The Washington herald., 1915-12-20
7y MARI MARSHALL.

| Seven little boys and girls. who live at
the Bruen Home at 800 . street north,
west. have gone away for the holidays.
For these seven there were eager. arms
stretching out and eager hearts yesrning.
There was some one who cared enough
to make the sacrifice that this home
coming will mean. some one who will be
made all the happier this Christmas be-
cause the little one who is away all the
rest of the year was able to be at home
! on Christmas.
But for the 12S who remain at the Bruen
Home, there is no other home. No one
cares enough-if anyone cares at alto
make the sacrifice that that Homecoming
would mean. And SO there will be Is lit
tie folks-each one of whom thinks just
as much about the joys of Christmas time
as your own darlinss-to be provided with
Christmas cheer and happiness and JOY
BY the house mother. the officers. trustees
and friends of the Bruen Home.
When ! called on the president of the
home. Mrs. William G. Schafhirt. day
or so ago. to ask her about the plans for
Christmas time. I saw that Santa Claus
had already been busy. for there was a
lounge already full of dolls lying in a row
waiting impatiently for Christmas Day
This year" Mrs. Schafhirt told me.
the Twentieth Century Club has been
kind enough to present the home with
the Christmas tree. and that means a
great deal. And there will be one gift
for each child-dolls and books for the
younger children. neckties and hair rib
bons for the older children. Then there
will be a stocking for each child on
Christmas morning and each stocking will
contain an orange and other goodies.
And such delight and pleasure as those
dear children derive from their few pres
ants! You can't imagine what a touch
ing thing it is TO watch them and to hear
them sing their Christmas songs and go
through their Christmas exercises"
When ! asked Mrs. Schafhirt whether
Christmas contributions from friends Of
the home would be acceptable at this late
date. she was emphatic I'm her reply.
Indeed they. will So many people
within the last year or SO have lost in
terest in our own charities in their zeal
in helping the war victims and I think
that sometimes Washington people do not
realize how much want and need there Is
in our own city. Gifts of all sorts. little
and big. are most acceptable. Toys and
dolls. TO be sure. but there are so many
absolute necessities this winter that are
more important than the dolls and TOYS.
Heavy stockings of all sizes that may be
used for the Christmas stockings and that
arc IhuSh heeoeu III the nolne, napoher-
chiefs, mittens. caps, and all sorts of
warm clothing. sheets and blankets in
crib and three-quarter size. food. fuel
and children's clothing are among the ar
ticles that the home really needs at the
present time
Although Mrs. Schafhirt has not been
president of the home for very lonk, she
is heart and soul interested in the work
and to every one of the children at the
home she is a true friend
1T was hard for them to say my name,
SO I told them to call me Aunt Molly"
she told me. 'and they like that much
better. For it is the very thing that we
cannot give them that those youngsters
want the most-it is the love and devotion
of real mother. There is one little girl