Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-12-29

| CHRISTMAS AT CAEP CEEyRKkED Hos
PlrAL.-Thaaks to the generosity of the la
dies of this city, the imPromptu dinner at
the hospital wasa perfect success, and Christ
mas, despite the inauspielous clouds and
weeping skies, was made " red letter day, y
both to the inmates of the hospital and to
those who superintendsd the entertainment.
Early on Christmas morning the abundant
donations that had been sent into the rooms
of the Aid Society were loaded into large
furniture van, and with dray load Of ap-
pies, vegetables, and barrel Of cider, we're
sent to the hospital under the direction Of
the Committee, Mrs. B. Rouse, Mrs. William
MeIhinch, Mrs. D. Crittenden and Mrs. P.
Thatcher, who chserfulIy gave up their own
Christmas festivities, in order to secure to
the sick men the full enjoyment of the feast.
The Surgeons of the hospital having pre-
viOusly given their cordial assent to the plans
Of the ladies, now welcomed them heartily,
introduced them into the wards, and zealous-
Iy seconded their arrangements throughout
the day.
When this surprise party unfolded Its
benevolent designs to the invalid soldiers,
many pale faces flushed with eager exPeeta-
tion, and many dim eyes frightened with the
thought that kind hearts had been moved to
bring titho of Christmas pleasures into
this asode of WEAKNESS and pain.
The first step in the days programme was
to care for those who were too ill to sit ct
table, and at twelve o'clock each sick man
reeeived a bowl full Of nOurishing chicken
soup or oyster broth, with delicate bit Of
chicken, (if allowed to eat it, a roasted aP-
pie, fresh biscuit spread with jelly or can
ned peaches, ana giass " oGse.st1 y ''.-J
| of dessert. That there might be no " slip
betwi1t cup and lip, these delicacies were
carried to each bedside by the ladies them
selves, who had the great satisfaction of see
| ing how keenly they were relished.
When the sick had been thus provided for,
the eonyaleseents were invited into the din
ing room, where the oyster soup, the plump
chickens and turkeys, the juicy ham and
tongues, the tender biscuits, the crisp dough
nuts, the Indian puddings, and the apple,
pumpkin and cranberry pies, were set out
with an abundance that Cleveland house
wives well know how to furnish, and to which
the guests, on the present occasion, proved
themselves able to do full justice.
Here the ladies again presided over the
feast, end saw each man abundantIy served
with everything that the bOuntiful board sup
Piled; and after all had gone away satisfied,
the employees of the hospital received their
share; when, as there still remained enough
and to spare, the soldiers of the guard were
called in from their wet and weary round, to
partake of the feast, until more than 800
men had taken their turns at table. The
barrel of cider was then tapped, and dough-
nuts, apples and cider were distributed
through the camps to the groups of soldiers
gathered about their fres. When the festiv-
tiles of the day were over at the hospital,
there were still remaining choice provisions
enough for generous dinner party and
they were gathered up and carried to the
quarters Of the psroied prisoners, who were
requested to take them as a Christmas sup
per. The "boys" were no way 10th to ae-
cept the bounty that Santa Claus seemed to
have showered down upon them, and the Ia
dies drove away amid tshOuts of delight and
gratitude.