The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-26
Mrs. Thorpe's Christmas Was
One Day Late.
Little Ones Were No Less Anx-
ious However.
100 ARE MADE HAPPY.
Wagon Loads of Candy and Toys
Dispensed.
The Supply Of Drums Was Soon
Exhausted.

There was more real JOY, more happy
teartbeats, in the police matron' $
rooms this morning when the poor chill
dren were given their Christmas pres
ents, than there was in all the churches
and we'll furnished homes Of Topeka on
Christmas day.
The poor children were there in force
They had no Christmas tree and there
was no Santa Claus with heavy cloth
ing and a false face with a long Wnlte
beard but the presents were there ana
q number OF kind-hearted women took
the little ones in charge and saw that
they got toys and books and candy, all
of which are very dear to the little
hearts Of the poor children, VINO seldom
If ever before knew what Christmas
meant except to watch hungrily the
children who were more fortunate play
with toys and nibble sweets purchased
by the rich parents
The little children began to arrive at
the station early this morning, although
they had been informed that the door
would not be opened until 10 O'Clock
They were afraid that they would be
late, and that the best toys and maybe
all the books and candy would be gone.
The door was opened long before y, Tor
Mrs. Thorpe could not keep the little
ones out in the cold; besides, many OF
the ladies' who helped wait on the chill
dren were on hand, so the children 5
Christmas opened early.
There were toys enough for all, and
standing the liberal amount given to
each little one AS fast as the children
came in they were taken in hand by
the ladies and were given dolls and
TOYS. They were then taken to the next
room, where the books and pretty pic
ture cards were kept After they had
all they could conveniently carry they
were given candy and started out the
front vav. They got to coming so fast
that it was necessary to hold them on
the stairs for awhile and then usher
them in squads to the rooms
All the little girls wanted dolls and
they got them. and the boys wanted
toys, and they got them. Sometimes
they did not get exactly what they
wanted. but they always got subsu-
tute, which seemed to please them as
well, if their bright, smiling faces meant
anything-and it does in a child A
little bed in which was a doll was the
envy Of every little girl. but 1t was
special present for one OF the girls OF
the sewing school, and they could only
feast their eyes upon it One little girl
who could not wait to be helped took
the bed and doll and started away with
it, but she was brought back and given
two dolls and some trinkets IN place
SAY. Mrs. Thorpe" said a little fell
low, Il don't want no candy and no
books and no toys. want doll
dressed in white" The doll was found
at once, for the supply of dolls was un-
limited, and the little codger went away
happy.
one little fellow who was so fat that
he almost waddled got in early and de-
manded the only rocking horse He got
st and his little sister got a baby buggy
with a don to put in it. Their pockets
were full of candy and they stood at the
foot Of the stairs in front of the station
for some time looking in open mouthed
wonder at their beautiful presents The
little boys arms would not reach
around the horse and he was too small
to carry it, but he resented any of1er OF
help and Rugged his Christmas present
until his mother came and took them
home.
There were all sorts and conditions of
children and in some cases where the
children were too small to go alone the
mothers accompanied them and were
allowed to help select the presents. One
woman came in with three little ones
and she had a hard time keeping them
together in the crush Her hands were
large and red. denOtng the wash tub
and her voice was harsh and high The
children would cling to her skirts. only
letting go to take hold of some present
which the ladies would offer them.
When they got out of the front door
there was a sign of tears In the wo-
mans eyes and her cry of Johnny, let
Willie's things alone" did not frighten
the young one in the least, for he tug
ged away at a horse on wheels which
his brother had and which he seemed to
prefer to his own.
One little tot whose hands we're cold
was given a pair of mittens and two
dolls and a real woolly sheep. She back
ed in behind the stove and stood gaZ-
ing in rapture at her presents. I dot
nuver doll to home name Dora she said
as she showed her wealth to an admir-
ing little friend rs you dot a doll yet?S
The other was given doll and toys and
they were carried out by grown sisters
fully eight years old
The supply Of drums did not last long
for almost all Of the boys asked for
drum when they were given a prefer
ence. One boy was standing in the hall
waiting his turn when a boy came out
carrying a drum Dang it, there goes
that drum an I bet they hain't another
in there he growled, but there was and
he got a drum.
Some of the boys were inclined to be
hoggish and after going through and
down the front stairs they would hide
their presents and go back again They
were detected and put out before they
got another supply.
Almost 400 children called at the sta
rion for their Christmas and not one
was sent away empty handed They
could be seen along the sidewalks where
they would sit down and inspect the
toys and eat the candy. A great many
dolls were sent to little girls who were
unable to be there themselves, and
many toys were carried tolittle brothers
Mrs Thorpe seemed to know all the
children and the children certainly all
knew Mrs. Thorpe. She was every
where looking after the little ones and
directing the work.
1t was a grand success if making lit
tie children happy Is a success and it
apparently gave as much pleasure to
the ladies VINO assisted in the work as it
and the ladies will remember this
Christmas for years. Even il it did
come a day late It brought happiness
and JOY to little hearts that may not
know it again
A Kentucky Christmas.