The National tribune., 1890-12-25
CHRISTMAS REFLECTIONS.
by KATE nrowsLER SHERWOOD.

Ding, dong! ding, dongi
All through the Christmas morning the bells
ring out right merrily.
Ding, donGi ding, dongi
Waking the sleepers on luxurious couehes,
waking the beggar GA his bed Of rags.
And the little children. God help them! Huddled
together under one pitifal blanket, their limbs
drawn mp with the cold and their pinched faces
warped with hunger and pain-the little children
are Weakened also.
Ding. dong! ding, dong!
O, bells, ringing out merrily, wot We not that
your peals carry heart-aches to many home?
Home? Nay. God forbid! These are not homes,
where children cry for bread and the mother goes
up and down the street bcgging-not often for food,
not often for clothes though she needs both sorely.
Heaven knows-but for work-kniliing, sewing,
wasling-anyihing by which she can put bread
into the mouths Of her little ones.
Ding, dong ding, dongl
O, worshipers ia silks aud furs! Can you know
that your prayers are mockery in the sight Of Him
who said that except you minister unto his little
ones you have not ministered to him?
Ding. dong! ding. dong!
Ia another week will begin the Christians week
Of prayer. One OF their themes will be for the poor
OF the land.
Now, nay Christian friends there IS but one way
20 prepare for that week OF prayer Il will not
take much time. half day will do it, Bat
20 it that you all begin right
You cannot storm Heavens gates with prayer
unless you bear the panOP!y that Heaven provides.
Go. ! beseech you To- the hants Of poverty, 10 the
abudes Of sorrow and ignorance Of crime may be.
Sec the piHched faces u the children. the sullen
doggedness Of the men, the tear--taiued faces Of
the wives and mothers See the young wife weep
ing over her sick husband with her helpless babe
ia her arms. Hear the aged grandmother moan
a nd fpr .lfa in Il
ments to beg. Hear the pitiful cry OF old aud
young everywhere; Help help or we persh!"
Ding, dongl ding dongl
Aud with tie sweet chimes still in your heart,
what VIII you do 10 make another acceptable year
81 llic Lord?
Take your stand IN the synngog with the Ma
rene related by s.. Luke. Turn az he did 10 the
book Of the prophet Isaiah. Read the Opening OF
that wonderful 6l-t chapter aud tile whole o! tIIlt
stll more wonderful 5sth. Learn practical Christi
aniy from tlc Babe Of Bethlehem whose feast you
keep this day.
And when you have read and wrought 20 enter
your fine churches and pray. Aud when you have
prayed may God help you 10 help Him in his self
chosen work
CORRECT INTERPRETATION.
Mary Il Bancroft, Department Counselor Of Ohio.
answers Question : la a clear and authentic man
Her:
Question = ] find there Is a great difference Of
opinion among Relief Corps women a. 10 what
women are entitled to admission 10 the WRC
Home at Madison. WIZ you please tell Us,
Answer ln reply, would quote from Journal Of
tie sixth National Convection, held in Columbus
The iuiaiDn sicp taken Tor the e-tabl ishmCut
% tic Home. The report ~ tho National Pension
aud Relief Committee, through it. Secretary. Kate
y. Sherwood, recommended, That the Wonsu's
Relief Corp, inauguraie az this Convention move
ment for tie establishment Of National Relief
Corp. Home where our aged aud frcuiless Army
Nurses soldiers widows and other classes Of women
properly coming under care, may spend their
cecil ming year. " which report was adOpted.-Muy
4. EAucioit, Department Counselor.
THE ORPHANS THANKSGIVING.
The Home WeeHy gives a pleasant account Of
Thanksgiving al tie Ohio Soldiers and Sailors
Orphans Home: The weather was all that could
Toe desired. aud the children spent a delightful
day IN outdoor sports, football being the principal
game.
al the dinner hour the Home band struci, M n
march aud the children filed into tile diuingha
keeping time to the music. Aher all were seated
tie duxology sung, aud the usual beautiful
grace was repeated by the children.
