Omaha daily bee., 1888-12-27
REV. w. j. HARsHA's STATEMENT.
The success Which Attended the Dis
tribmtion OF Children's Goods.


tribution OF Children's Goods.
Rev. w. j, Harsha writes the following
letter to THE BEE regarding the distribution
of the goods sent to him for that purpose on
Christmas
1t is impossible for me to give a complete
list of contributors to the poor children's
Christmas, as many things were sent with
out a name. But it is only right that IA full
a report as | can make should appear in the
columns of THE BEE.
received gifts of money from II. G.. Pat
%terson, II. ;. Grigor, Himebaugh n Merriam,
Judge Savage, V. G.. Boguc, Russell Bogue,
Hon. l.. NJ. Bennett, Mrs. Angel, Mrs. Lch-
mer, Mrs. Guy Barton, Mertie johnson, Cora
Carter, Mr.. Atkinson, Mrs. Smith, Miss
Lazear, Mrs. Porter, Mrs. Brayton, Mrs.
Sumner, Mrs. Reeves, Miss j. Smith, Char
lotte Buck, and others, the total amount
| being 500. Is.
| received gifts of toys, mittcns, hoods,
caps, shoes, STOCKINGS, books, candy. etc,
from Hon. George l.. Miller, w. V. Morse,
mng, w. l.. Parrotte, A. +. Ross, DR..
barrow. Mrs. Colonel Patrick, Mrs. j, ii,
Willard, Mrs. General Gown, Mrs. c. Il.
Host, Miss Barrows, Mrs, j. l.. Webster,
Mrs. Boschc, Mrs. Botkin, Mrs. G. b. Cook,
Miss Lazear's Mission band, Miss Greenlee's
scholars in the L~eavcnworth school, pupils OF
the lizard school, Mrs. Coombs, Essie
and Dannie Denise, Ruth Wilson,
MIS-. Snilln, NSlllc Bel, lltlcll Ma MS,
children of the Child's hospital, children of
the Beth Eden Sabbath school, Mr.. Morand,
Mrs. Hall, Oracle and Helen Garner, Bertha
and Michael Clarkson, Darline Coe, Budgio
Branch, Frank Dctweiler and his brothers,
Mrs. Slmcral, Mrs. Oberfeldcr, May Bart
lett, Mrs. Wakefield, Robbie Patterson, and
many others whose names | did not learn.
"A very useful gift of high chairs from
Dewey & Stone should be especially noted.
Messrs. Shankcr and Shaw, managers OF
the William Rnrr 90 plyp mo an pytrpmnly
valuable lot of muffs and furs, and sold to
me at cost a large amount of stockings, caps,
mittens, etc.
am also particularly indebted to Mr.. and
Mrs. Staddcn, MIR. Scott, Mrs. Creigh, Miss
ellis, my brother, Rev. a. X. Harsha, aud
Messrs. Brown, Edwards. Beck, Matheson,
Benson and Larimore Denise for assistance
and untiring cooperation in distributing the
gifts. Also to Mrs. Botkin, Mrs. Meredith,
and Messrs. Scott & Brown for their oar
riages.
The five carriages leaving my residence
visited about two hundred and fifty destitute
families. The most distressing poverty aud
Indebtedness were found to exist within "a
few blocks of the finest houses. 1t would
take a dozen columns of this paper TO detail
the scenes visited. In many cases the child.
rem were barefootcd, the fathers or mothers
sick, the whole family living in "A single room
or tent. An Italian father was heart-broken
because he could give his children no Christ
mas, and be thought a bag of candy for each
was too great generosity on the part OF thu
distributors. Bohemian mothers who could
not speak English got down upon theirknees
to express their gratitude. Tears told what
words failed to convey. In u single room n
family was found with a cow standing in tho
corner, and they were thankful to have the
animal, though they had to share their only
apartment with her. Several cases of the
utmost generosity on the part of poor child
rem We're encountered. Altogether we were
well repaid for our labor, and l am sure the
people who so generously contributed would
have been more than compensated if they
could have seen the Joy brought to many
Wretchcd homes and hearts.