Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-22
-SANTAEARS AN
APPEAL OF CHILD
Dora Willhite, Aged 10, Writes
in Behalf of Brothers
md Sisters.
FROM Home IN COUNTRY
Father I'D and Out of Work-No
Contributions Will Be Received
After Tomorrow.

Dear Mr.. Editor: ! saw an ad in the
paper where you said all poor children
whose parents were unable to provide
them with Christmas gifts would be
taken care of by The Argus Santa
Claus Fund. Now, dear Mr.. Editor.
there are five of US, and we are so poor
that we can't buy any presents for our
selves this year. Papa has to work
for such small wages that he can't buy
US anything for Christmas. He is sick
now. Will you be kind enough to
send US little something for Christ
n1as7 My name Is Dora WiIlhite. I am
10 years old. My sisters name is Celia
WIIIhlte and she is 9 years old. BY
brothers name is Clifford WiIIhite. He
is years old. My little sisters name
is Mandy WiIIhite, and she is years
old, and my little baby brothers name
is Ralph WiIIhite, and he is 2 years
old.
DORA WILLHITE,
Illinois City.
Rural Route No. 2
The foregoing message was in the
mail addressed today to The Argus
Santa Claus Fund committee. The
letter was turned over to Miss Dina
Ramser. the chairman of the commit
tee, and box filed with little things
to cheer the hearts of the Willhite
children will reach their home near
Illinois City by Friday evening.
More Friends Heard From.
More friends of the poor children
were heard from today, all sending
contributions of money. Three of the
letters were anonymous. Two signed
themselves as "a Friend" One wrote:
Enclosed. please find So to make a
few children happy, and I herewith
thank you for your personal trouble"
The other Friend simply requested
that his $40 be added to the fund and
that the committee use its own judg-
ment in spending it, "X'' wrote: En-
closed please find 50 for your santa
Claus fund for poor children"
Buying the Gifts.
The Argus at noon today sent an
other check representing the amounts
mailed to this office for the fund 10
Miss Ramser. Miss Ramser and Miss
Mamie Giles, the visiting nurse, have
the task of purchasing the gifts. They
are finding it a big job. but pleasant
one. They are making the money sup
piled them through The Argus fund
go as far as they can stretch it in pro-
viding toys for the youngsters whose
names have been placed in their hands,
and to whom they are to be Santa
Claus this year. Misses Ramser and
Giles personally will supervise the de-
livery of the presents.
Tomorrow Is the Last Day.
Tomorrow is the last day on which
The Argus will accept contributions
to its Santa Claus fund. The neces-
sity for placing a limit on the time
for receiving donations is seen in the
fact that the committee must have at
least a day in which to make it's pur-
chases- and deliver them. In Codays
mail there are several fine donations
Aof money. All of it will be put to good
ause. No names will be furnished by
The Argus after today 10 those who
might wish to personally be Santa
Claus to some poor children.
All Have Christmas Homes.
The story appearing in The Argus
last evening with refernce to the cheer
less condition of the two Rosberg chill
dren at this happy season. brought
fruit today, when two Rock Island fam
lilies notified Miss Ramser that they
would take the little ones inc their
homes until after Christmas. Richard.
aged 3, the younger of the three chill
dren. was placed in the home of a
local family few days ago. Thus all
three of the neglected children are to
have a fine Christmas in three of the |
good homes of the city.
Miss Ramser has been receiving a
number of requests to be allowed to |
help the family of the man who lost |
his weeks wages as related in The /
Argus several days ago. She wishes |
to state that such help will be received /
either by Rev. Marion Humphreys at |
his Office in the Y. NJ. c. A building
or by Miss Sarah Hitler at her home, |
S12 Fourth avenue.