Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-11-25
||lIcH AND POOR ON
A CHRISTMAS DAY
Comparison Between Chill
dren of the Fortunate and
Unfortunate Homes.
aETA FUND HELPS TOTS
(, e,otribution Will Bring Happiness
70 the GIver as We'll as
the Receiver.

Vas Christmas eve. The LIGHTS
Il =. rom every window of the large
4 = house, which stood out majestf-
n in the center of a large yard.
~ covered with a thin mantle OF
n Within the mansion great prep
.-,;ous were being made for the
I---or. The festive spirit reigued.
| -stiuue OF servants, directed by a
4 - mother and a happy father. were
4 -,eng the array OF costly presents
II ne huge tree. all for the happiness
A J.ss two little tots. who were by this
:. ensconced in their little white
=. IN the nursery. The children had
- taken on their mothers lap and
I'd with tales OF the Christ Child. OF
ga Claus and of the Joy and glad
- which he scatters throughout the
I'D earth with a gift distributed
~ and there in his wild ride over
= house tops in a large sleigh drawn
a : The spirited RENDERS. With this
.sztiful thought imbued in their in
4 -,osut young minds the rich mans
sssren have been turned over to a
A I'D 10 be prepared for bed.
= the morning they awake to find
at Sanity has been good to them.
* there are the things they had
rshed for: \ miniature automobile
"A, actually runs, for little James
a 4 host OF other expensive toys for
n him and sister Dorothy. They
rs happiness personified- They
,o-s. gleefuIly shouting their praises
= Santa. Their father and mother
al OF complacently-co sat
ed. The several hundred dollars
rested in the purchase of gladness
r their offspring-if even for a day
Of no consideration; the amount
II never be missed.
A Comparison.
But let US take a glance into the
lie, bare home on the other side of
Z city AS We open the door we see
mother bending over a wash tub.
zs does not appear strong enough to
znd another minute; yet she sticks
Ezgedly TO her task, her frail body
living scarcely force TO send the
as;hes up and down the board. She
zanot cease her labors. In the low
81 depths of despair, she struggled
~ Of her sick bed and solicited the
Turk that she might give her four
aildren some little gifts for Christ
as
She is obliged to have the wash
= delivered next morning. With the
KY pack over her shoulder she
ND pass the people on their way to
-rstmas day worship. How great
~ desire to 90 to church with her
lie ones on the day of days, but alas
,zr clothes were not fit.
Il ill-smelling kerosene lamp in the
zier Of a rickety table covered with
ard cloth. furnished illumination for
De home OF this poor woman. In the
1rer OF the room on a pallet lay the
Zee smallest children, cuddled to-
siter under the single and worn but
za quilt that covered them. VIII
An was still out selling papers.
No Money for Toys.
he eyes OF the tired. woodworking
a-ther would occasionally stray to the
ne heap Of hungry humanity and IS
-sa q tear would trickle down the |
re cheek and mingle with the soapy
rl,sr in the tub. All the time this |
ioor mother. as fond as the wife of |
= rich man IN the mansion. was plan |
~ what she would buy for her chill
Ia Toys No. toys were unknown j
I this little home. SpoOls attached I
. cigar box would suffice for little
rs automobile \ bundle OF rags
zssioned after the dolls she had seen
( widows Of stores furnishes as