Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-13
Aunt Dorothy's Corner

Now that Christmas is coming, all
thoughts are turned that way, and doubt
less many of you have already begun to
look about the stores in search of gifts for
your friends Do you in such searches seem
always to bring up at the book counter?
do; and l have begun to wonder whether 1t
is altogether a good thing for you children
that there are many books that are at
the same time pretty and so cheap.
When 1 was a little girl. not so many
years ago. books were not so plentiful as
they are now. and children thought them
selves fortunate to receive one book as a
Christmas or birthday gift. instead of be-
ing overwhelmed with them as they are
now. / can remember how / used to save
my spending money to buy books and how
rich / felt when | had enough to purchase
one. Usually there was some one book
that l wanted very much and for which
saved my pennies. and l was always care
full to select one which would bear many
readings.
When l became acquainted with girl l
always wanted to discover, without delay,
whether she owned books that she would be
likely to lend me in return for like cour-
tesy on my part.
Among my friends was boy who was as
fond of reading as | was. He had an aunt,
teacher in the public schools, who always
gave him whole set of books at Christ
mas. How We looked forward to the time,
and how We enjoyed the books and dis
cussed them and read them over and over!
Now, when l see the counters laden with
chidren's books at such low prices l ques-
ton whether they are as highly appre-
ciated as they were when they were little
harder to get.
OF course the whole matter rests with
you, children. If you are careful in your
selections and are determined to own only
such books as are worth having, then to
you their cheapness Is a great blessing
Remember that in cultivating a taste for
good reading you are laying the founda ton
for one of the greatest pleasures in life.
| am goingSo share my letters with you
this week, as~1 am sure you will be glad
to know what the children say of this page.
Marie b. sends a very pretty little story,
and says, If not successful / will try
again" That is the way to succeed. Your
repeated attempts will improve your COM
position and command of English, and you
will become a close observer of what is
going on around you, because you will be
constantly looking for something to write
about.
A. B. S. sends poem and writes: Il read
the Chlldrens Page every Saturday, wish
ing ii would come oftener." Now, / will
give you little story written by twelve
year-old Helen A, called
FREDs REQUEST
There was once a little boy named Fred
whose father died when he was very young
His mother. in order to support her boy and
keep him in school, had to work very hard
Every evening when she came home he
would beg her to buy the Saturday Even
ing Star. but she refused, because she was
too poor and could not spend the money.
After begging for few weeks she asked
him where he ever heard of The Star and
why he wanted it. and he said, "All the
boys | go with at school answer the puzzles
and draw pictures and different things. So
won't you get it for me? Perhaps I'll win
Uriya ha oh nl-A1 ,Nfti
thereafter his mother gave him the money
TO buy The Star.
How glad he was and every evening he
would make out the puzzles and read the
stories. He was always happy after that
just because he had the paper.
His mother took great interest in the pa
per also and would spend part of the even
ing reading it. By being saving Fred S
mother managed to take the paper every
day.
The poem entitled The Pine Tree" shows
that certain boy is a lover of nature and
an observer OF her ways. Ii is a great
thing to be able to see and enjoy the nat
ural beauties that surround US and that
contribute so much to the pleasures of life
Dear children, / wish that | could print
all the stories and poems you send. They
are all so interesting and show such en-
joyment on your part. You may feel sure
however. that Aunt Dorothy reads and en-
joys them every one and that none reach
the waste-paper basket until they have
been passed on as all our sunshine work
is. Yours. sincerely,
DOROTHY DAY.
ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES.
Gertrude B.-Can join the Chldren's Sun
shine League or the adult society by writ
ing to % 9TH avenue for a badge and for
the leaflet sent out by the society There
are no dues except passing on a kind action
10 some one less fortunate than the donor
Much good has been done in this way. and
at the society headquarters in New York
the ladies are kept busy from morning IN
night. The Sunshine Bulletin, sent month
~ from headquarters for 80 cents wear
has children's page. fashion supplement-
ana gives complete account of all the
work done by the various Sunshine branches
all over the world. and 1t is well worth
reading It contains also much matter of
general interest. The publisher of this
bulletin turns over - per cent of the sub
scription price TO the childrens fund if sub
scribers specify II is their wish ne should
90 so. and all you need do in sending for
the journal Is to ask this of the publisher
and you will help along the work the chill
dren are doing themselves The use of this
Iand IS directed for good by board of
advisers, and an expert accountant takes
account OF and acknowledges every contri-
pution, even 10 postage stamp The
books are open and the society is incor-
Porated. and all help is much appreciated
Ihe childrens international president Mrs
Louise Hogan. and her interna tional sec
rotary. Miss Hortense Mckee of Washing
ton. are always ready to answer Inquiries
concerning the work established by them
IN 1897 and now associated with the In
ternatiOnal Sunshine Society.
Book awards for creditable effort are
made 10 Helen Appler, 2153 X street north
west. Washington. ID. c.; Marie Boardman.
12lS street northeast. Washington D. C.
Josephine Newell 1879 Phelps place north
west. Washington. d. c.; Rennle Thomas,
$40 North Carolina avenue southeast
Washington, D. C; Mildred Newbold Getty,
age Six. Forest Glen, Md: Elsa Masins.
729 10Th street northeast. Washington, d.
C.: Eaton Edwards, 3406 Morgan avenue
northwest. Washington, d. c.: Julia Addi-
son, st. Johns rectory Stamford, Conn
Theodore L. Stokes, TIT Mount Vernon
place, Washington. ID. c.; Garrett A. Smith,
1861 cOnnecicut avenue northwest Wash
ington. ID. C., Matte Ellis 203 c street
northeast. Washington. d. c.; John s.
Ferry. age fourteen, 2110 10th street, Wash
ington, ID. C.; Marion Towne age ten. IOl
oth street southeast, Washington, d. C.:
Pear Pierce. 1913 18th street northwest
washington, ID. C; Marguerite Stevens. 932
ID. c. "s 'oii'
SUNSHINE LEAGUE
Junior Sunshine Club OF Pittsburg. Pa.
composed of little girls. is working for a
. frw - ~.