Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-16
PLAYING SANTA
TO A POOR CHILD
Joyous Privilege That "A
Goode Felowe" Seeks to
Have Gratif1ed.
RECALLS HIS OWN YOUTH
Wants Name of One Who VIII Wake
Up to Empty Stocking Unless
Some Stranger Fills 1t.


Some Stranger Fills 1t.
VIII you help to make Christmas
happy time for me by supplying the
name of little boy or girl can be
Santa Claus to-some son or daughter
of the very poor who will wake UP on
Christmas morning to an empty stock
ing unless some stranger shall fill it?
I want to have real Christmas and
how can Christmas be real and festive
unless there are laughing little noisy
children running to one another with
glad shouts of See what Santa Claus
brought me?'
Into ChiIdren's Fairyland.
II want to go into the shops on
Christmas Eve. into the flare of the
lights and the jostling throngs and
push my way to the toy counters, the
fairyland of the children's dreams;
and l want to meet the friends OF my
youth, the old companions that long
ago went to their eternal rest-some
of them after lives no longer than an
hour!-the jacks-in-the-boX, the stuffed
animals. the trains of cars, the golden /
haired dolls that opened their eyes /
when you sat them erect, that closed /
them in sleep when you laid them |
down-wonderful babies they were in
deed,-the sleds and the skates. the (
prattles and the rattles. the horns and /
the drums-T had almost forgotten |
them
Arms Filled with Toys.
81 want to fill my arms with toys, !
and move out into the crowded walks /
to be jostled by the other shoppers, -
hurried all of them and Hurried, but
happy. very happy, for it's Christmas
Eve, remember. and they are shouting
Merry Christmas to one another and
laughing at every little thing.
81 want to tread my way through the /.
mass and hurry on down to the home /
of the child whose name you will have J..
given me. l want to go in where the /
stockings are hanging, there where /
santa Claus should be sure to see them /
snd l want to cram those stockings |
full of nuts and candies and fruit, and /
Il candy cane, and a little laughing toy /
man peeking out the top.
Hearts Desire Gratifed.
II want then 20 look in at the little .
child asleep and see in its face the |
mirrored longings Of its soul, and l !
know that because l shall have graft /
fled its hearts desire that I shall feel .
sew JOY or Christmas Day.
You see. Mr. Editor Christmas
makes me kind of sentimental. but I
guess it's designed for that purpose, II
we'd never know there were such PEG
pie rs the poor.
please don't forget to send me a
rnme.
every truly yours.
"a GOODE FELLOWE."
Money and Coupons.
Every mail brings to The Argus
santa Claus fund filled coupons re-
uuesting names of poor children 20
whom it is desired 10 play Santa Claus
snd contributions of money TO be used
by the committee in purchasing gifts
for children whose names are in the
hands of the committee. Don't hesitate
If you feel that you can give only a
little No matter the amount tho
spirit that prompts it is worth some
thing to yourself. And then your mite
and those of your neighbors will con
tribute to the aggregate, and this
should be sufficient to bring happiness
20 every poor child in the city on
Christmas day.
Salvation Army's Poor.
Captain Agnes Schasse, whose effec-
tive work as head OF the local branch
Of the Salvation Army is appreciated
Try the people generally of the city, is
TO supply to The Argus Santa Claus
Fund committee the names of the chill
dren of the poor families who are aid
ed during the winter season by the
army. Il regard 1t a grand plan"
Captain Schasse said. You know, we
have our hands full in helping our peo-
PIC IN the matter of clothing, food and
fuel. Just now we are asking for do
nations to make up the Christmas bas-
kets for so poor families that are look
ing to US to supply them their dinner
OH that festal day. Few Of the chill
drsn of the poor know the real mean
ing OF Christmas. It would be so easy
for the more fortunately situated In
RoGa Island, by small donations of
x1ohey, to make UP fund of proper
TONS adequate to procure gifts that
VIII send cheer to the little ones Of
al these poverty-stricken homes. The
ArEus fund should have the support Of
the entire community. 1t is a noble