The first page opened with a notice that there were no Indian Helper newspapers published for December 28 and January 3rd. A notice followed: “A Novel Christmas Present: Our Superintendent Made with his own Hands a tin Cup for Each Employee.” Next was a poem, by “E.G.“dated Dec. 25, ’89 titled “The School Poet Again Stirred” about the gifted cup. Following was an account of a discussion between the Man-on-the-band-stand and "a stranger" about Christmas activities at the school, which continued on the fourth page.
Page two included a notice of the death of Samuel H. Gould, head clerk in Capt. Pratt’s office, who had been with the school for ten years. Following were news items from students returned to the Cheyenne and Arapaho, Pine Ridge Sioux, and San Carlos Apache agencies. The newly elected officers of the Invincible Debating Society were also reported.
Page three featured news briefs about visiting chiefs of the Sioux Commission, holiday visitors to the school, reports of illnesses among students, the Carlisle Indian Fire Company’s quick response to a haystack fire at the barn, Harriet Mary’s (Nez Perce) work with Alice Fletcher allotting land in Idaho, and bitter cold weather at the Pine Ridge Sioux Agency. Page four completed the Man-on-the-band-stand’s account of the school’s Christmas activities followed by the weekly “Enigma.”