The Press., 1894-05-10
w. c. T. U. DEPARTMENT.
The Legion's Christmas.
IVAN INKLING.

IVAN INKLING.
 'sOh, won't that be too lovely for any thing r
 Lovely? why, it's just jolly! I say three cheers for the folks at the big head quarters who think up all these nice things for us boys and girls to do! They must have a special kind of thinking machine, f,beheve
 Hush. Harald Boys are nice, but they do make such,a racket.''
 Racketf Well, guess! but its boy Essaaoi is sick, you see, and when 8 fellow sees live boy who ought to be out play ing ball, or skating, or sliding down hill, or--''
 Cutting kindling for mother"
 Yes, sir, that, too, cutting kindling, and everything else, just a-lying in dark Spom sstHffy as an attic full of hundred f5ear-old relics with nothing nice all day long ''s
 But that isn't the worst of it, Hal. Poor little chap!-that old saloon will have something to answer for, for it takes money that ought to bring lots of comfort to little Bill-' Oh, don't blame the saloon, a saloon is nothing but 8 room with bottles and a counter in it; it is the man-power back of it, as Judge Grow said, that does the naischief'
 Perhaps you'd better say, MT. Frank, that it's the lack of man-power back of it that does the mischief I think If all the good men in the country would just get their heads together and say there shouldn't be one of those horrid old sa- looms, there wouldn't be any," Hear! Hear! Her Majesty, Queen Ress has the floor! Give attention, young gentlemen"
 Of course this was the breaking up of an l.. T. l.. meeting, and new and very pleasant bit of news from the national convention had been given them by their faithful superintendent, and the Legion CTS has unused and "moved'' and "motion- edo until result had been reached that met the approval of all assembled. Harold Ames was the first to reach home, and consequently the first to re- peat the plan that had so filled the minds and hearts of Division 1, Company A., L. II. l.. of H.. You see, mamma, it's the best kind o1 a thing that could be gotten up. Now you know that boys ain't hard d-hearted Ea're so well and strong, and we keeI ss pusy that we just don't think, that's alI. and this1ll nuke us think, when we l Aipesl hospital there's room says 80 On the door-ir sislch tEey san't even put big folks, ,cause T-@beoause- why, the beds wouldn't be long enough, and this room is just for sick boys and girls. It will make us think more about those who haven't nice homes and strong bodies, won't it, mamma2"
 s'Yes, my son, am sure it will, and am very glad. But what was 1t about Willie Frost?'
 l Why, Billy, he's been sick ever SC long, you know, and he doesn't get strong and never will where he is, for they say his father goes to the saloon. Too bad isn't it, mamma, for he used to be nice and live in pretty cottage with flowers and bay window; and that isn't all, he brings liquor home and makes poor Billy take it because he thinks it will make him stronger; but it won't, it'll just make him weaker, and his fever worse, and oh, you know all it'll do. And then if he did get well in spite of it, he might grow to like it, and get to be a drunkard, anG well, when Miss Whitcomb asked if w couldn't think of some sick child we wouiG like to send, Bessie Willard thought O. little Billy right off, and we all agreed il would be splendid to save our money te send him to the Temperance Hospital"
 And that was how it all happened tha one wintry day the city ambulance brough from the station little muffled figure tha might have passed for 8 mummy so care full had this band of Legioners been tha their charge should not suffer from thu change. Good Dr. Willing, having ar errand in the city, went with the little fel low for the hours ride and transfer tt that much talked-of l.. T. l.. room in thu Temperance Hospital.
 "Oh, ain't it nice!" Willie's eyes wer, taking in the clean, sweet room, the pret ty white bedsteads, the pictures, the daint. statuettes, the glimpses from the cheer. windows of trees and sky, and, last, tn pleasant-faced nurse who was enterin! with little tray of nourishing food.
 Everything was so restful from tn blue-tinted walls to the spotless counter pane and soft, snowy blankets of tn dainty bed.
 'sThis room ought to reduce that youn mans temperature very soon," Dr. Will ing had said. ''It will be better tha medicine.'
 II think he needs 'mothering' nor than medicine, doatoer doatoer, tie matron ha : answered~Aan and we do not intend the lii tee tlee-p people shall miss that here.'
 '.so you've come to spend Christina with us, have you, Willie? It will be her in few weeks now," Nurse Edna saio
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