New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-08
1901 PENNIES MAKE
60 CHILDREN HAPPY
Birthday Box in EdgehiII Sun
day School Helps Pay Fare
TO Norwich, N. Y.
OLD SEXTON AIDS CAUSE
II Wasn't His Birthday, but
Vision of Boys and Girls
in Crowded Streets
Prompted Him to Act.

ueres a man who had two birthdays
q, one week and was glad of il. Now. If
he we're of that lucky age when birthdays
.,oan birthday parties chiefly or of that
I,rtune favored class for whom they
mean congratulatOry messages from EN-
aoror william, President Wilson and fell
ious of that ilk, it would be easy TO I'M
derstand his JOY
But he wasn't. 1t isn't on record that
10 got a single present or congratulatory
,o,egraph message. Yet his kindly old
cace fairly beamed with joy on both the
birthdays. This is how. it was:
In at Spuyten Duyvil the Edgehill Sun
dsv school has what is known as birth
day box. Into this box every Sunday
each member Of the school who has had
a birthday during the week is expected
20 drop a cent for each year the lucky
one has lived. OF course il goes without
saving that it's no use trying to keep
YOUR age a secret if you belong to the
Edgehin Sunday school.
Then after the birthday box has been
storing up the toll of pennies through the
whole year the money is counted and sent
70 the Tribune Fresh Air Fund, to be
used in providing country outings for one
or more children. The counting up was
10 be done after the final session of the
year last Sunday. The celebrators of the
weeks birthdays were called for. how
ever. to drop their pennies before the box
was opened.
First there toddled no a f1axen haired
lass who could hardly reach the box, and
everybody leaned forward and counted as
the pennies tinkled down-"one. two
threew Then came quiet little girl, for
whom they counted eight. And then
But what's this?" said everybody 10
himself or to his neighbor. Didn't our
sexton have a birthday last Sunday? Has
he forgotten? Or maybe he's just going
up to whisper something in our superin-
;endents ear-sextons have 10 do that
occasionally, you know"
The sexton, however, had his eye fixed
on the box, and as he walked he jingled
something in his trousers pocket He
hadn't any mind to be too bold about it,
though. So when he got close to the
birthday box he stopped and said
Mr.. Superintendent, l know every
bodys thinking that l had a birthday
last Sunday, but I've been thinking. too,
all week about those little boys and girls
down in the crowded streets who need
the country so badly and l want to ask
II I can't just have two birthdays in
week for once, considering that it's in
good cause?'
Whereat Mr.. Superintendent, with
moist sparkle in his eye, replied hand
somely. Considering that it's in good
cause and considering your official posi-
tOn'--
Then the pennies began to drop-one,
two three. four, five-until the infant
class was lost in it's counting. And on
and on past fifteen, sixteen-where the
primary boys began TO look earnest and
count their fingers. And on still past
forty-hve, fifty, fifty-fve-where the Bible
class began TO wabble in its arithmetic
and finally lost track. And still on for a
few more pennies before the smiling old
sexton turned and retraced his steps 10
the rear of the room.
After that the box was broken open
and II was found that 1901 years had been
counted off by pennies in the EdgehilI
Sunday school for the year. All OF when
are to be used TO help pay the railroad
fares Of sixty children who went TO Nor
Sich y. y, yesterday TO spend happy
fortnight as the guests or the people oI
that place. And If you don't oeileNe tnis
itorv refer TO the list Of contributors 70
ne Tribune Fresh Air Fund at the end OF
mis- column and find there the proof OF
is truth.