Deer Kneeling at the Savior's Birth

"Deer Kneeling at the Savior's Birth" is written on the little shoe box in my mother's hand.  I brought these little fellows home with me last summer, along with an early art making memory.

The title doesn't seem like language of a 3rd grader, so it must have come from our teacher, Mrs. Mardis.   I am amazed now to realize how much loving energy she invested in helping each child in our class make a pair of deer for a family Christmas gift.  I remember the original displays were set in recycled TV trays with small branches stuck in balls of clay to make shrubbery and cotton snow covering the shiny aluminum.   It is interesting to note that in our public school in 1959, Christmas was celebrated and this classroom project was carried out without problems.  Thanks for saving this little gem all these year, Mom!