New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-28
DAZED WITH SPLENDOR.
THE SUNSHINE MISSION ONE BLAZE OF
GLORY LAST NIGHT.
N1NTyrY-EIGHT LITTLE sTnAYs LEARNED THAT
SANTA CLAUS KNEW WHO THEY WERE.
AND HE GAvD THEN Just
WHAT THEY WANTED.

SANTA CLAUS KNEW WHO THEY WERE.
AND HE GAVE THEN Just
WHAT THEY WANTED.
Sunshine Mission was true 10 It's name last night
There was brightness and warmth and comfort
everywhere and the ninety-eight little strays and
tots who wandered into its kindly shelter seemed
dayed with the spendor Sunshine was In full pos
session Of the place II had placed bright pictures
on the walls and had decked the notices and
windows with gar.ands of tender greenery. II had
tuned the organ until /; out joyful. oheery
sound: II had filled a hundred bags with warm
clothes mttens. dolls. toys. games. candy and
books had washed the grimy little faces and left
happy smiles on Them in place Of dirt and frowns
r, tvinkled in Mrs Gaddiss blue eyes and softened
the voices OF the TWO Dig policemen who guarded
the door on either side 1t had even taken in the
dog and the cat and had tied blue ribbon around
"Beauty's" neck ana a red one around pussys and
there was goodwill and peace in every heart
"Hllly Gee, But dis is de place. Jimmy said
a brown-eyed t,le stray. whose uncomoed locks
stuck out at right angles 10 the ragged edges Of his
old cap
"Dere wos apples las night, an candy, an cakes
time. It's de right place ter feed de front yer
lace. Git In de rush. now.
"Wot yer gfvfn' us?'' reJoined Jimmy who had
ius; treated his face 10 an unusual application OF
soap and water and IN consequence felt tribe
superior
Do feed ain, fur now De prayin mill . got
Ter run fust. an den de singin' an talkin De
Feed . de last ting an yer git left. den. II yer
amt good now De cop showed me out las night
fur doln no;hin bu, kickn new feNsrs shin
DIS KID don't kick nobody ter night Shut up yer
face an keep stil."
The two uttle waits crept up near the big stove
and were soon thawing and beaning in its genial
warmth In the mean time the transformation In
the appearance OF the mission rooms made the re-
porter open her eyes In place Of the broken boxes
that had been used as there were rows and
F1rfQ
that had been sent from the Vermilye Chapel IN
F.gtv-fourth-st The stoves looked as I. they had
been rubbed with sunshine polish. and the pretty
rnottoes banners and pictures on the walls plainly
fascinated the gaze OF the children VINO seemed
unable 10 look al anything else
OF with that cap, No crowdins. now. or you
don't get in here to-night,' said the big policeman
or the inside. dozen or more little fellows
crowded IN past the other policeman who Kept the
mob back the outside
Say Mister Cop nut can't | bring me little
brother in tonight? He amt never seen good
time nor SANITY Claus. an I'll keep him STILL
20 my, Hear dat origin. Jimmy geo de DOG wd
de ribbon his neck.
Gee whlz. Look a. de cat. Got us hair ueo
Ike gurs s."
room and The childish faces-msny Of them look
inz pathetically thin and pinched and white
through the queer Hite smiles that nitteo over
them--were a study in eagerness and expectation
Led by Mrs Gaddis at the organ, q hymn DotAn
70 falter from the childish lips. broken by many
a catch In the eager breath and many frantic
otiavers on the high notes The little faces soft
ened wonderfully under the influence OF the MUSIC
and the narshness and impotence in the utue
voices melted away into sweet and lovely har-
nOny
Then began the exercises for these children ne
long to the Sunday school and Mrs. Gaddis uses
kndergarten methods in her teaching. Inc songs
all accompanied by pantomimic gestures ana
air II pride in the faces Of the little perform
ers was sight to remember. star performe'
was little Willie MCGOWAN. six years OLD, VINO
with his big blue eyes and soft sunny hair. re-
peated a childs prayer in the sweetest ht'le lisp
ing voice II he had been dressed in velvet and
lace. as his beauty deserved. he would have e'a'-
dened the heart OF the most fastidous moiner.
Another leading performer Alice Herken-
stein a fo1r-year-old tot who nxed her shining
eyes on a bright picture the wall and repeated
Martin Luther's little hymn. beginning
Aw No CRIB II a for %f MS bed.
The little Lord Jesus
Lay down His sweet head
The older children then sang carols and gave
concert Rotations. entering into every part az
signed Them in such intense way that II was az
sorblngly interesting watch them "nen inc
programme ended. Or. Sanders Inc fresi-
dent OF the Sunshine Mission Board. gave snort
talk, and then the feature OF the OCCASION
in the minds Of the little ones-the distribution OF
pearance OF q small but gayly decorated tree that
simply filled each little heart with overlooking
rapture
Gee But didn't tell yer dis de place
Jimmy! Open yer face. now and say sumpn'.
The bags were genuine treasures to tine children
They not fancy bags by any means. They
were plain. yellow paper -four sacks. but they had
each childs name written on the outside. and they
were splendidy heavy and rested In "A beautiful
blue and red tin pail Each bag contained pair
81 warm woolen mittens for the eager lttle myers
that dived so quickly and delghtedly 10 the bot
tom or the sack, then. there were hoods. stock
ings. outing flannel shirts and waists. heece-llned
gloves for the larger boys and girls dolles games.
toys and books The candy In separate bags.
made Of gay muslin and swiss and leftover Little
Mother bags, showing the sweets in all their glory
Of color.
am just so happy don't know what 10 do,
SAID Mrs. Gaddis as she fitted pair OF red mitts
On par or little hands that were fearfuly and
WsonGerfully begrimed; Il don't think could have
$1,000 i at all II my children had had this
sp'Snulo Christmas treat sent TO them. | would Ike
20 nave you say that my bad boys getting to be
son Iucn better and my good boys are just awfuliy
svou NY little treats at night OF cakes or apples
are working wonders I'm the way Of Inducing good