The evening world., 1908-12-24
WRITES "SANTY
FOR A LEG FROM
COT IN HOSPITAL
Car "Runned" Over Little Joe,
Who Wants to Help Papa
Keep Family.

The lights In the surgical ward in ].
Hood Wright Hospital were turned low
early to-day. Miss Whelan. the nurse
in charge, was at her desk by the door.
reading. Close by sat Policeman
Happy Jack" Mcdonald. on duty as
custodian of man who was asleep on
cot in the ward, suffering from in
juries inflicted in an attempt at suicide.
A sound that cut into the monotonous
breathings and mutterings OF the pa
tlents caused the policeman and the
nurse to straighten up and gaze into the
shadowy recesses Of the big room. Then
they got up and tiptoed down between
the row of white cots, until they came
to a very little boy. and the little boy
was crying.
Miss Whelan bent down and placed
her cool hand upon the forehead Of the
little boy. He looked up at her and
smiled bravely. while the tears glist-
ened on his long lashes.
mo Santa Claus In Hospitals"
What's the matter. Joe?" asked the
nurse.
I'm afraid Santa Claus won't come
here" replied the little boy. "A man
told me Santa Claus don't come to hos
pitals,"
Mcdonald. with catch in his throat.
turned his head away and looked fool
shly down the ward. Miss whelan
whispered to the little boy in an effort
to comfort him.
This is Joe O'Neil," she told the
policeman. He Is only five years old
and his right leg has been amputated." !"
"A street car ruined over my leg in
front OF Nolan's bakery. and cut II clear
on" put in the little boy, rather proud
ly. II was comm nome from school
when the street car runned over me
Say. Mr.. Cop. will Santa Claus come
here?"
He might II you'd write him a
letter" suggested Mcdonald.
II ain't such II good writer" said the
lhtle boy. viii you write a letter to
Santa Claus for me, Mr.. Cop?"
Mcdonald said he would He and the
nurse got table and chair and put
1t by the side of the little boys cot,
and this is the letter the policeman
wrote from dictation, and sometimes he
couldn't see what he was writing until
he brushed his hand across his eyes.
sess "santy" for Leg.
Dear Mr. SANITY Claus; A cop is writ
ing this letter for me because got my
leg cut off Dear Sanity Claus. please
bring me a leg like the doctor told me
about so | can walk like other boys,
and bring me drum and fire engine
and a wagon, so ! can help my papa
peddle coal, and some candy and-and
teddy bear.
Dear SANITY Claus, don't forget to 20
where ] live, No. N Columbus avenue,
in the basement, and bring my papa
some new gloves and my mamma a
new dress and my sister Annie a doll
and a sleign and doll house and some
candy. Dear SANITY Claus. there amt
no place in front of our house where
you can tie your relndeers, but II you
go around on Ninety-seventh street in
front OF the engine-house you can tie
them TO the pump, Good night, Dear
'N''' "JosEPH oNEIL."
Mcdonald put the letter In an en-
yelope. ostentatlously addressed IL "a
/ SANITY Claus, North Pole" showed II
to the little boy and promised to mai
/ il as soon as he left the hospital. With
a great sigh OF relief and satisfaction
/ little Joe OSeil turned over and went
to sleep,
! He win have his SANITY Claus" too
Policemen Mcdonald and McManu,
showed the Santa Claus letter 10 thelI
fellow policemen in the West one Hun,
dTed and Twenty-flfth street station
and started out this afternoon with III,
wherewithal FOR a Christmas tree anC
ali the trimmings to be set up to-nighl
~ tho foot 9. little Jos's G0t