Lake City, Jany 14 '69.

My dear Miss Lowell.

Our Christmas tree still spreads its branches. We had one grand festival-day; but as twenty or thirty were unable, from different causes, to be with us then, we receive visitors daily in our holiday room. And we intend to have a singing festival under our sweet bay-tree. We shall send far and near for those we missed on the great day, and shall also let all the children of the neighborhood come on the last day. We early found that our children had never seen a Christmas tree, and during all the days of preparation and waiting, the wonder grew, as they queried about the tree. We asked the children to guess the nature of a Christmas tree. Nearly all of them guessed it was a big dinner. One guessed "a big toy." And one or two guessed it was a tree! Those who thought the tree was a tree, acknowledged once having seen a Christmas tree "at the Post-Mistresses." With the exception of one or two who assisted us in decorating the tree, no little eyes looked on it till its lamps were lighted. And then more than eighty children marched two by two into the large room where it was planted, and passed around it, again and again, singing as they went. Although each one took from the tree whatever article most tempted him, every one revelled in the novelty and beauty of the spectacle. It was a real pleasure to look around the room before the fruit was picked, and see the joy of possession written on every face. For one moment, at least, each little heart owned all its eyes looked upon. Our tree reached the ceiling. A flag swung from the upmost bough; popped corn and red berries festooned the branches. Your dolls, and candy toys, with apples and oranges, hung near the lighted candles. It was all a beautiful vision to my little Floridians.

As I wrote to Boston, each little one saw everything but the oranges (sight most welcome to a New England child) for with a Lake City child, an orange on a Christmas limb, a simple orange was to him, and it was nothing more. We found our experiment of letting each child choose his own gift in every way satisfactory. In several instances we noticed a good deal of hesitation in trying to decide between a toy and a book. "But I want the book most," two or three said, and went away, looking far more satisfied for the struggle. One girl from the country chose a sack, but laid it down again as soon as she saw a "reading book." Everybody wanted a picture handkerchief, but one or two boys said, "I want a hdk, but then I must have this book."

You may imagine that confusion and delay must have ensued from our course. It was not so. The children, knowing they could select, used their eyes in doing so while they marched around the tree. The dolls were real heart-warmers, and even our married women (day scholars) chose tea-setts. The tea setts and hdkfs won universal favor. The prettiest, most refined, and most cultivated girl in Lake City, and one of our best scholars, has Prangs Two Sisters (I thank you, very much, for sending Prangs beautiful pictures. I shall rejoice in knowing that they will be in homes that need them.) One of the birds we gave to a colored teacher, a gentle, delicate natured person, whose school is somewhat connected with ours. Two of the pictures will cheer two of the noblest families here. Families whose fathers are reverent and faithful Union men. One of them keeps bread on his shelves, but he says, "The people here would starve, before they would buy bread of a Republican." The other lives in crumbs, but he lives for ideas, and worships truth and justice. His daughter is a good scholar, and a lovely girl. The candy bags took everyone's fancy captive. Many chose them as a sole gift, supposing nothing could go with them. We have kept most of them upon the tree, to be given on the last day. The children still remain satisfied with their choice.

Some of the clothing has gone to a very destitute family of small children who are fatherless. The valuable box of sewing materials is invaluable for Sewing School. I shall give the emory berries, in course of time, to the deserving. One or two we gave to the tree.

I designed saying many things, but I cannot keep this sheet waiting. Every afternoon and evening brings many people, and my time for several days has been given to callers, so I will say more anon.

Yrs ever sincerely
LUCY C