Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1910-01-06
VENERABLE KING OF THE LITTLE
FOLKS REMEMBERED THE
CHlLDREN's HOME
A GALA DAY FOR THE TOTS
THE OPEN-HEARTED ELkS SENT
A REALLY TRULY KRIsT
kRlNGLE

Sioux Falls-Christmas brings
good cheer to all parts of the earth,
but there is perhaps no place where it
was more enjoyed this year than at
the Children's Home Of this city. AS
this worthy institution Is of more
than local Importance, and as peo-
pie from every home In the state
will be interested to learn something
of the pleasures which the joyous
Christmas brought to the homeless
little ones of this institution, we quote
the language of the Superintendent,
w. ID. Stuckeman: ,'All the joys Of q
delightful Christmas were experience
ed at the Children's Home. No one
was forgotten, not even the five lit
tie babes in the nursery. All had
both the pleasure of receiving and
giving. For over a week the boys and
girls were planning how to make pen
MES, nickels and dimes, all their
earthly possessions, serve best in
showing appreciation for kindness
es received. The girls put in hours
on some article of handwork, being
careful to keep 1t a profound secret
from the one for whom it was intend
ed. All work boxes and barrels
came in filled with clothing, toys.
books. etc., or things good to eat
Sioux Falls friends and merchants
may have forgotten theier own fam
lilies but not the children of the
home. Fruit and candy houses brot
exceptional good cheer by abundant
supplies of those delicacies so dear
to children. The delivery of these
things sent delightful thrill through
the whole house. From basement to
roof there was laughter and Joy, even
the ones who have passed a three
score milestone forgot age to laugh
and shout with the children. Neatly
prepared packages tied with holly
ribbon for every child were brought
by kind-hearted gentleman and his
wife.
About eleven o'clock on Christmas
morning the Elks Santa Claus amid
jingle of bells arrived with twenty
five well-filled packages. For fifteen
minutes all stopped work to join In
the fun. Twenty three children
shouted, laughed, cried and screamed
The cook forgot her mince pies to
join the throng, dancing, clapping
hands and shouting after old Santa
as he pranced through the rooms and
Railways Everyone was happy and
would gladly have held Santa for an
hour, but he nimbly pranced his way
out of the front door. jumped into his
sleigh to bring cheer to other homes.
On account of the excitement few
knew how he came or went. One boy
ventured the explanation that he
surely must have come in an airship.
His mode of travel however was Of
little consequence the main thing
was that he had come. The waning
faith in a real Santa Claus was re-
newed and no argument to the con-
trary could convince what the eye
had seen.
At seven o'clock after short pro-
gram of songs and speeches three
trees were illuminated and every in
mate generously remembered. An
hours play with new possessions soon
passed by and twenty-three tired boys
and girls reluctantly filed upstairs to
their beds A joyous day never to be
forgotten, had come to close. leav-
ing delightful impressions OF graft
tuile toward bountiful friends"