New-York tribune., 1914-12-23
MRS. BRADYS SANTA BRINGS
SANS "YALLER HAIRED DOLL
Faith of Little Negro Patient Rewarded When St
Nicholas Pays an Advance Visit to Invalids
in Blackwell's Island Hospital

There is a "Sandy Claus; indeed an
there is" And the proof Of il is that
little Sammie Taboo, who is nursing a
broken leg in the City Hospital on
Blackwel's Island went to sleep last
night with the golden-haired doll he
has long yearned for clasped tight in
his arms Taboo is queer name, but
it is Sammie's nevertheless. If you
don't believe it ask DR.. Charles Is.
Bacon. superintendent Of the hospital.
Jealous efforts were made By d..
Bacon and by Santa herself-Mrs'
Nicholas F. Brady 70 keep secret the
:dentity Of this particular Christmas
saint So if any one gathers from this
narrative that Mrs. Nicholas f. Brady
bought seven truckloads OF Christmas
presents and distributed them in the
CITY Hospital yesterday, don't, Tor the
sake Of little Sammie's ideals, spread
the news. for in Sammie's eyes sandy
Claus" is vindicated.
Sammie is going on seven. lie is a
negro. lie has been in the hospital
five weeks and hobbies around now.
Last week rumors that Christmas was
coming began 10 penetrate the hospl-
tai. On Saturday the nurses in the
children's ward partially verlhed the
rumor by asking everybody what he
wanted for Christmas. SCORERS there
we're. but not so Ssmmle.
INDEED. an there is Sandy Claus,
he protested stoutly. 'Ndeed, an
there is. Amt my nanny seed him
wid her own eyes? Course, he amt
o-v,ino git 'roun' 70 sichlike places as
37th St eve'y Christmas m big town
like this yer. an tain't likely that If he
done il he'd know Jest where eve'y lit
tie colored boy there is. There's a
powe'ful lot Of little colored boys
'roun' there. But my nanny, she's
seed him
While the ward resounded with cries
of 81 want N automobile that goes
when YOU wind IL up, and 81 want a
horse an wagon you can hitch an un-
hitch" Sammie sat silent. Al last he
whispered to a nurse and she wrote
on a piece Of paper.
Don't YOU never tell nobody ad-
iured Sammie, but you Jes' ask SANDY
~ he's got great big ysller-haired
dou les like this yer Goldilocks whut
a. mn nll the bears hominy. ! reckon
he don give no dolls 20 boys, maybe ~
Sauuie nut in wistfully, but you see
ma legs is lest naturally brittle-hke
an I Ion never seem 20 De able 20
ru, after no balls like other boys is.'
Wben the door opened yesterday and
q tall. white bearded gentleman IN rcd
cIotbes stalked into the room Sammic's
eyes began 20 shine. He did not JOIN
~ tho rush the other convalescent
children made. He sat in little chan
and swayed his small body to ana tro
in his eaeerness; but he was silent.
70, time il seemed that his turn
would never come, or that Sandy would
be dismembered by the young sayages
before II came.
"Mr. Samuel Taboo" droned Sandy,
scanning package.
"Dat's me. dat's me-" gurgled Sam
mie. as he lifted trembling arms.
Two minutes later an ecstatic little
negro was rocking violently, clasping q
oopoeous doll with the sunniest locks
End the bluest eyes and the pinkest
checks ever seen on BlackwelIs Island.
"Mah honey" whispered Sammie 20
his treasure. "ain't you jes' glad that
this yer house fair bristles wild chin
nevsT 7 reckon there amt no chance
e-taU for Sandy 70 miss this yer place.
'Ndeed an there is Sandy Claus,
indeed an there is"
The larger children who were able
20 leave their wards joined a throng
Of patients in the chapel, where there
were huge Christmas tree, presents,
music and recitations. The same per
sonal interest that brought Sammie his
doll brought 20 each Of the 900 or more
patients in the hospital the particular
gift asked.
Some craved Worcestershire sauce.
one a copy OF the Talmud, one a vol
umc OF Longfellow's verse. II was all
there. and more, too Practically every
onc In the hospital got sweater and
underwear. Many got shoes; several
aot suits Of clothes. But never was the