The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1903-01-01
CHRISTMAS AT THE GIRLS HOME

Christmas is a yearly event long looked
forward to, and longer remembered, by the
inmates of the Girls Home at Belfast This
year tree was given the children by the
| North Church Y. P. s. c. E., under the di.
recti0n of the missionary committee. The
young ladies had held weekly sewing meet.
| ings in anticipation of the event, which re-
suited in nine dressed dolls, equipped with
capes and hoods.
Wednesday afternoon the missionary COM
mittee, laden with bags, boxes, baskets and
| Christmas greens, met at the Home, and
| after experimenting the setting up of the
tree went to work preparing it for the gaze
of. the already curious and excited girls.
Through the generosity of Mrs. Thos E.
Shea, who gave a tree several years ago, a
quantity of elaborate ornaments became
the property of the Home and were used to
great advantage to supplement the usual
strings of popcorn, etc. Beside the dolls,
the society provided handkerchief, a hair
ribbon, small frosted and decorated cake
in a crepe paper case, and bag of candy
for each child, with the exception of the
oldest, who received a dainty silk work bag,
fitted up by Miss Evelyn P. Morrison, in place
of a doll
The handkerchiefs and hair ribbons were
done up in dainty ribbon-tied packages,
marked with the name OF the recipient.
Pictures mounted on white cards and hung
by red ribbons, the work and donation of
Miss Lizzie Pond, added much to the APP
pearance of the tree, at the foot of which
were ten blocks of paper and pencils, sent
by Miss Lucy Palmer. and as many en-
velopes containing paper dolls, given by
Miss Maude K Russell. Here also six dolls
for the younger children reposed in vari-
colored muslin-covered cradles.
The reception room, in one corner OF
which stood the tree, presented an attrac-
tive picture when the workers were done.
The walls were recently newly papered, the
woodwork painted and a hard wood floor
laid, and in one corner stood the much
desired new piano. Mrs. Florence A. May
nard, the efficient matron of the Home,
realized the need of a piano, and it is due
to her untiring efforts that $50 of the re-
quired hundred has been paid, since which
contributions to the amount of S13 have
been received.
Invitations had been extended to all
friends of the Home, including the local
clergymen. to attend the festivities, and at
73O O'Clock Christmas eve the rooms were
filled. Miss Cora NJ. Morrison played a piano
solo, preceding the exercises by the chill
dren. which began with a recitation by
Laura Robbins. The children, led by their
home-mother, sang "Two Little Children -
following which were recitationS by Abbie
Richards, Florence Simpson, Ruth Richard
son and Bertha Grace. The motion-song,
"When the Little Stars are Twinkling,"
was then prettily rendered by the children.
Rev George 5. Mills was called upon and
talked to the children about the meaning of
Christmas Day, concluding with the an
nouncement of an appointment he had
made with Santa Claus to be there at eight
o'clock, and excusing himself while he went
up stairs to signal to him. During his alb
sence Miss Pisbury read the following his
tory of a philanthropic doll, which was
written by a young lady of the Unitarian
Church of Saco:
1t is quite the fashion now for impor-
tant people to write the story of their lives,
50 have decided to tell my experiences, too.
Ny career has not been very long, but
think | have done more good in my short
life than many a real human being in sever
al years. Perhaps when you know my story
YOU will think so also.
My early life was not different from that
of any of my sisters and only a dream mem-
ory of it all remains in my mind. L some
times dimly see the room where | first was
given eyes, by brisk little German girl,
who passed me to her sister to complete the
| final process of applying my hair. When
admiration, and while voices Said-"Ihe
plettest of the lot'' | got a glimpse of the
room. Dolls of every complexion, size and
character lay on the tables or grew to per-
| fection in the hands of the makers. Dolls
| hung along the walls and boxes half open
ed showed still others lying asleep therein.
| Soon |, too, was put into box surround
| ed with tissue paper and straw, and then
came a period OF uneasy Slumber While L
| was evidently taking some journey, for the
| next thing / knew was taken from the box
and found myself in busy shop Here
| was placed in conspicuous position and be-
| fore very long was purchased.
Now begins my real history of good deeds.
/ found | had been admitted to a club OF
young ladies who were really eager to make
| life brighter for those less favored than
they. | spent many joyful hours in the
beautiful parlors where the young ladies
! busted themselves over my dainty ward
robe.
While they worked they talked of many
| things, and one afternoon just before the
maid brought in chocolate and cakes l heard
that | was designed to help collect money
for people who were ill and could not them
selves afford to pay for the care given sick
| people in pleasant place called a hospital.
[ was glad of the chance to help them but
how, | wondered, could | get any money. |
could not sell my new clothes, what was l
to 10?
At last the day came. was carried to a
FAR where everybody and everything was
trying like me to help the poor people who
were i'll. Crowds OF strangers were there,
and everyone stopped to admire me. Often
they stopped to speak to my attendants,
sad they wished for me, paid sum Of
money and wrote their names in d book.
What did it all mean? Nobody bought
me and yet everyone who wanted me paid
something. The last day of the Fair, how
ever, | was given to lady whom L had
seen befo' e, while was with the beautiful
young ladies who dressed me.
| | think she was a mother, for she seemed
| even sweeter than my other friends. Dolls,
| you know, are very fond of mothers and
| I'LL hope to have one of their own This
| lady seemed glad to receive ME and said
was s'Weli won'' / do not understand yet
what that meant: could the people have
| imagined that | was going to the hospital
| mySaIfp Of cuurSa WAS a. 'tWell one