Norwich bulletin., 1919-11-21
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The sanatorium Holiday Fund.

MT. Editor; 1 was pleased to read in The Bulletin few days ago that con- tributions were again being collected for the holiday fund for the Norwich Tuberculosis sanatoriun. AS an eX- patient I would like to say a little in it's behalf feeling sure that if the public knew a little more of it's pur- pose and results they would be gem erous. Every penny of this fund is spent to bring comforts and cheer to the patients who are unable to go home on Christmas, pr. H. B. Campbell the popular superintendent, bends every effort to have his patients be with their loved ones on this day, too sick to travel It is these shut in" that you are asked to cheer. How do they feel about being left? Well, you who are well and strong you'd feel pretty bad if you couldn't be home at Christmas. Of all the days in the year Christmas is the family day. Why you'd travel half across the country to be home on Christmas S day. Last Christmas I was a bed patient at the sanatofiun. much too sick to go home. dreaded Christmas day coming. I almost hated anyone who mentioned it. What would 1t mean to f1ie, sick and away from my people. Merry Christmas, bah! It seemed a nockefy. Who cared whether We were merry or not? I lit tie knew then. Christmas day was heralded in by the sweet voices of the nurses singing carols through the wards gradually to be taken up by 2 male voice from this bed or that, some very cracked from much cough l ing, but nevertheless full of spirit 1 After the mail was read tby those l fortunate to have any) we were told 1 to get ready for Santa Claus. Whet l does this mean? Here dear reader
 is where your contribution comes iir With a shake of the sleighbells comes an honest to goodness Santa, loaded down with presents and parcels from i those good people of Norwich. Each i parcel contains many smaller parcels
 and has the patients name outside
 See the smiles of anticipation as
 Santa goes from bed to bed handing out the parcels along with jests and merry banter. My Buddy in the next
 bed he is pretty sick poor lad. He has
 not the strength to open his parcel
 Just watch his face as nurse opens each one for him. Gradually tho lines of suffering leave his face anj a smile. takes their place. A tear 0. joy glistens in his eye. He now
 knows he is not entirely forgotten He lays back on his pillow hand! still fondling his presents. You presents. The rest are full of talk ant joy for the remainder of the day showing their gifts to everyone wht
 comes. near them. They are happy
 not for the gift alone but for th,
 thought it expresses. You ask "Dic
 my contribution help do that?" Ay'
 and more. Don't take my word for 1 but slip away from your family little while on Christmas morn an.
 go to the sanatorium (you will h
 welcome) see for your self. Tn guar
 antee not only will you enjoy you
 Christmas dinner twice as much abu
 you will make the resolution [
 double your subscription next year.
 look back on Christmas, 1918, as on
 of the happiest ever had, made $ by the sunshine and cheer of thi fund. So make this years a bumper ] representative of all Norwich an
 suburbs. I enclose my mite Wish
 ing the fund every success.
 l Yours Truly.
 Il A GRATEFUL EX-PATIENT ? Groton. Nov. 1s, 1919.