The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-24

WHEN SHE SAW ONE ON THE
TREE SHE WEPT.
Christmas Celebration Of Ten Little
Sufferers from tuberculosis Is Full Of
Professionalism Toys and Warm
Clothing Bring Smiles Of Joy to
Children's Wan Faces.

Bearing the unmistakable marks Of
the "white plague,' ten children as
sembled at the home of one Of the AS
ISOLATED Charities visiting nurses yes
terday afternoon for what was prob
ably the most pathetic Christmas cele-
bration in the city.
None Of the children was over 13
and only two or three have any chance
of escaping the usual finish Of the
dread disease. Everything was done to
make the occasion a bright spot in the
little lives which have been darkened
by poverty and sickness.
Sad as the occasion was to the on
lockers, it was one of hilarity and mer-
riment to the children themselves. It
was at once pleasing and pitiful to see
the wan cheeks flush and the dull eyes
grow bright with excitement and hear
the thin laughter which came from
wasted lungs. The children are some
who have been under the care of the
visiting nurses for some time and their
wants and needs were well known and
carefully provided for when it came tc
the selection Of presents.
Used to Borrow Doll.
Little 7-year-old Victoria, who neve,
had doll before, was made happy
with a really-truly baby that could
open and shut her eyes and had curling
flaxen hair. In all her little pain
darkened life this girl has longed for q
doll. Every day she used to 60 to the
little girl next door and beg the loar
of much battered doll. When the
! time for which it was lent was up sht
would wrap it in it's shabby little CLOAK
and with quivering mouth and tear
wet eyes return it to it's little owner
Then for long hours she would sit in {
corner weeping her little heart out be
cause she had no doll of her own t,
love and care for. When she found tina
on the tree there was a doll which
would be her very own her deligh
knew no bounds and she wept for Joy
These children come from the fami
lies OF the very poor. Some Of then
had to be provided with more cloth
ing before they could go out into tn
cold air. One little girl was given
shawl. Two of the boys had neithe
shoes nor stockings. In the mornin
one Of the visiting nurses went t
their home with moccasins and heav
wooden socks. She explained tina
Santa Claus had heard that they di
not have clothes to wear to the tre
he had prepared for them, and as h
was busy had asked her to bring then
Other Pathetic Cases. :
Many other cases of childish SUITE
ing and deprivation have been brougf
to light in the course of the investig;
lions preceding the distribution {
, Christmas gifts.
One Of the most touching cases WE
that of a family of five little girls WI
, had but one doll among them. And tn.
doll was nothing but one of the dimi
: utive china images sold for penny.
$ A little boy who lives only fe
2 blocks from the Bethel mission W;
Y taken sick with pleurisy last Thur
r day. One of the visiting nurses W;
: summoned. She found that the IL
was bearing the pain well, but W;
Q heart broken because he could not s.
9 Santa Claus at the mission. She
L once told the circumstances to woms
interested in small boys, and as I
suit he was taken to the entertainme
in a closed carriage.