New-York tribune., 1907-12-02
FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS.
Mrs Booth, for Volnnteers of Amer-
ica, 4sks Contribution for Poor.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: AS we enter the Christmas month. I am
once more reminded OF the kind opportunity your
paper has always given of making known the
needs Of those whose lives We especially seek to
gladden. at this season
Your readers may have read from time 70 time Of
the work I have undertaken throughout the prisons
of country. Great as is the need of these men,
some may condemn them. may pity. some
NAV stop to give thought to their welfare.
but all must instantly sympatnize with the plea
for help which comes to us from the wives and
mothers and helpless little whom the law has
had rob of their support and natural guardians
As the stores shine with the gortes of Christ
mas and little tongues begin to prattle of dear old
Santa Claus many Of these broken hearted women
have TO break to their babies the news that they
can have no Christmas-Santa Clauss sleigh must
pass them by. because papa is away For many
years II has been joy and privilege 10 dispel
this bad nightmare and TO resurrect the dear old
saint they saw vanishing into the sad grave of
lest yesterday.
On the other hand I have also had the opportu-
nifty through your columns OF showing the happy
and prosperous the way OF helping where help is
needed and IT, as we read, it is more blessed to
give than to receive" this also must be a way OF
making our Christmas richer
wish 1 could tell your readers what we saw
of the poverty and suffering last Christmas
went from home TO home delivering the boxes we
had packed for many little friends. Let one
picture suffice Climbing the stairs OF one tene-
ment, we knocked the door of room. which,
on being opened showed only darkness We were
told by IT'S occupant, frail woman with a tiny
child of two or three years, that she had shut
the blinds and shutters with the hope of keeping
ont the cold for she had TO fire There was no food
in the house and no comfort There she sat alone
with her child and her sorrow on the eve OF the
great Christ's festival While we were there
man came in with pail of coal. for which she
had borrowed the money from a neighbor. Our
hacking cases could be used for firewOOd, and
warm clothing and groceries and chickens soon
brought a cheering aspect to the desolate
home Her husband had just been sent away for
three years and many weeks would have
passed vet added responsibility would have come
10 this poor young mother
Our plan is TO make the Christmas gifts as use
fuI and lasting as possible We do not give big
Christmas dinner promiscuously 10 the poor. but
we try TO taFe good cheer into each home Chick
ems groceries. oranges and supply OF fuel give
the touch Of festivity to the empty cupboard. but
the warm stockings. shoes, coats. dresses, etc.
prove a blessing that lasts on through the whole
winter warming many little body that otherwise
would suffer.
We must not forget that these children in the
shadow are just eager for toys. dolls. ETC. as
those who are playing in the sunshine of happy
home and we welcome the chance to bring them
back from a life OF premature care 10 the joys or
childhood.
In the past your readers have helped me most
generously. May 1 again ask for donations of
clothing money groceries or toys? The gifts may
be addressed to at our new headquarters NO 81
West 18th street, New York
We wish it distinctly understood that the Vol
! unteers of America is properly incorporated So
cety that our books properly audited and that
our treasurer will send receipt for every dollar
received and will hold vouchers for every dollar
expended.
In the name of the dear Christ whose birth We
celebrate l plead for these. His little ones, for.
inasmuch as We have done II unto one of the least
of these We have done ii unto me-
" MAUD B. BOOTH.
No 81 West 2sth street. New York