The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-12-26
Distribution By St. Nicholas
Girls Features Christ
mas Day
HUNDREDS OF LITTLE
ONES MADE HAPPY
Wonderful Sight is Wit
messed When the Children
Eager and Waiting With
Keen Anticipation Pict~
ured in Their Faces, Re-
ceived Gifts Which Made
Them Happy

At O'Clock yesterday morning tafs
sun, that had been hidden undeFf
threatening clouds, began to shine with
a brighter promise, that was fulfilled
bv 10 o'clock. when the children had
gathered in the big room in the BioUn6
building, on Garden street where
santa. Claus and the st. Nicholas GIT.
with their aides, had gathered, and
where, alight with twinkling bulbs OF
green and red And yellow, a Christmas
tree spread it's friendly branches. laden
with the fruits of goodwin ana the
flowers that bloom only for little chit
Gren at Christmastirne,
They csnae, very quietly and gravelys
little brothers and sisters, with thS
shadow or their faces that want en-
graves. And there were mothers, with
babes IN arms, ana little toddlng ones
clngfng to their skirts. II was a
strange and wonderful sight to watch
these children. Quiet they were, and
very, very still They stood in rows
and watched the Christmas tree. with
its twinlCling lights and its beautiful
toys. and scarcely spoke one word 10
another.
This was at FIRST. before Santa Claus
came.
Then there was a stir. A whisper oe
excitement eddted through the crowd,
q murunur rippled along the outskirts,
as Santa. Claus passed from one TO
another.
Then the murnuT deepened. until
dertoiae Of the sea it grew and grew
until one could scarcely hear Cor the
eager, glad s7oung vofces-and the ec-
stacy of Christmas was in the air
It reached ont and grinaed tho aler,
gtltS hsd stool. pasfert and silent ~
>he children, as they waited Tor al
to assemble in the wide hall and fer
the photographer TO take the picture
gathered about the St. Nicholas Girls
Christmas tree.
Then there was an explosion flash
and the picture was snapped and the
ropes which DIVIDED them from the
tree and the countless toys, arranged
on long tables, piled high with gifts.
Then horn blew. Another! an
otheri and anotherf a whip cracked!
cap pistol fusilade shocked the ears
pleasantly! and the fun was on
After that It was a kaleidoscopfG
scene Of children and children and
toys, were lost in mobs OF eager, smiI-
ing, longing little girls--little girls
who had asked Old Santa Claus FOR
dolls who shut and opened their eyes
and got them. Little girls who had
asked for workboxes-and got them.
Little girls who had asked for tea
sets-and got them
And boys had swords and drums.
and their were bats, and games. and
fireworks and candy and oranges and
trains and puzzles and little stoves. ard
books and wooliy dogs, ana funny mon
keys, and every kind OF toy, IL almost
seemed. that any little girl or boy
And how they wanted them! How
they crowded about the girls and men
with eager faces and
waiting handsi It was wonderful
5ight-and pftifuI.
There were tears in many eyes. as
hey watched these children. I'll clad
md paIIfd faced, stretching QUE their
hands for the gifts of the Christmas
.ide.
Strong men felt thedr eyes grow
Tim, and were not ashamed
But the children-their eyes were
Fright with happiness, and their hap
)iness was reflected IN the faces of
hose around them. f there vere
ears-behind the tears was the Joy
n the gIsdness Of the children. that
iothing can dim.
There was a mother with seven III
le ones-and one of these barefoot,
n Christmas day. She went away
lot only the richer for the toys LUC
With a purse made Up by several men
'athered To watch the children In their
oy.
And those who had worked for this
Christmas tree were gla in the
that not only these children
we're made happy. but that there were
cached, who could not come to the
Christmas tree, and some who would
e made happy by the toys left after
ne distribBtion.
Between three hundred and forty and
aree hundred and fifty ickets were
istributed by Mr.. Pauisen for the
'hristnals tree, and many who could
OF go to the distribution were cared
or before and after the ceIeration.
The St. Nicholas Girls Christmas
rec was an unqualified success, and
ext year such another tree VIII be
ED only on a larger scale ana with
wider scope At least that Is what
he Journal hopes for, and shall work
0r, with the consent of the st, Mich
las Girl, who has made such a Won
erfuI success of the work she has ac-
ompEshed for the children at this
Christmas season.