Lower coast gazette., 1914-12-19

in this home, and it was a delicate un'
dertaking to bring a woman like this
any provisions. But l explained to
her that it was a present and her JOY
was only equaled- by that OF her chill.
dren, who we're more than delighted
with their new toys.
II have been in homes where inc
children never had toys, and nave
brought them their first playthlngs'
In one case there were two children, q
boy and a girl, Pepino and Mechaimo'
Their father died when they were
babies, and the mother supported
them. She had come to this country
a bride and was not we'll versed Win
the American way Of doing Things
She did not even know how to make
a rag doll for the children. we
brought those children q small tree.
decorated It. and gave them plenty OF
toys. Words couldn't tell the happ''
ness of those little ones.
There Is more pleasure IN the work
than YOU would imagine. We see many
sad scenes. sorrow and Joy mingled
together. but we also ind much 10
amuse us. Last year " took a
basket to an old colored woman. Her
F.; husband was a paralytic and she mao
two orphaned grandchildren to keep.
| Christmas to her was to be the same
as any other day until We arrived
with the provisions and toys. She
glanced at US as we entered the room.
and when we put the basket on the
table. she stared at 1t and pointed to
herself. as much as to say, For me-.
I said. Yes, Liza, that's for YOU
You could see nothing but the whites
Of her eyes, and she raised bath "
her hands above her head. clasped
them together and said. Do Lord be
praised.' That was all she said; but
she repeated 1t time and again. One
: time her eyes would be as large a.
dollars and she would joyously sins
the De Lord be praised and again
she would be sad and mournful and
, moan De Lord be praised
j "Fnally her husband, who was IN
+ able to leave his chair, lost his pa
thence and he shouted, Liza, goo'
Lord, woman, has you done lost you
head altogether? Why don't yo'
d thank the ladies'? Then, ~ q sort o
apology to US, he said: You'll hsv
to excuse her, ladies, for she has sure
" done lost her head altogether A
+ We left the room and glanced bach
moor Liza was still standing their
/ looking at US with her hands claspe
Il before her and slowly nodding he
head saying: De Lord be praised
We concluded Liza knew better tina
bar husband. She was thanking Il
ID right one. =.
"a II have witnessed many reconsii
N lions Of families Of foreigners
N Christmas eve. The afternoon that
NJ spent at the immigration station La
a. wear was one of the pl~easantest OF n
life. It was interesting to note the e
- preston Of gladness on the faces
- the children in the costumes OF the
various fatherlands. They couldl
speak a word of English, but tn
~ could show you that they were graf
n full for the playthings.
cd 81 will never forget my first Chri
Nv mas visitation. It was my initial {
ne p~erience with social service wol
lid One Of the first places we visited "
,st in a court, a poor German fami
,st When we arrived at the house t
ad !! mother was telling the three childr
70. Christmas legends. She had gild
led apples, and that was their only oil
tic reminder that the morrow was d gr'
70. festival. She had no meat nor We
tables in the house for the next da
meals, and there was no coal In
'tv bin. But the place was as clean
neat as a new pin.
oas 1.-THE mother vas an, educated VI
an, and you could tell at a glance t
she had seer better days. She
his married against the wishes OF
len. family and she was too proud to
,ur. them know Of her poverty. Her I
ON. band had gone West to try to bel
,rry his condition. but was unable to
emf. work, there and became strand
He The wife kept the wolf away from
,uld. door as best she could. by sew
halWe brought her a turkey, .vegetat
nem fruits and cranberrses, then went
and and got a tree and a doll for the
eht. dren and left an order to have
aid sent there Immediately. 1t is i'm
ould sible to tell how grateful that
woman was"
But cred this in te%legraphing news I