Evening star., 1922-12-19
BY W. H. CLAGETT.

lbear fOlkS.-
With every civic-betterment organ
lzasion in the District doin' their
durndest to make this Christmas q
Joyous ono foe the needy of the COM
'uunity. reckon many heart -stirrin'
'ales could be related by them dis
tributin' the goodies" but l doubt
very much If any could be more
touchin' than little incident I ex-
perienced the other afternoon. which
ruily ought 10 be told. if for no
other reason than to allay the fears
of them wolf-warolers. who can fiS-
on-comin' generation.
Mustered in by Big Chief Dan Sui.
ivan. OF our uumatchable police
tsrce. TO assist his trusty coppers III
hepeycombin' the city for the most
deservta' families to be aided by the
RotAry Club at It's stoopendous kid
dies party in the Moo willard Hotel
tomorrow. l was hittin' six ways for
sunday. when skidded head-on into
.t certain young washingtonian who
showed by his behavior that there
Is hope tor America.
Struggle for Life.
In a eumtle-do~n shack OH the out
skirts Of the town. this Seren-ysar
Old youngster lived with his widow ed
mother and two sisters. one nine.
rre,ty and bright. the other, weaz-
ened bi. OF mite. about tive, and
sickly in the bargain. The poor little
sufferer had laid in bed for nigh on
70 six weeks with hip trouble. and
when I entered the shanty she buried
her curly head down In the pillow
a though axha mad of fha Y1afnl
II didn't take morn'n two minutes
% learn from the good mother that
ines had been mighty bard since
.Iin,." tho father. plasterer. died
1t rneumonia. about eleven months
ago" and that she had been doin' her
hest TO make both ends meet by
taking in washin'," and after explain
ing my mission she welcomed me most
graciously and proceeded to detail her
very straitsned circumstances!
Dress Must He Pink.
Hurriedly jottin' down the names of
articles needed the most. I slpi !
over to the little emaciAted form on
the bed and after a wee bit of coaxtn'
managed to learn that "a dolly. all
hair would be the most cherished
Gift by her '.if Santa Claus WAS really
and truly going to come.
All right. sister,. l laughed as
7 ratted the wan face Don't fear
about his coming" Only this mornin'
-hinS that worried him most was
:, hrther You wanted your dolly to
lave a pink or bIus dress"
oh. pink" cried the little cripple
:ts she tried 10 sit up in bed Il don't
ike blue near 50 much az do pink.
and I know that my dolly will like
what l do! Oh. mister. please tell
Mrn pink
Just as you say. honeyr' sang
hack. as I began cuizsin' her sister
about what she'd like 10 have,
The older girl. broken somewhat
mother" wasn't near so particular.
and said with a smile that she would
hs glad TO get any kind OF present"
but the boy-ah. folks. here comes
the story.
Think. Only of Slater.
SIinkin' hack in the far corner OF
the room with his hands stuck deep
DOWN in his pockets. Johnnie. for
that was his name. didn't seem hi,
enthusiastic over the wondrous tales
J q been teli!u. and when l went over
:" ind out what he'd like the best.
he drew further away aad Tor 4
while wouldn't answer.
How about a pair OF roller skates.
.on?" l coaXed in my softest. but
II!S loCt only "lSSI Ie0!
Or a nice big warm muffler 10
wear on cold days when you deliver
YOUR papers," and still. no reply.
Alb. come now. Bub. don't be
afraid OF me-" kept on. isn't there
anything at all YOU want Santa Claus
70 do:" and much TO my surprise the
Lid nodded In the affirmative!
Il thought So!" 1 laughed. Nov
whisper in my ear just what YOU want
rost-"'
For a moment a tense silence filled
The poorly furnished room. Then sud
dsnly -aisin' his towseled head and
iook!n' me squarely In the eye. the
half-clad little waif pitfully pleaded: :
"l wants my little sister Mary to get
weN"
Johnnie Won't BE Forgotten.
They say q man shouldn't blubber
folks. but sometimes 1T does do ones
heart good. now. don't II! Well.
Eulped down the great choke IN my
throat. and grabbin' the poor tyke up
N my arms, planted big resoundin'
Kiss plumb on his ruther dirty fore
sad and then continued on my
rounds.
oh. pray don't think tha, Johnnie