Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1907-12-13
49, -
THE ASSOCIATED
SANTA CLAUS
BY CHARLES FREDERIC GILLIAN

souled fellows, and all here in the
building. Suppose 1 phoned 'em to
come up, and we'll talk the matter.
over. They're all pretty we'll fixed,
too. and believe will be glad to take
a hand"
Just the thing, George. The SOON
er we take hold and get it under way,
the better"
Accordingly an urgent message was
te'ephoned in half jovial, half mys-
ferrous way, to each one mentioned, to
come to James office at once on i'm
portant business. All responded
promptly, undecided as to whether it
meant a practical joke or business of
pressing Importance.
VIII called the meeting to order
IN very formal manner and REQUEST
ed George to state its purpose
Every one seemed to enter into the
spirit OF the object of the meeting, as
we'll as into the half jovial, half
formal, parliamentary manner IN
which 1t was conducted, and they
were soon discussing the various sug-
gestions offered with the enthusiasm
and abandon CT a lot of school boys.
While there was no posing as phil
anthropists, there was a whole-souled
spirit of consideration shown for the
worthy unfortunate, that gave them
much deeper insight into each 9TH
ers' characters and drew them into
closer bonds of sympathy than would
year Of ordinary intercourse. II
1t was found that after they had
all pledged themselves to the fund In
accordance with the rule laid down.
as to ability and percentage of or
binary expenditure, there would be
something over hundred and fifty
dollars available. = y
It being essential to the carrying
out of their plan that their families
should be interested, a meeting was
called for subsequent evening at
the residence of Mr.. Corwin, at which
all were represented.
The ladies and other members of
the families entered into the move
the originators. Before the labor was
completed Of making out the list Of
those to be aided and the various
things to be contributed to each one,
several meetings were required More
enjoyment came from these meetings.
twice over than Il The money ex-
pended had been for gifts for them.
selves. T.
The organization was kept secret
from the public, but at the laughing
suggestion of Mr.. Scott, adopted the
name "The Associated Santa Claus"
With each basket, delivered late on
Christmas eve, at the door Of various
homes, was an envelope addressed to
the recipient. containing a postal d.,
rected to 'The Associated Santa
Claus" Box 619, City; requesting that
the receipt Of the basket be acknowL
edged, so that it might be known
that it had not gone astray. +.
It is not the province Of this story
to tell Of the Joy Of the little children
in these 80 or 40 homes, over the res,
ceipt of some cherished toy and the
ever welcome candy and nuts, or IL;
the heartfelt gratitude of the parentss
that. for that one day of all others:
their families had been permitted IL
partake of the comfort and luxury d.
q, well flied table. Isl
AT the final meeting Of the yea.
held the night after Christmas, e.
which the Acknowledgements werS
read to the. association, more than on&
woman's eyes were brimming with
tears. and more than one man ha8
aSlump in his throat that was dimcuti
to" swallow, as he+~listened to .th4
burning words OF gratitude, for tn
Joy that had been brought to thel
homes, Some we're expressed in ID
douth, and some. in the most refined
language: but all bore the Impress d;
sincerity: .'" -,
There vas not q dissenting vofca.
when Mr.. Wilson presented tho fot
lowing resolution: % = s.
Resolved, That the Christmas Just
passed has been the happiest one Is
our lives. and that we continue. as ~
permanent organization, THE Ass3
ciated Santa Claus Ohio Magazine
IS