The tables beautifully decorated with
flowers, and every article the bOuntiful bill ~
fare WAS well cooked and nicely served. The bill
81 fare consisted OF bread. roast turkey with dress
ing, gravy, celery. sweet potatoes cranberry sauce
aud miuce pie over go large turkeys were roast
ed. The employees assisted the matrous To wait
upon the tables and every child had all lac could
eat, aud TO spare. The band played again while
the children retired from the dining-haI to re-
sumo their play. The employees thea went to their
diuner. which nice a one as was ever served
la the Home dining rooms Everything. from tlie
table decorations to- the last item Tie bill Of fare
was tn good taste aud entire harmony.
The Home band played several selections in
the open air ia tie afternoon. ln the evening sew
eral cottages visited other cottages aud every
thing passed of very pleasantly all over the insl-
tuition"
FINAL WORDS OF CHEER.
The last meeting Of the Executive Committee on
National Convention haas been held aud the final
accounts Of duties performed among the things
Of the past Emma Il. Loud, Past Department
President, was In the chair. Mary T. Knowles De-
paItmcnt President. Acting Secretary. I.zabeth A.
Turner. National Senior Vice President aud Treas
ureT committee was formally thanked Tor her DIS
charge oi duties Reunion 81 members Of the
committee, to be held sometime during the Winter
was provided for. committee, consisting Of
Mary j. Elliui, llarriettc l. Reed and Elizabeth
" Lang, was appointed 10 prepare "a pile Of circu-
lars documents, CORE pOndence, etc, in relation
10 the recent Convention for permanent reference
AT Department Headquarters.
The following re-OitSons from the GA X Ex-
eCutlye Committee. read and filed: The
Executive Committee desires To convey 20 the
WBt. the acknowledgment aud high apprccisl-
ton Of the work performed by its members in 50
generously aud abundautIy providing lunch for
the delegates 20 the National Encampmcut, g. A r.
aud for their invaluable aid la the labor oi prepa-
ration and successfully performing the pleasant
duties Of Encampmcnt week.
THAT your grand work eheerfuly under
taken and completed with glorious results has
been done entirely through the aid and efforts Of
the ladies of your organization, and without any
peenniary assistance from our committee. makes
record for the Woman's Relief Corps Department
~ Massachusetts in which It's members may well
have just feeling Of pride.
6te extend To your committee our congratula-
tions upon the grand success attending the enter
tliument al the eighth National Convention
Woman's Relief Corps. No feature Of the week Of
duty aud of pleasure was more enjoyable than tie
Campfire at fremont Temple Ola tie evening Of
Friday, Aug IS.
I'VE wish 10 express 20 your committee and
through IL &c the members Of the Organization Won
represent, our sincere cordial thanks for the aid
rendered Us. and the hope that tlIe frateTna bond
uniting the Womau's Relief Corps aud tile Grand
Army 81 the Republic may strengthen with each
succeeding year Of duty ia the soldier cause Sim
ggTf fra TIll la srffITa
"GEORGE l.. GooDALF
chairman Executive Committee
DEPARTMENT or IOWA.
DEAR TRIBUNE: When / wrote you last in June
from BnzemHn, Montana, ] was then expecting to
visit Helena, and have some w. T. G. news To tell
you, also To write you Of the beauties and wonders
| Of Yellow Stone Park.
Yet how vain are We 20 boast OF single day
Since the second week OF JHly have been an in
/ valid from iniiammatory rheumatism unable TO
attend to many things that were near my heart
Hence my failure 10 represent Iowa as had hoped
or even 20 rejoice with you over the promotion OF
Iowa's Past Department officers, and my dear
| friends Mesdamcs MuIIenry and Flimpton than
whom are no more faithful or competent workers
Va the Nation. Iowa, the " beautiful land" is still
rrbJNluW In the ploriOua sunshine of nff ha