The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-10
JACOB A. RIIS AND THE
INDIANS HAPPY XMAS

THE following story of an act done
by the late Jacob A. Riis shows
his kindly sympathetic nature
and his understanding OF humanity.
II was the night before Christmas. A
very small old Indian woman crept into
the rooms of the Associated Charities
without raising her eyes she laid
little soiled package upon the table,
saying, For some little one. maybe
then opened the door and crcpt down
the stairs.
Mr.. Riis was one of the gentlemen
in the room at the time. He Immediately ,
opened the package and held TO view an
infants frock made Of red flannel, so ]
worn, so mended, so shrunken as to ,
measure only about twelve inches in /
length. It was evident that she had
brought all she had to give, her last
treasure. that II might be a gift to some
little baby that cold Christmas.
In an instant Mr.. Riis had taken his
! hat and getting '1to his coat as he
went closed the door without word
and followed the woman down the stairs,
along the sidewalk. up one street and
down another through the cold winter
! night keeping all the while close behind
| the shrivelled Indian woman until at
| last she turned In at one Of the poorest
OF the tenement houses.
Mr. Riis knew the place. and also the
woman in charge of the house. just as
he knew all parts of New York and its
poor. So Il was not difficult to inquire
about the queer little woman. Yes she
! was an Indian woman and about the
last OF her race Mr.. Riis was told. She
could speak some English and liked to
smoke, was very poor and lived alone
in room upstairs.
she smoked, Then she must like
tobacco. Mr.. Riis unused. lie could get
some near by: then he would mount the
rickety stairs and perhaps talk with
her. He soon returned and reached the
door indicated. Soon after he raped,
the queer, wrinkled visage peered
through the slightly opened door. Upon
seeing a man she was startled and took
her pipe from her mouth, but did not
speak. Almost instantly Mr.. Riis eX-
tended his hand and in the palm lay
package Of tobacco.
The ice was broken. she smiled The
door swung open as she reached for the
tobacco and Mr.. Riis's pleasant voice
said Santa Claus will bring you some
thing else If you will tell me what you
would like
Coaxing her TO talk was difficult at
first but as they became more friendly
he realized from her slow. sorrowful
tones that she had nothing to live for.
All her little children and people had
gone to the Happy Hunting Grounds;
all her keepsakes and treasures had also
gone The little red flannel dress. being
her dearest and last keepsake, she had
parted with, hoping TO keep some little
baby warm this cold Christmas night.
She had left just her pipe with the new
supply of tobacco. the though of which
made her old eyes shine, and 40 cents
in money. Thus there could be no hope
to live through the long, cold winter
before her.
As Mr.. Ris talked, telling her Of his
mother so far away and that on the
morrow he was going to sail off to Dem
mark to see her he said: Now you
smoke and he real happy until l come
back, and what shall | bring home to
your" Tobacco? No. Something else?
All, here was the secret that he had
hoped to learn-what was It that would
add real Joy to the poor old Indian
woman as well as give her some hope
} OF life? What would gladden. the big,
D kind heart of the little old Indian
} woman. OnAa-Yuga, who had gone out
D on the long, cold walk that bitter night
, to make her sacrifice?
What! A bird? a bird that has
) bright feathers and talks? A parrot?
, Yes II she could only have a parrot
to talk to her, to keep her company,
well, that would be fine. And both
laughed and were happy, the little
= woman hardly happier in the thought
of having her long wished for, beautiful
bird than Mr. Riis in knowing what he
D could do to bring her happiness as well
as caring for her needs.
0 That night when one newspaper went
0 to press It contained the following ad-
0 vertisement:
0 If some one will give a pretty parrot
0 who talks we'll II will make an aged and
o lonely woman very happy, Send by
- noon tomorrow to Jacob A. Riis, -,
o New York"
= Always immediate was the response
I to this mans call for help for others
;. and II was not slow in this unusual case
= BY 10 o'clock the following morning
$ there were six birds awaiting his APP
p proval. Although his steamer sailed al
moon he found time TO select one 70 be
I sent to Onna-fuga, along with many
n good things for her real needs.
/ Almost the next day upon his return
# to America Mr.. Riis was seen treadinl
Il his way down the narrow street to in
y quire OF the, Indian woman's welfare
/ Arriving at the house he asked the
/. caretaker Of the house II she was well
= Yes, we'll and very happy. as he could
s see when he looked NJ her through q
o crack i'm the door. There she lay on a
nice little bed with Polly on her shoul.
Il der and her head tucked in Onna.
o Yuga's neck; both fast asleep, The ole
= pipe lay on the pillow where It hac
g fallen from her mouth.
SNnIIoMs Dolls Eye and Dien.