The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1908-12-25
By Ethel LLOYD Patterson.

The Evening World played Santa
Claus 10 the poorest family in New
York City last nigh; The family was
found through the aid OF the Charity
Organization Society, whose letter Of
acknowledgment IS printed above.
1t WAS through one OF the poorest dis
tricts in the city that the organizat ,on's
agent and The Evening World reporter
made their way on their mission OF
cheer. Down Sixteenth street, toward
Avenue A, past children half sick and
half starved. with the slush and snow
ooz.ng through the miserable shoes
that made sorry pretence of covering
their frost-nipped feet. Into a hail that
caused one to stagger and pause at first
because OF the assailing odors and omi-
nous dark. Then up five long flights of
stairs that creaked and rocked and
were lit at the landings by ghosts OF gas
flames, more confusing than illumnat-
ing.
The mother with the baby in her arms
opened the door In answer to the agents
knock. Mother and little one, I'VE
months old had both been sick. were
in fact sick enough at that very moment
TO 5e in bed.
Seven in family they counted-seven
forlorn, hungry ones. utterly without
hope.
The father was sitting hunched over
miserably in a chair. with his head lean
ing against the wall. as the agen, and
the reporter entered the two barren
rooms. For more than three heart break
ing months he had begged. demanded
and besought work fruitiessly. With no
Christmas, not even the prospect OF
enough TO eat in sight. he scarcely
cared to move or display interest IN
comfortably clothed visitors who might
have come to mock his poverty.
The Mothers Sad Story.
One little girl. Angelina, four years
OF age. and a little boy, Tony. of two.
were at home. Two other children. both
little girl. were in the street. After a
short time they, too, came in and stood
shiver1ng and listening to tneic moth
ers broken story of misfortune.
Yes. they had had money, comfort,
home in Italy. Miserable day tina, they
had come here TO this cold, cruel land,
business. fine business. and such "a nice
home. Then they think there is more
money In America. In America we could
be rich, They sail. They leave dear
beautiful. bright. warm Italy. and moth
ing but misfortune has pursued them
since.
Everything is gone now. For months
the father has been out OF work and
for months the mother has been too
sick to work, No money 10 buy any
thing. Clothes? Clothes are luxuries--
food comes first, Everything has been
pawned but the two beds. a chair and
a stove. Much linen and so many dear
family things have all been pawned.
Now Christmas! How could Christmas
be happy? Any day would be happy
that brought food"
What would they ike Food, nour-
.shipy food. Christmas trees and toys
seemed hazy unrealities.
They Wanted Dolls.
But Angelina finally conhded, with her
cheek nestled against the reporters
skirt. that doll. real live doll. would
just be beautiful And tine two other
little girls would like dolls, too. The
boy wanted "a horse you could drag on
string"
The baby was too little aud TOO sick
to do anything but whimper.
Seven pairs of weary eyes looked un-
believing when It was suggested that
Santa Claus was not dead yet. Seven
pairs OF weary eyes hardly frightened
when they were admonished to wal,
and see what they would see,"
But an hour afterward 1t was quite
different. Joyous and exultant, the
father sorted and found place for
enough groceries to set the table amply
for week. With flush on her
cheeks the mother was selecting the
articles that were 20 make up the
Christmas dinner, There would be
tomato soup. roast chicken, macsroni
and string beans. olives, pickles and
jelly. Then there were 10 be apples,
oranges and bananas. nuts and raisins,
hgs and dates. A couple OF boxes OF
fresh honey were thrown In for good
measure, Before the reporter aud the
ssent left the lids were bobbIng mer-
riiy on several boiling pots.
And the ehiidreng They were heipins
SAINTS Claus 10 iTinanilns inc tree for
M - tAsy sasttsssd and stsglsd 70