Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-12-21
HAVE BUT ONE
ANSWER FOR
THE RED CROSS
Children, Catholic, Protestant
and Jew, Loyal to
the Core

Washington, Dec. 21.-There is a
home for crippled children, Prot
estant institution in Pittsburgh
where the little ones were told spme-
. think about the Red Cross, and how
Y It took care of many children and
soldiers and "hurt people" who other
wise would suffer. Perhaps because
their own arms and legs were so
much awry, and they had no pros
pect of the running, jumping, jubi-
liant youth of other American chill
dren, their eyes saw straight into the
very heart of suffering. This Is what
they did: they poured forth their
precious savings, pennies and nickels
which had been given them from
time to time. a few larses pieces and
a bill orr two, into a white box
marked with the Red Cross.
Some influential men of the city
were seated around a table talking
about raising money for the Ameri-
can Red Cross. That small white
box was there and some made as IL
to drop in contributions. But one
of them held it up. and said: mo. no
further gift is permitted here. We
could not add to this" And in the
presence of this gift to the Ameri-
can Red Cross from the home for
crippled children. there was sudden
quietness among these men of the
world.
In the Convent
In the Convent of the Sacred Heart
in New York, where three hundred
sheltered children, rich in kindness
receive their early education, the
Reverend Mother speaks often of the
children abroad. Without asking for
direct sacrifices, she has mentioned
that sometimes when one is about
to buy a new ribbon, or pair of
silk stockings. on stopping to think
one finds they are not needed so
much, perhaps, as food and clothing
may be needed for children of the
war. And so many a radiant little
gift of girlish sacrifice has been
placed in her hands to send to them.
One day-it was long before we
too were in the war-these children,
girls from four to fourteen years,
held a conference among themselves.
They decided to ask the Reverend
Mother how much it would amount
to in money or barrels of flour if
they gave up their "gouter" for the
rest of the year-that little daily
treat at half past four, of plain cake
or toast and a sweet-the party
that was the high point of the day.
Learning its equivalent, they asked
that this be denied them and the
money sent 10 lIlOSt tbhtl NhAiui ti
overseas.
A woman who had done war relief
work in France was speaking for the
Red Cross War Fund last June to
several hundred schoolchildren in an
American public school. They were
nearly all Jewish children in that
particular assemblyroom. and very
poor.
Their Answer
mi 4 In n
settlement in the center of the Jew
ish district OF the city at one time,
and as she looked at the rows of
faces before her she remembered with |
sudden vividness the almost forgot |
ten scenes of ten years before-of |
little Jewish boys In the back room |
OF synagogue, after public school
hours, swaying back and forth in
concert as they shouted out long pas
sages from the Talmud; of the girls !
in the sewing classes listening hum
lrily to stories, with their quick
racial response to anything dramatic.
Her own imagination quickened;
she felt deeply moved, and humble
to address them, thinking of their
eagerness for knowledge, their pas
sionate desire to be young Ameri-
cans-these poor children from many
lands.
As she told them about the Red
Cross it was almost as II in their
childish minds they carried the re-
membrance of the sufferings of their
people. The speaker stepped back !
and tripped and almost had a funny |
fall, but not one of them laughed. !
With heads bent forward, they were
concentrated on the war, and what i
the Red Cross did.
And later, to their teachers, from |
their scanty earnings and savings, |
they brought money that was to |
have been spent perhaps for candy |
and hair-ribbons and sour pickles
and one pair of hockey skates; Of
ferings that suggested to the woman |
who had seen hungry children on |
both sides of the ocean gold and |
frankincense and myrrh.
In all the beauty and kindness OF |
this Red Cross Christmas member
ship campaign there is the thought |
of the children. Perhaps, il in new |
simplicity we become as little chill |
dren, our eyes will be clear and true |
to see how wonderful, how signifi- !
cant is the observance of a Red Cross |
Christmas at the beginning of this |
year of anguish and of service We |
may remember, too, on Christmas |
Eve as candles glow through thou
sands and thousands of Red Crosses |
in the windows of our homes how |
this new thoughtfulness is in honor |
of the birthday of Child