The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-12-26
A CITY'S CHRISTMAS.
"Our hearts can meier forgetful grow, nor cold,
While CHEEKY Christmas comes,
And brings each year it's customs sweet and old
To gladden. hearts and homes"

back to Lynn" We have an average of
one hundred and fifty calls day." con-
tinued Mr.. McClain, "and it ia awfnl tn
think what it will be when the ther-
mometer falls to zero, for SO far the
winter has been very mild. There are
thousands who would gladly work il
they could. l know one factory that
has laid off seven thousand men and
another that has laid of two Thousand
five hundred" And so the story ran
as he opened letter after letter, but
our time was up. AS we departed Mr..
McClain said TELL them we are in need
OF warm clothing and we will ap-
preciate it very much if they will send
us all the old clothing they can spare"
We promised to tell you, and want to
add that by reason of personal ac-
quaintance with MIR. McClain we can
assure any OF onr readers that all we
have quoted above is true, and if any
one desires to put shoes and stockings
on bare feet and warm clothing on
shivering little bodies he can do it by
sending his contribution to Mr.. Nc
Claim. Doubtless there are among our
readers some who have closets bursting
ing with old clothing that would keep
many poor child warm. II SO, lust
stop and think moment. 1t will cost
you but few cents to send a fifty
pound bundle by freight to Mr.. Nc
Claim, and, the writer's word for it, he
will see that it is put to good use. Jan
uary and February, the hardest months
OF the year, are yet before US. II you
can help send your bundles to W..
McClain, Manager st. Louis Provident
Association.
Time and space forbid to tell Of our
visit to the headquarters of the Sal
walton Army and all we saw and heard
there. 1t would take every page of the
Resorter to tell it all, and there would
not be dry line in it either. st. Louis
is having her Christmas. To him who
looks but hastily it is big, noisy, Jolly
Christmas, but beneath the surface
there are hearts that beat heavy. There
will be more empty stockings this year
than for many years, and the day will
be mockery to many. Charity organ
izations are doing all in their power to
let just little ray of sunshine into
darkened homes and hundreds of Christ
mas baskets will be given away, but
with all that there will be only crusts
for many mouths. We have shown you
the other side of the picture. X y
Two busy men were commenting upon
the great volume Of business that
Christmas brings. at is wonderful
how Christmas does shake up the whole
earth" said one. "And just to think"
replied the other thoughtfully, "that it
all began with the little baby in the
manger." So let the Christmas bells
ring. Let the messages of JOY and
peace and gladness speed from lip to
lip and heart to heart. Let the joyous
season come with all "its customs sweet
and DID," If hungry want appears it
does but prompt sweet charity. II
some must suffer it is only to bring the
swift-winged angels of mercy to their
door. II poverty pinches some it is but
the opportunity for those who have
abundance to spread good cheer. Give
us Christmas then, with it's Ginning
bells, it's pulsing life, it's happy firesides
it's empty stockings, it's Strengthening
of the ties OF human love and sympathy
and best OF all, it's sweet and beautiful
tidings Of peace on Earth, Good Will
to Man."
\ e. ORLo MOORE.
st. Louis, Dec. 20, 1907.