Evening star., 1896-12-30

.
Of each plate was q dice of golden cake,
rich and toothsome and about two inches
thick. paper bag, full OF nuts and candies
and big red apple.
At the Tables.
When the doors were opened the guests
entered in single file. They had to come
that way, for the policeman stood at the
outer door and Mr.. 3. r. Janney at the
inner door to see that they came in a
proper and orderly manner.
About five out Of si1 were colored boys,
and how their eyes did sparkle and their
mouths water when they first caught sight
OF the glorious feast that was awaiting
them The first to come In was an old
olno colored man who may be seen every
aiternoon on the avenue with bundle Of
Stars in bag hung from his shoulder. He
mas been blind for near a quarter Of a CEN
tury, but he manages to support himself
after fashion by selling papers. The it
tie tle pickaninny who guides his wandering
feet was with him today, faithful in time Of
good luck as well asss bad. They were
placed at the head of5one of the tables
ana the old mans sighttess eyes stared
biankly against the waii, while his fingers
toyed lovingly with his slice of bread and
his mug Of coffee. One Of the ladies de-
voted herself to looking after the old mans
comfort, and he must have thought that
his dreams Of comfort and happiness were
coming true this time for sure
SO far as possible the color line was
drawn, but beyond that there was little at
tempt at seating the guests with any sys-
tenn. Old cronies who have sold ''papes'
on the same corner for years managed to
get together somehow and when the bows
VINO sat together were. not acquainted 1t
required no formal introductions to set
the conversational ball rolling. But oh,
how good that turkey and cranberry sauce
did look, to be sure. And the wonder Of
II all was II at not single boy started to
break bread until the signal was given
Yes, there was one too, but sthe boys on
ooth sides Of him nudged him SO hard
ana made such unkind femar3ks about his
bringing up that he recoyered his table
manners in a hurry. There they sat until
the last boy had been given llis seat. Then
Rev: Dr.: Mackay-Smfths the president OF
the board of trustees of the Newsboys' and
Children's Aid Society, called the meeting
to order.
Instinctively every boy bowed his head
over his plate. and triea to look as IL he
were before the time casae to eat But DR..
Mackay-Smith has very tender spot in
his heart for boys. and grace was very
brief 1t was simply this; Through this
praised"
Through the blessing each boy kept his
eyes on his plate, partly fEom . desire to
be reverent and partly to keepsthe boy next
Now eat't srl.,5r
They ATE.
AS If there was any need for such an or
der. There, was a clatter of knives and
forks that could be heard on thu street
outside. and the way those heaping plat tes
OF food disappeared was enough to give a
gouty and dyspeptic bon vivant such an
appetite as he has not had for years. 1t
was more like the way snow disappears
under the warm sunlight But there was
plenty more where that came from. and
not single boy left the table until he
could eat no more.
AS places were made vacant recrnits
were called for from outside, and the seem
ingiy hopeless task of filling up a crowd Of
hungry newsboys went gaiiy on, unti II
had been successfully completed
Among those In charge of the tables ar
me dinner were Mrs. r; s. Childs. Mrs. r
II. AtWater. Mrs. N. a. Robbins Miss F.
T. Chiids, Miss b. M. Wilson, Miss M. b.
ferry. MRS L. D. Merchant, Miss McLana-
nan MISS Mimmack, Miss Durant. Miss
robertson, Miss h. Childs, Mrs j. w. Bah
son. Miss M. Babson. Miss Weir, DR.. A. r
Shands, Mr.. Daniels, Mr.. Williamson and
N Mr' Dale Mrs. Fuller Mrs. Atwood and
Additional donations for the dinner were
received this morning as follows: Mrs.
moore, large basket of biscuits; Mrs. Pra-
ther, biscuits; Miss Robertson. 81: Mrs. G.
v; X: Berry. IS; Mrs. Middleton, 81, and
Mrs. Perry. 81.