The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-25
MrsCrLLANroUs.
CArsstm.s Gifts for Poor cAildren.

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 Six children were left destitute in one of the few poor families in veal thy and fashionable suburb. It was near Christmas. benevolent lady. Miss Scripp. had the children on her mind, but was not able personally to do much to gladden. them at the joyful Christmastide. for she herself was not rich. Her neighbors were. however, and Miss 6crfpp determined to make canvass among them and secure gifts of food, clothing and money-anything that could be spared from a wealthy household to make Christmas merry for the Hobb children.
 Miss Scripp gave notice to her neigh, bors of her charitable intention. All the ladies replied that they would re- joice to contribute. Two days before Christmas Miss Ecripp sent a boy with a pushcart to make collections. He re- turned with an assortment of bundles as large as that of iaundryman on Monday morning and not unlike 1t in outward appearance.
 With pleased anticipation, Miss scripp had the boy carry the parcels into her pretty little dining room. Then she began to overhaul their contents.
 She began with the largest parcel. She uttered an exclamation of dfsap- pointment, vexation even. as there un- folded before her the remains of that ivory white chiffon gown which had done duty at parties two winters for Mrs. J. Van Blynker De Whytte. Its multitudinous founcings hung in fes- toons; its accordeon plating was bat tered and bulging like an antique um- brella; its front was stained with par ticles of feasts ranging from hearty dinners of state to after theater "snacks."
 How can that be cut down into warm coats and stockings for the poor little Hobbs7" murmured Miss Scripp as she laid 1t aside, with @ deep sigh.
 Few of the parcels were marked with the name of the donor. Evidently the fair and generous givers wished to do their aims in secret. It may have been that, but Miss Scripp concluded as she proceeded to golthrough pile that they were ashamed to be known and for this reason had refrained from att taching their names to their respective donations. Unfortunately, however, Miss Scrip recognized most of the arti- cies. Mrs Thrifty had sent her old rain coat. It was out of fashion: 1t was also bedraggled; 1t also let the rain, through in spots Again Miss scripp showed the unpleasant article aside, with sigh. apd murmured: v
 
 keeping the poor little Hobbs warmT
 Miss Florence De Whytte sent a pair of pink satin slippers run over at the heel. She tucked into the tiny toe of one of them a necktie of her brothers that had been worn so long 1t could never by any possibility be used again. Mrs, Pynchem sent. indeed, a woolen- rug. It had lain at the threshold of her husbands bedroom almost time out Of mind. It had become worn into holes just where each of MT. Pynchem's sub- stantial feet had pressed it, so that more than once he had ripped upon 1t and come near falling. Opportunely the very night before the boy called with the pushcart, MT. Pynchem had said. with divers unconventional expressions, that if he ever found that old rag there again he would "histe" 1t out the front window. Thus perforce Mrs. Pynch- em removed it by skillfully working 1t of on charity.
 But the gem of the collection for the destitute little Hobbs was Mrs. Spar ing's last winters calling hat. It had been perfect dream when the miliiner first turned 1t out, all silken, spangled gauge and rainbow tinted panne. with a sparkling buckle that had become so tarnished that Mrs. Sparing could never use 1t again. In its pristine perfectness there had been likewise real ostrich plumes upon that calling hat, but these Mrs. Sparig had prudently cut off that she might have them renovated for an- other winter.
 Such were some of the items in Miss scripp's charity collection for the des- titute Hobb children's Christmas.
 TABITHA SOURGRAPES.