The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-23

what he could give them that would
bring the greatest happiness. At nrsr
even the thought Of such thing
happening held them speeches.. much
as the apparition OF old st. Nick him
self would have done. Then the fear
that after all I might possibly be In
secret communication with the powers
that be overcame the awe Of the
moment and the air fairly vfbrated
with a strange cry 1t was a queer
mixture of doll" bicycle" coaster
bat and ball." piano." and a dozen
other things of like meaning Con-
sidering the. dearth OF dolls IN the
camp, it was not strange that that
should be the cry of most OF the girls
A request for a bed or buggy was
generally tackled onto 1t. With the
boys bicycles and coasters ruled the
day. 1 tried to modify the list. which
was long one, explaining that even
Santa Claus himself was terribly poor
this year and that bicycles, tricycles
and coasters made very expensive
presents If every boy in San FRANCHISES
asked for one.
Careful in Wishing
A little fellow with sharp eyes
which looked keenly through me
sized me up thoroughly. Then he
turned to one of the youngsters TO
whom 4 coaster meant everything the
world has to offer at present
That's right jim" said he. You'd
better go slow and ask for some
tb:-g else You might get left alto
this bit of advice was too obvious to
admit of discussion. and a ball and a
bat were substituted
OF all the pineteen children at Ingle-
side there was. think. but one who
expressed a wish for anything out
side the world of toys. She was q
quaint little thing-perhaps she had
had eight candles on her last birthday
cake. For long. long time she did
not answer my question. and all the
time she kept her eyes on the high
trees of Sutro forest. which forms an
exquisite background for the Ingle-
side track. knew the child was prob
ably weighing it over In her mind
whether she should ask for what her
baby heart desired or for what the
comfort Of that baby body demanded.
AT last the decision was made.
Il want a new dress and new shoes"
she said quietly.
But the responsibility Of the chill
dren as a whole to what their posi-
lions in life meant-where their neces-
saries of life were coming from. was
a comfort Who wants Christmas to
mean anything to them but freedom
from all cares and concern?
stories
what they are ito get" at Christmas
that the children of the refugee camps
entertain one another these days. The
real Christmas spirit has received a
true welcome from them. And so one
hears mysterious whispers and sees
roguish smiles when mothers appear
around the corner unexpectedly. and
laps are hurriedly covered.
Little treble voices make a joyful
chorus, Now. don't look. Please go
away It's no fair staying around all
the time just before Christmas"
At Ingleside these presents are to be
more than Just what childish fancy
suggests. or childish hands, unaided.
could carry out There the Sisters OF
the Holy Family are teaching the chill
dren to sew-the girls, at least. are
handling needles and thread, while the
boys are actually crocheting and knit
ting Aprons. handkerchiefs. and nice
warm scarfs. welcome enough these
cold days. are slowly growing into
shape and being under the guidance
of these patient teachers
Judging from the outlook, every body
at Ingleside camp is to have some
Christmas cheer. The ladies' Of the
California Club have the matter in
hand. and Captain Kilian. in charge OF
the camp, has also had numerous other
offers of help from the outside The
assembly hall will be beautifully but
simply decorated, and the SCI inmates
OF the camp will be made to feel that
Refugee Christmas is not. after all. a
season OF sorrowful loneliness
over in the park there are two fam
lilies whom Santa Claus even wleh a
limited store would surely visit. They
are both in section Of camp T. Mr.
and Mrs. Barton, with their six chill
dren. live in two large tents Now. OF
course. Mr.. Barton works-he's that
kind OF a man-but S2.25 a day does
not go very far in defraying the ex-
penses OF family of eight even on
ordinary days. What will it do on
Christmas Mrs. Barton simply looked
unspeakable things when the six. all
under IL. stated plainly and emphat-
ically what they hoped for on Christ
mas morning. I. too, felt unspeakabls
things.
Mrs. Barton's neighbor, Mrs Mag
ninson. in tent 102. has also six little
ones who want drums. dolls. buggies.
paint boxes. ETC.. left at their tent on
holy night" It's another case where
the elastic qualities of n So piece will
have to be put to the test
I'm going to have tree for them.
anyhow" said Mrs. Magninson to me-
We've never missed a year yet. and
we're not going to iet this year be
the first"
So il Santa Claus should happen TO
have a few spare moments between
now and the 25th to read this story
of the refugee children perhaps he'll
be able TO hunt up few extra pennies
TO spend in the Park. at Richmond and
at the Ingleside track. The remem-
brance need not be large one. for
weren't We all just as much delighted
when our own small stockings were
flied with candies and fruits a. thouxh
each one contained fortune?