Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-12-25
meet at that house at five o'clock. on the
following Thursday afternoon.
Did they come?

Did they come.
Come. They did not know what the
call was for, save for a whisper about
Christmas work; but they came came
in pairs, in trios, in quartets and quin-
tets-a whole squad from the Butler
school; big boys with big hearts, wee
tots only four years old from the kinder
garten-one hundred children, ready for
anything.
A lady came forward to speak to
them, and their voices were hushed in
expectation. She spoke Of their Christ
mas festivities every year, of their pres
ents and their friends; then of unfortu-
nate children who had fewer, some none,
Of these joys.
When she asked: " Does 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 wish was new; but like one great
heart-throb came their answer:
"Yes! I!I!I. want to do some
thing"
Children, what can you do :"
A pause, and then one little voice cried
out:
"Dive 'em a cent ~
That was the frs, offer, but it was fol-
flowed by many another: Give 'em can
dy," Give EN- a turkey "Give 'em
a coat each beginning with ,ha, grand
word, Give"
The result Of that meeting was this
To form a Club, which should last
forever" TO call it 1.-The Children's
Christmas Club; to have for its motto
" Freely ye have received, freely give y;
to place the membership fee at ten cents,
so tha, no child should be prevented from
joining because he was not rich; to
make no distinction in regard to sect or
nationality; to permit to join the Club
any girl or boy under eighteen years of
age who accepted its principles. which
were To be ready at all times with kind
words to assist children less fortunate
than themselves to make every year, in
Christmas week. festival Of some kind
for them to save through the year toys,
books, and games, instead of carelessly
destroying them; to save and, whenever
practicable, put in good repair all out
grown clothing; to beg nothing from any
source, but to keep as the key stone of
the Club the word Give; to pay every
year tax OF ten cents and 10 make
their first festival in the City Hall, on
Thursday, Dec. 2S, 1882.
Then came the choosing officers, with
the idea that the chief officers should be
grown persons. His Honor the Mayor
of Portland, was elected President of the
Children's Christmas Club.
Others, ladies and gentlemen, were
chosen for Vice President, Treasurer, Sec
retary, Executive Committee, etc, etc.
The children then dispersed, TO again
meet on Saturday, at Reception Hall.
Saturday morning brought to the Hall
first, a meeting of grown persons, who
offered their stronger hands, wiser heads,
aud deeper purses, in the work the chill
dren had undertaken; hut agreed that all
that children could do should be left to
them.
And grand support did these "eld-
ers" form, who stood ready in the back
ground to give Of their strength, who
quietly inclosed their willing contribu-
tions to the Executive Committee, with
best wishes" for the Children's Christmas
Club.
Instead Of one hundred children, three
hundred came to Reception Hall, eager
to Join the Club. After addresses by tie
President and others, children's commit
tees were appointed, and their work ex-
planned to them.
Let US skip the busy days of prepara-
tion, when the Secretary Of the Children's
Christmas Club recorded twelve hundred
names when the Park Street school sent
in the names Of one hundred members
who brought to their teacher books, toys,
and clothing, to be sent to the City Hall
when comfortably clad children came
through the city bringing in their sleighs,
on their sleds, in their arms, bundles of
clothing and toys, baskets Of provisions,
books, sleds, skates,-much that was
dear to them, given in the spirit Of true
charity.
One child could brink "only plate
of biscuits; another ga dozen apples for
the dinner; one had no toys at home,
but brough. 6ve-cent piece she had
treasured "to buy somethin' for some lit
tie feller that hasn't nothin one took
all her money and brought to her Sunday
school teacher painted candy bird-cage,