South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-12-26
NEWS OF MISHAWAKA
N00TfmeS office 40 Lincoln Way w. Phone Misha1caka 10
Many Little Ones GLaddened
By Visit From Santa Claus

II there IS anyone in Mishawaka
who IS too old or too wise 10 believe
In Santa Claus. that unselflsh and
jolly old soul who brightens the
whole year for the little people, ne
should nave been abroad Christmas
eve while the stars were twinkling
out and the bic moon peeped his
face over cloud bank For Santa
IN MS holiday dress OF crimson wool
ana snowy fur, his white hair
streaming down his shoulders and "A
wondrOus beard adjoining his rudy,
round face was seen by the faithful
making his calls on all the deserv-
ing little children OF Mishawaka-
AS everybody knows. Santa makes
himself apparent only 10 those who
truly need. IT the homes where
poverty has left its blight. where
sickness has visited and death paid
his hasty. unsolicited call Santa was
a guest on Christmas eve. He pick
ed up the babies and held them I'm
his arms, while their eyes widened
With surprise and an almost incred-
ulOus happiness. He sought out ev-
cry desOlate and fOrlCrn corner Of
our beautiful city. and carried his
message OF loving thoughtfulness.
He stood beside sick beds for n mo-
ment tO speak sympathy and always
he left behind him baskets and box
~ filled with gifts-toys for wistful
eyed little boys and girls, fruits,
whose taste they had all bat forgot
ten. candy and nuts and warm
things TO wear. And when he went
away the little people grouped
themselves about the door OF their
nd hr.r Fr.v -rfs. IL
and 10 hear his merry "GoOd-bN,
little folks a happy Christmas 70
you all"
1t has been said that Misha wa ka
has TO utterly poor. But Mishawaka
has. There are novels right here
within a stones throw of your own
comfortable homes. TOO cold and
dark and unwholesome for human
beings. There are families that. but
for the beneficent offices OF that
true handmade OF God the REQ
Cross. would not have known the
happiness of Christmas this year. In
many places there was sickness
not some mild disorder. but dread
contagious that kept away willing.
but forbidden. service In others
the shadow of poverty lay heavy on
young faces, whitened by under
ness looked from q % too young TO
know the meaning OF want and pain.
Many Cared For.
There were no n few isolated anJ
widely separated cases such rs
these. There were many. In al 112
children were gladdened by the Wis
it or Santa on Christmas eve-San-
~ accompanied by the representa-.
tives OF the Red Cross and 2 few
generous hearted men and women
who were Eager TO help him spread
his message of RIadness among the
poor. Three automobiles travelled
from door TO door through the out
lyirg districts Of the town, stopping
at each house where need had pre-
cecded the visit. 4 hagc truck car
ried Sianta's burden, followed close
ON by the smaller truck which bore
the tree. trimmed by enthHastic
lictle hands IN the Clty's public
schools. For days, Santa's headquar-
ters at the city hall have been n
beehive Of industry. where eager
women have packed and sorted and
arranged gifts brought in by unset
nsh boys and girls who earnestly
wished 20 help Santa in his good
work among the boys and girls less
fortunate than they.
II they could have SCen-aN thcS-
men and women and boys and girls
who have dreamed for days Of the
happiness thev could givC-if they
could have seen. for example the
round eyes Of little DUmka- two. who
chung C. the skirts of her mother i'm
the poor little home, and pccred out
at Santa. uncertain whether 90 laugh
or cry IN her yladuess; If they could
have seen the face of little Roma
i've. when she Fitted up the dolly