The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1919-01-07

Nurses Quarters.
Base Hospital,
Camp Shelby, Miss
Christmas eve.

me as ] am of all of you. would
like to be with you but a picture has
been painted upon my memory today
which shall never be erased so long
as I live. My first Christmas away
from home and in the army.
This morning we went up TO the
convalescent r. c. building and
helped fix out the gifts for the pa
tents. Each received little kat
bag containing tooth brush, shaving
soap, two large safety pins, chloe
strings, needles, thread, and a little
red bag of candy.
Went this morning and heard the
Christmas Carols, also some beau
tiful selections from the Base Or
chestra. After that we had to go to
the wards to sing. Santa was fix
ing to distribute the gifts to the con-
valescents who were there at the r.
lC. Several overseas patients were
there.
We went down one board walk at a
time singing "Silent Night" and just
as we would finish the R. c. Workers
would come in with little wagon
decorated red and green, a tiny
Christmas tree on top draped with
tinsel, Santa Claus, and all pretty
things for a Christmas tree, with
layers of oranges, nuts and apples.
Behind the wagon two little boys
carried more gifts. After finishing
the songs we would bid them "Mer-
Try Christmas then go t the next
ward. They seemed to enjoy it.
The negroes expressed themselves
more than the white boys, as we all
know they are all fond of music.
Two overseas boys were in the ward.
All the others were able to go to the
X. C. Building. l felt as though my
whole soul went out to them thru
my singing. | wished that I might
be able to do more for them. Nothing
is too good for them, the brave, true
soldiers who have fought and suffer-
ed for us, and would have died if
necessary.
We went to ward Is where the
feeble minded are kept, and it was
real pitiful. None that were behind
the bars wanted us to see them.
Sometimes we girls have kindly
laughed when that ward has been
mentioned, but / shall never do it
again.
Our visits thru the wards lasted
from 2 80 to about $50 and almost
as soon as supper was over we were
taken in Fords to Y No. 6.
A Christmas tree was ON the stage
and the floor beneath it full of little
Christmas boxes. We stood in o
little room at the side and sang
"Silent Night" "Little Town OF
Bethlehem" and "Under the Star"
as the "Y" Secretary came to those
parts in his reading of the scripture.
When the lights were turned on
one wished they would have us dis
tribute the boxes and sure enough
they did. | wish those of you who
gave so willingly to the Red Cross
and Y. M. C. A. could see the joy
your giving brings to each soldier.
You would be richly rewarded for
your gifts. 1t made my heart over
flow with joy to have the opportun-
ity to give to them gift from the
Y. M. c. A., which seemed to be so
much appreciated, even though it
was just little gift. We were given
IL Christmas cards and box of
candy, each.
After we finished giving out the
boxes of candy and nuts they asked
us to play aid sing. As We went up
on the stage they clapped and clap
ped. We had not expected to do
anything extra, so had planned
nothing, but we got several boys up
on the stage with us and sang sever
al songs.