The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04

I WISH to call the attention of all my
tender hearted readers-and they are
many-to the following letter:
" Aren't there a number of good girls
ages anywhere between and 90-and
good fellows in your dear Corner who are
simply longing to make a glad Christmas
for a lad? Although he is not larger than
Il year old boy, and thin II year old
boy, he has sat in the same old chair by the
same small window in little house for
nearly nineteen years. In all these years
he has not walked step. He will never
walk again.
" His family is poor and he has nothing
4 IN the world which one of us would call
comfortable. His mother is dead; his father
is a laboring man, but the wages are so
low they can furnish only the barest neces-
stiles for this family In the death of his
mother few years ago, the crippled lad
his name is Percy--lost his chief joy. al
though his Is year old sister has done her
best to fill her mothers place But despite
his poverty. his physical suffering, and his
crippled condition, brave little Percy never
complains, but Is always cheerful and most
= heroically patient. He needs-everything
Warm underwear would be acceptable. and
, should, on accoun. Of his helplessness, be
large-about the size for a normal boy OF
10. He enjoys boys books, which help to
pass the weary time away, and puzzles in
terest him. Soft. warm shoes and stock
;ngs are always needed. Anything which
a helpless invalid lad in such environment
needs will be blessing'to him. He is not
able TO pay any transportation charges
but he Is always most appreciative or
everything which is done for him.
- He may even be unable to acknowledge
the Christmas cheer. but be sure that he
will be truly grateful for every remem-
brance received. If your readers could
only visit Percy in his home, as have
done. and could see how truly worthy he
s know past all doubling that they would
gladly remember him during tho holiday
season. trust that my appeal may not be
made in vain, and that many great hearted
people will send Joy to this afflicted boy in
his poor little home NJ S. c."
& BY combination of regrettable circum-
stances beyond my control, this letter did
not reach my hands N time to be put into
the paper long enou ofore Christmas to
enable me to max uletide appeal for
the suffering boy o I'm the correspond
ent writes SO touchA-ls, and yet. while I
am sorry on the boys account, do not al
together regret the delay For trust this
story of the brave lad and his courage
under bitterly adverse circumstances may
come to the eyes Of my Cornerites when
their hearts are softened by the JOY and
blessing Of Christmas. and when they will
feel the more inclined to give help to others
because of the comforts and blessings that
have come into their own lives at this beau
tiful season.
After the rush of Christmas is over there
2 is more time to bestow in thought on the
helpIessness and necessity of others, ard
1t will be long time before any case will
I&ome our way which will contain more OF
the elements Of tragedy and need than this
Of Percy From the fullness OF our own
happiness let us send our thoughts and our
helps to the boy. The friend who write~
this has outlined his needs, and know my
constituency too well to doubt that gen.
erous response will come which Will make
Percy think that Christmas is an all the