have been well and carefully drilled.”
There was now quite a stir behind the curtain for the space of about five minutes. Then it was again raised, and rather a woeful scene was presented to view. It was entitled, “The Woes of Bachelorhood.” In a disordered room sat a man trying to thread a needle by the light of a flaring candle, but his efforts to force the thread through the eye of the needle persistently proved futile. As he sat there thus engaged, he presented a forlorn aspect. His shoeless feet revealed great holes in his neglected stockings. A torn coat, which he had undertaken to mend, lay across his knee; the worry and fret brought on by his ineffectual attempts to thread his needle had caused him to push his hair about in a very untidy way. He had almost given up his attempts in despair when, as if by mere chance, the thread went through the needle’s eye. Then he took up his coat and began his task.
The first stitch would have proved all right had he not forgotten to tie a knot at one end of the thread. As such was the case, the thread slipped quietly through and separated from the material. Awkwardly tying a knot at the end of the thread, he recommenced his task. Two stitches were taken successfully, but the third proved too much for him. Having no thimble, he was attempting to force the needle into the cloth with his unprotected finger when the treacherous needle made a backward movement, forcing itself into his finger. With a look of agony depicted upon his features, he threw down his work, clasped the wounded member in his other hand, and began swaying back and forth. The curtain fell, enough of “the woes of bachelorhood” having been witnessed.
“The Lord Is My Shepherd” was next rendered in signs by one of the girls. Then followed prayer, by the superintendent, and the entertainment was at an end.