The age-herald., 1898-11-24
TURKEY AND CRANBERRY
Children of the Public Schools Bring
 Offerings for the Poor.
THE UNITED CHARITIES AT WORK
Epworth League of the First Methodist Church Will Send Donations to the Poor House-Services of
 Various Denominations.

It has long been the custom in Birming- ham, so long in fact, that it has almost grown to be the unwritten law of the city that on every Thanksgiving Day every poor man, woman and child in the city whom it is possible to reach. is given a nice dinner, and where it is possible, some warm cloth ing to protect them from the chilly blasts of the approaching winter.
 It is pretty and thoroughly laudible cus- tom. The idea is that no person should sit down to his Thanksgiving dinner today be- side comfortable fire without having re- membered in practical way those less for tunate people of the big city who have none of these comforts
 The children of the public schools of the city have probably been observing this GUS tom as long as any other organization in Birmingham. They have at least been at it for quite number of years. The teach CTS and principals of the schools encourage the custom all they can, for nothing they find so tends to develop in children the great trait of charity. The children bring just anything they can afford to give away, in some cases nothing more than an apple, but nearly every one of them bring something.
 Suitable Exercises
 Nearly always they have some exercises arranged suitable for the occasion, such as songs, recitations and the like. After they are all finished and have been given their half holiday, all their offerings to charity. which have been piled up in each of the school rooms, are gathered up and sent down to the headquarters of the United Charities in the Thompson building in Third avenue and Twenty-second street where they are distributed all during the day. Mrs. L. Crozier-French, the president of the United Char ties and Mrs Johnston the superintendent will have charge of this work today.
 But not only are contributions sent in from the public school children, but by eat numbers of the citizens of Birming-
 n. Any thing that will be of service in
 work, either food or clothing, will be
 ly appreciated.
 board of lady managers of the Hill
 fpital will give all of the patients in tM itut.on as well as the nurses big Thanksgiving dinner today, and any con- tributions which may be sent in will be gladly received. There are several soldiers up there who were formerly members of the First Alibama, and they have been looking forward with great eagerness to their Thanksgiving dinner. The ladies are determined that it shall be as fine and as home-like as they can make it.
 The ladies in charge of the Mercy Home will also receive contribut ons this morn- ing at the Home and at Eleventh avenue and Twenty-first street north They also received number of donations yesterday from the good people of Birmingham, both in the matter of clothing and food.
 The Epworth Eeague of the First Metho- dist church will have exercises at the church this morning, after which a commit tee of the league will be sent out to the poor house with a large number of contri- buttons for the inmates.
 Other notable charities that will be per- formed today could be mentioned in great numbers. It is sufficient, however, to say that the good people of the city are deter mined to make today as pleasant a one as poss ble for all the people that they can reach.
 At the Churches
 The usual service will be held at a num- Der of the churches, though not all of them. The exercises will consist mostly of morning services at Il o'clock.