Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-12-20
Saturday, December 20, 1918.
"UncIe SAM" of Palermo.


somewhere in the region where Doc
Cook distributed gum drops; but one
would naturally expect to find Uncle
Sam at home in washington. 1t is not
so, however We are able to speak with
authority. Uncle Sam lives In
Palermo. Maine. We have proof of it
in letter postmarked Palermo and
signed Uncle SAM And, proving
that he is the real thing and in sym
one of his perfectly good U. S. dollars
to assist the w. C. T. U. Santa Claus
in providing for Augusta children who
do not live exactly on the reindeer
way.
This Palermo Uncle Sam" opened
his letter with:
"My recompense is thanks, that's
all; yet my good will is great, though
the gift smalI."-Shakespeare.
We believe that shows how care
fully Uncle Sam reads the Kennebec
Journal, which is gratifying to US.
But that is not the best part of 1t.
This modest little letter, written by a
man who lets not his right hand know
what his left hand is doing in brother
ly love, tells us that the wants of in
nocent children touch the hearts of
real men.
We have heard frequently. in the
last three days, from that little quota
ton. Shakespeare had the gift of
unlocking the inner recesses of mems
hearts with simple line. We only
hope that on this occasion they have
responded while the door was wide.
This w. C. T. U. Christmas work Is
one of the most worthy of charities.
The Christmas tree tonight is one to
bring a tear of understanding to the
eye of any Santa Claus or Uncle Sam.
The difference between the actual JOY
coming into little lives in this manner
is marked. when compared with the
fleeing pleasure of the children of
many a private Christmas tree-chil-
dren who are surfeited with good
things and walled in with clothing and
toys.
We, who drop few nickels or
dimes, or even dollar into the Sal
walton Army kettles, because we know
that these good souls are doing a
great work in the fear of God, think
We have done our part" 1t has cost
us nothing; we do not miss the little
contribution-it would have gone for
something else, anyway; we hope it
will do hundred fold more good than
the giving has cost us in hardship.
But now and then we hear of a big
thing-something so grand and Christ
like that we marvel and feel ashamed
for ourselves.
Oh, no! We do not refer to the
millions given by great philan-
thropist. nor to the man who offers his
life for another and the applause of
men. No, we have in mind something
bigger than that. We are reminded
of the widows mites. Mark ~: 42-44
reads:
And there came a certain poor
widow, and she threw in two mites
which make a farthing. And He
called unto Him His disciples, and
saith unto them, Verify / say unto
you, that this poor widow hath cast
more In, than all they which have
cast into the treasury: For all they
did cast in of their abundance: but
she of her want did cast in all that
she had, all her living.
That was one of the biggest deeds
of history. but if the story of an ex-
change is true it has been equaled in
this year of 1913-by child. And,
after all, most of the really big
things are the inspiration of those who
have not learned wickedness or sell
fishness. This time it was a little
mother of eight. who wrote to the
newspaper Santa Claus of her city
one of those popular attempts to
raise aid and cheer for the poor and
unhappy You may remember our
reference, the other day. to the prec-
ious rag baby of the child that has
never owned a doll that Carnegie
could not buy it with all his millions
well, now that claim comes home to
us in the little girls letter which we
copy:
Deer Santa, warnt 700 too poot mi
deer nellie in Ietle suIls (grl's)
stokin she is a orfuI kormfut (com-
fort) to me but 700 sed some lete
aulls ant got eny dol atol ma navor
(never) git ane othr (another) dol but
! kant pIa much now cos mumsy is
CORN an pop is six an ! hev to lok
(Iook) out of ietle siser Kate she is q
mabe lmaybe) 700 ma com bi her
(here) an Ieve ane othr dole but eff
700 dornt hop mi deer nellie will sit
a guide HON an be Iuvd Qoved) as i
Iuv hur.
Yoor juvin Helen