Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-01
CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS CLUB
BY ELLA s. SARGENT.

From ST Nicholas
TO EVERY GIRL AND EVERY BOY IN NORTH AMER
ICA, SOUTH AMERICA, EUROPE, ASIA, AFRICA
AND AUSTRALIA.
My Dear. Dear Friends: Do you know what
a CLUB" is?
hear your answer echoing back from all the
cliffs and hills of our land. and the sea breeze
brings it to me family from the countries far
away:
You get a lot of people to belong, and you
have president and rules, and pay so much to
join, and vote, and"
Yes. that is it; you all know what CLUB" is.
NOW want to write you about a club-a true
c!nb-a very proper and thoroughly organized
cuD eleven months old; and you nav believe
every word, for it all happened right here, in
Portland. Maine less than year ago.
On Sunday, December TO- 1882, lady sitting
In warm, coy room. While the wind whsted
about the house. rafting the windows, and
ping the snow flakes in deep drifts across the
steps and against the fences, was thinking of
the houses up on The Hill, and down at Cor
nam S Corner, and in Salem Lane. which had no
steam radiators, no glowing CRATES no double
windows to keep out these searching winter
winds.
She thought too, of the little children in
/ H..
joyous day coming SO sOOn-the day for piylnr
gifts all the world overland wondered if i'm
those houses little Gare feet would spring out of
BED. and dance across the clinneys in the dim
dawn OF Christmas morning; if numb, blue fin
gers would eagerly snatch down shabby faded
stockings; and find that st. Nicholas had really
peen there; II. later on. fathers and mothers
with brothers and sisters and babies in their
hign-chalrs. for just this one day." would come
gayly around dinner tables, where plump
Christmas Turkeys lay at one end, and plum
buildings were ready for the other, and huge
stacks OF oranges. nuts and apples rose in the
middle; and if. in the evening" there would be
great mysteries in the parlOrs fragrance of
spruce. an exciting rustng of paper parcels.
mothers slipping syly in and out ofthe doors with
h@Ads hidden behind them, a general scurryinr
about-and then all eyes daZzled by a hundred
tWlnkling candles caught in the branches of a
graceful tree laden with toys.
She wondered If in those houses would go mn
that wild shout OF Clee. those ringing h,rrahs
ard the JOY GUS clapning of hands she had so
Often heard. And as she wondered, she shook
her head sadly. saying
They have never known these pleasures.
they never WILL unleSsoh! unless somebody
remembers them. Why can't something be
done! would work, but one person can do so
little alone. want hundred helpers-where
shall find thcm:"
She thought intently for a few moments ond
then cried: IL know! The children will do il
TIE Portland chdren-thOSe who have happy
MONIES ana CnrIstmas-trecS. and play-rOOms full
OF toys They will load Christmas-tree as one
was never loaded before; they will spread
Christmas dinner which cannot be eaten in one
day; they will do 1.-THE warm-hearted. gencr-
Gus Portland children"
The bells from all the churches were ringing
Tor sunday-schoOl- That was the time-that
was the place to find the children. A number
OF notes were written, asking two or more girls
ana boys from every Sunday school In the city
to meet at that house at five O'Clock, on the fol-
lowing Thursday afternoon
Did they Gomez
Come! They did not know what the call was
Tor. save for a whisper about Christmas work:
b'lt they came; came in pairs. in trOs in quar-
tets ana qulntets-a whole squad from the But
Ter school; big boys with big hearts, wee tots
only four years Old from the kind ereartcn-one
hundred children ready for ANYTHING
Oh. wish you could have been there at the
forming OF that club.
lady came Forward to speak to them, and
their voices were flushed in expectation. can't
tell you Just what she said. but her words were
beautiful. She spoke OF thea. Christmas fes-
tiIItles every year. of Htet3' presents and their
friends; then of unfortunate children who had
fewer. some none Oh these lows
When she asked: DOCS any one here want
to do anything for these others" the thought
that they could do anything was new to almost
ALTO many even the IRISH was new: but like
on" great heart-thrOb Game their answer:
Yes. /. l. !. | want to do something"
.'Chlidren, what can you do:'
y pause, ana then ore little voice cried:
olive EN- Il cent"
That was the first offer, bnt it was followed
by many another. Give 'em candy" '.Give 'eiil
a turkey. Give EN- a coat'-each beginning
with that Grand word, Give"
lie result OF that meeting was this:
To form a club which should last ..foreycr:"
70 call 1t The Chdren's Christmas Club" to
hay" for Its motto: Freely We have received
freely give" to place the membership fee al ten
cents. so that no child Should be prevented
from Joining because lie was not rich TO make
no distinction in regard TO sect or nationality.
10 permit to join the club any girl or boy under
ci9htee!l years ct age who accepted it's Drinc- ,
pies, which We're: To be ready at all times
Wifi KIND words to assist children less fortunate
than themselves: to make every year. in Christ
mas week. q festival of some kind for them: to
save through the year toys books and games
instead OF carelessly destroying them: to save
ana, whenever practicable; put in good repair
itli ouigfoWn clothing; to beJ nothing from any
source but to keep as the keystone of the club
the word GIVE: to pay every year a tax of
ten cents. and to make their first festival in the
City Hall on Thursday. December %, 1882
ihen came the choosing of officers with the
idea that the Chief officers should be grown Der
sons. His Honor the Mayor of Portland was
elected President Of the Childrens Christmas
Club
Others. ladies and gentlemen. were chosen
Tor wee PRESIDENT. Treasurer, Secretary En-
The children then dispersed to meet again on
Saturday. at Reception HALL
Saturday morning brought to the hall. first a
meeting OF grown persons, who offered their
stronger hands, wiser heads and deeper purses
In the work the children had undertaken: but
agreed that all that children could do should he
lett to them.
And treat support did these "cders" form.
who stood ready in the background to give of
ther strength. WHO quietly incOsed their will
ING contributions 20 the Executive Committee
with BEST wishes for the Childrens Christmas
Club"
Instead Of one hundred children. three him.
drcd came to Reception Hail. eager to ioin the
club. After addresses by the President and
others. cllildreE's committees We're appointed
and their work explained to them
As the children passed out in single file each
was registered. ana received from the Secretary
L card oi membership. as follows:
Cara Of Mclaborahlp.
ISL CHRISTMAS. $50:
"Fr6ely De hare rece;red, n.sciy 1iuer
This IS to ce,tffy that Alice Elizabeth Bars
as t;uCi(ed a ;ncnibfl' OFiLc
CHlLDREN'S CHRISTMAS CLUE,
Portland.
j. Smith,
Secretary.