Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1872-01-18
The Real Santa Claus.

The sojoum of the Blossom Club in
/ San Francisco last summer was made adj
| dtionally pleasant by the hospitality OF
| Mr. William Lent, the millionaire banker
of that city. Mr. Lent is a brother of ex'
. Senator Abraham Lent, the great domino
player, who is soon to take the place OF
that model of all the virtues, the Hon.
Nathaniel Sands, as Tax Commissioner
The Blossoms have ever since kept a
warm corner in their hearts for Mr.. Viii,
liam Lent, out of gratitude for the atten-
fions he showed them He arrived in this
city few days ago on visit, and was
cordially received. Wishing to see lit
lie of New York life under the gasight,
he left his hotel, on Saturday evening last
and strolled into Grand street, attracted
by the crowd He wandered along east
ward. lost in wonder, until his attention
became attracted by the wistful chances OF
a group Of ragged urchins who were Gov
-etously contemplating the tempting array
of toys spread out in the bright glare oil
one of the show windows, near the corner
of Allen street. His heart was touched
and, drawing near, unobserved, he stopped
and listened.
The boys were descanting with earnest
ness on the merits of the different articles
on exhibition, and singing out with en-
thusiasm such toys as they scverally pre-
ferred There was tone of sadness in
each tiny voice, which told of empty
purses at home and the conviction that
they were fondly harboring hopes which
were never to be realized. Without a
word Mr.. Lent slipped quickly past them
into the store, and purchased every toy
he had heard the children mention, the
group of waits meanwhile gazing at him
through the window with admiring eyes.
When he came out again his arms were
full of playthings. He approached the
astonished boys, and handed each
the gun, or drum, or bugle, wagon,
sleigh, or hobby horse, which few mo-
ments before had been the special object
of his unattainable ambition. Then, leav-
ing them in stuper over their Hnexpect-
ed good fortune, he dashed into the
crowd and sauntered on until he came
upon another group in front of another
store, when he repeated his beautiful deed
of Christmas charity.
Grand street was full on Saturday night
of poverty-stricken little ones, drawing an
additional misery to their starved souls
through greedy eyes which appreciated
with an intensity unknown to wealthy
boys the playthings intended only for rich
mems sons. From one group to another
did the good representative of Santa Claus
glide, making every childish heart over
flow with delight. Five hundred dollars
melted away between eight and eleven p
m, and Mr.. Lent's last dollar would prob
ably have found its way into the pockets
of the storekeepers but for the small army
which grew at his heels, clamoring ou'
fervent ''Thank you, sir" and God bless
you, STRIP Unable to bear the LOAD OF graz
itude which was accommodating on his
shoulders, he hurried to the bowery ano
took refuge in passing car, which bore
him to his hotel.
Hundreds of thankful hearts will learn
today for the first time the answer 70
their constant inquiry, "Who Is ne y MT
Lent declares it was worth hve times III.
amount eypended to witness the happiness
reflected in the countenances of the little
bows Nam York Sun.