New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-09
TWO YOUNG AMERICANS
An Appeal for Aid Which Comes
Tardily but Not Too Late.
NV dear little Americans:

My dear little Americans;
You arc looking forward now to the Rre''
children's holiday In America and no douo'
you arc wondering what lovely things you
will receive. viii Santa Claus think OF oil
the good marks you worked so hard to get IN
school or will no remember only that you
once "sassed" tho teaeher' You decided tha'
Santa 10 too good to bear In mind such iitti'
mlsbehaviors-that you did not really Intend
10 commit-so you feel sure he must be good
70 you. But have you thought, dear littIe
Americans. Of the thousands upon thousands
OF llttls sisters and brothers on the othe'
side OF tho worldl When you sit In the warm
,choolroom and see tho pretty pictures nuns
round tho walls and the groom plants on the
window sill do you think that here-jus'
acros, tho ocean from you-boys and girls
like you have no warm schoolroom 10 90 TO-
nor any warm place at all TO be In
Hero IL little Fenye-bluc eyed, 'ound
faced-eight years old. She does not even
know there are such pleasant and clean
places as schoolrooms About year ago
Fenye's two big brothers, who had brough'
home many things TO eat were taken away
Their mother cried and cried and cried
Fcnye's brother Ivan took his elder brothers
Mace as "Nesichik" (porter) In the big STA
ton where many people came and went on
the trains Here Ivan, aged sixteen, RAD 70
do all the work Of full grown man "heL
baggage was too heavy for him to carry on
his head he would tie together with rope
two tremendous bags or bundles and carry
them slung across his shoulders. Whom he
returned home often he was cross and tired
and cold. lie would eat his "schi." OF cab
bage soup, with black bread, and. to keep
warm, fall asleep with his clothes on.
Fenyes father was conductor on street
car and he too. would come home almost
frozen with the cold but, AS wood costs
much and not even very rich people can get
coal. the best way 70 keep warm Is not TO
undres, when going TO bed often her father
would tell OF the great forests OF the North
where there was wood without end but that
was far. far from them. and In the city" he
would say. many things are different"
About year after her brothers had gone
Fenye's father came home one day and talke
70 whispers TO her mother. who cried out AMI
wept and beat her head and breast with her
hands and prayed to the image OF the Holy
Mother that stood 10 the corner Of their
room. That night her father kissed them
all and went away The next morning he'
mother put on ,heir fathers conductor uni
form. left little Petros. Fcnye's baby brother.
in her care, and Matchusks mother went 70
take fathers place as conductor on the
s.reetcar Brother Ivan was more tender
now 20 little Fenye and sometimes brought
her caramel or some other sweet. tenye
would lake tiny bite Of the candy and sip
her glass Of not tea She had not three o-
four spoonfuls Of sugar 20 put into each
glass Of ten as you DO, ny littie American o.
.or sugar is a luxury that only very rich
people can afford IN these difficult limos.
"Ah. 4 ae were only back 10 fathers coun
t-y. where sugar IS plentiful" complains
Ivan. but he does not know .hat the country
OF his father is bare, too. And now Fenye
earns that next spring brother Ivan must 50
away, too lie and his comrades must leave
their dear ones And Fenye cried with her
mother. You, too. would cry, dear little
Americans. II your brothers and father had
to leave you and you were not sure they
would come back
4 friend Of Fenye's eldest brother did
come back with his head and arm all tied mp
.n new white cloth. lie was very enthusiastic
and told Fcnye stories OF her brothers how
ever when they were off duty and could rest
they and their comrades would try to fna
tho bad man 10 tiil.
soon Fenye viii have orly her mother and
her baby brother, Pctros, and her old and
sick Robichk6 grandma, AID If Mat
chuska .motherl should get sick Of the cold
and exposure from where will fenye get her
,oa and black bread and soup?
Can you not help Fenyo, dear little Amer
cans, you who throw away enough 20 feed
these poor little children? Instead Of buy
ing gum or candy for recess can you not
send that penny TO poor little hungry Feny
and her cold little brother, Petros? They
would both go to the image Of the Holy
Mother and pray that she watch over you and
that she help you as you may help Fenyc
and Petros. ANNE ALGOFt LEN
Care Of Reduction Mschak, Tihis (Caucase),
Russie
Petrograd. Russia December 1915.