New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-21
GUILD OF THE POOR THINGS
A CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL THAT BROUGHT
CHEER TO MANY WEARY LIVES
AN ENGLISH SOCIETY FOR wHosoEvER LACK
ETH LIGHT OR LIMB OR HEARING"
BUT WHO WILL BE BRAVE.

more motley gathering more jubilant time
was certainly not be found in all the wide world
on Christmas Day than the Christmas party OF
the Guild of the Poor Things of the City of Bristol
England. There were old and young big and little.
all bound by common tie The guild is So
ciety or fellowship of MANNED people, whether old
or young and Is for whatsoever lacketh light or
limb or hearing" The guests at the Christmas
party were crippled in many ways. Some had lost
legs others arms some had crooked backs many
blind, two or three were imbecile; several
deaf and dumb. All were poor and their faces
bearing deep marks of pain, told that they were
'all acquainted with grief"
But what happy Christmas they had! Long
before time for the doors to open the Poor Things
were waiting outside, and picturesque sight
than they presented they entered the hall. each
decked with wide scarlet scarf and scarlet cap
would not have found In many a days march
In they came, lettering with age feebleness,
hobbling crutches, feeling their way or being
led sorry, helpless looking crowd until noted
the happy, expectant look in every face Tea came
first. and they filed up to the long tables, and the
cater of crockery and the happy chatter of voices
held sway for the next half hour. After tea the
Poor Things and their guests filled the seats in the
body of the hall and looked toward the curtaned
platform with joyous expectancy In every face;
and their hopes fully justified for scarcely
could there have been a prettier sight than that
which greeted the eyes of the audience the
tains parted and disclosed the ring of scarlet hooded
crippled children standing around the giant Christ
mas tree. with the pickering lights of many candles
falling on the eager. flushed little faces.
Then the children sang of the little Child Graded
long ago in a manger. the Child whose coming
brought to childhood a glory; to blind and
manned, and deaf and dumb. healing and help
and hope, and laid forever upon the strong the
obligation of helpful tenderness toward the weak,
When the carol was ended the great work of dis
trlbutng the presents began. Warm garments
were produced from heaps that banked the tree,
and every Poor Thing received a gift that brought
summer to the heart for many weary day.
After the tree had yielded up it's fruits 1t was
moved aside and entertainment of fairy play
and action songs given by the children, in spite
of the handicapping of crutches and wooden legs
Rectations from Dickens, and music closed the ex-
ercses of this. the happiest day that many a
one present had ever known.
ORIGINATOR OF THE SCHEME.
The Guild of the Poor Things of the City of
Bristol is a branch of movement that has its
headquarters at Bermondsey Settlement, London.
where Sister Grace, the originator of the scheme,
lives and works,
II shall never forget" says Mrs. Vachell, pres-
dent of the Bristol Guild of Poor Things. 1.-THE
visits paid in the early days of the guild. up and
down our poorest drearest streets finding out the
crippled and deformed whose names had been
given by relieving officers and others. I'M
beetle lurked in dark corners, and at their
relatives call crept timidy into the light Poor
pitiful objects with paralyzed distorted limbs,
sat duly as they had sat- year in and year out
doing nothing and having nothing done for them.
Little children suffered in patient pathetic
fashion. The deaf lifted their impassive faces
the outcome of that silent world in which they
lived. Grief written upon the faces of the
blind 1t is for such as these that the guild is
started.
objection is sometimes made to the curious
sounding title of the guild. The name has been
taken from Mrs. Ewng's Story of Short Life,
and it is to that book that we owe the first idea
and inspiration of our work. 1t is a story of a