Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-01-05
MANY HEARTS MADE
GLAD BY MRS. PICKETT
Through Efforts Of Truant Of
6cer Destitute Children Had
Real Christmas

That many a little lonely heart was
made to thrOb with the true spirit of
Christmas gladness through the kind
ness and hOspitable generosity of many
families in and near Salem on last
Christmas day, by taking the hungry
little souls into their homes and giving
them warm welcome at their hearth
sides and tables at the suggestion of
Truant Officer Mrs. II. B. Pickett, isl
shown by Mrs. Pickett S special re-
port to City School Superintendent o.
NJ. Elliott and the Salem school board
yesterday.
There are a number of little warm.
hearted folks in Salem who either have
no parents to look after them and give
them the comforts of a mothers orI
father s love, and othres who have the
parents without the means to provide
them with the necessaries of life tOI
say nothing of the goods things that go
toward bringing a little sunshine into
their lives even upon Christmas day,
and there are hundreds of happy homes
where there is plenty and more to-
supply all Of the immediate family
needs. Mrs Pickett INDUCED in the
happy thought that if some of those
good people who had everything could
be induced to share a little bit of their
Christmas cheer with the hungry and
needy ones just for a single day, what
world of happiness it would bring
into the otherwise hard lot of the lit
tie tots.
With Mrs. Pickett to think was to
act and when her call was published in
the Capital journal she received such
a volume Of requests and offerings Of
temporary homes for the little children
Of poor parents that she had no diff
ficulty in finding place for all and
the good that was accomplished is be-
yond human power of measurement or
expression. 1t is a day and a season
never to be forgotten by the little
children who benefited by the sacri-
flee on the part of the good people who
took them in and these people were
more than repaid in the gratitude that
the little ones fairly shone with in re-
turn for the Kindness. In her report
to the superintendent and board Mrs.
Pickett says:
"Dpring the week preceding Decem-
Der 25 Christmas, called upon 90
families, taking clothing where needed
and gifts of dolls and toys to those lit.
tie ones, who would otherwise see no
Christmas. BY request from the pas
tor of the Baptist church ! gave the
names of six families for Christmas
, cheer baskets, A case of little girls
, from the Jason Lee Sabbath school
gave a basket of dolls and toys to be
given out, which ] did.
"'ln response to an appeal made by
me for families to volunteer to pro.
vide Christmas cheer to a number of
needy little ones who had either never
known the love and care Of a mother
or, through force of circumstances
2, their parents were not in position ia
give them such pleasures as was thciI
due upon a festal occasion Of that
character, ! am pleased to report that
great number of children were pro
vidcd for in this manner and the re.
suits have been most satisfactory.
"Those who took and cared fol
! children and in some eases the parents
Of the children, who are destitute, each
taking from one to three children and
some taking children for several days
, TO give them good vacation and air
ing in the country were; Mr.. and Mrs
LOWS S92 South 10th street; Mr.. ant
Mrs. Anderson, assisted by anothe,
neighbor; Mrs, Goliath; Mrs. George
Fry; Mr.. and Mrs Smallwood, on {
!. farm in Polk county; Miss Davis. {
teacher Of the Park school, Mr. ant
: Mrs. Huffleman, on the garden road
! "In the case Of Mr. and Mrs. Small
0 wood, in Polk county n little boy Of
70 years spent three days and he wa
s no taken with the treatment shown hin
3 that he wants to return TO the kindly
J couple and work during the mmme
- months; another little girl, aged !,
= wears whom Mr.. and Mrs. Hufflemal
took under their kindly wings for th
i Christmas holidays, stayed with he
bcnefactors 10 days and, according I,
A tho report of Mrs. Pickett the chang
8 that was worked in the little child il
8 that length of time was simply marvel
D Gus.
s "Tn the 10 days the pale silent, cold
8 listless child was changed to a laugh
3 ing rosy.cheeked, happy girl, who no
2 only had the time Of her lifo' n
3 Mrs. Huffleman expressed it, but VIII
8 has seen how much better the worl'
3 is than she had thought, and who love
z these people dearly aud wants to g
A back to them" says Mrs. Pickett
% "Life has changed in the home for tn
0 children having had glimpse o
s something better.
% "In the cases where boys or girl
0 were 'out Of line' in school report,
6 says Mrs. Pickett, az sent these
g postal Of cheer and thought. and re
h ceiyed hearty response New Years
\ Grace f. Merich worked with me car
0 rying packages Of love and cheer /
n needy homes all day December "a, an