Evening star., 1936-12-18
hoy, 4, ASKSSAN
TO BRING TRICYCLE..
Faith of Unfortunate Child
viii Be Rewarded by
Employees Group.

tongue.
What was his name?
Billy stuck out his lower lip and eyed
the callers gravely, but refused to
speak
How old was he?
The little boy stared silently at the
floor, while his mother gave his age
as 4.
What did he want Santa Claus to
bring him?
Billy looked up quickly and found
his voice.
"A tricycle." he stated firmly.
Billy's visitors felt . momentary
shock.
The child so obviously needed other
things. A new play suit, for instance.
and a nightie. And maybe some shoes.
Father Unable to Work.
AS a matter Of fact. things hadn't
been going so we'll at Bfly's house for
several weeks. In the next room Daddy
lay i'll. For three months he had been
unable to work at all-what with one
operation coming on top Of another.
At first, there had been some small
savings, Shugard explained to the Nsi-
tors. He is a carpenter by trade and
it hadn't been hard to get work before
he became i'll. But things were pretty
gloomy at the moment. 1t would be
several weeks before he could hope to
be up again.
Billy's mother seemed pretty tired,
In after a
six children is big job, without the
added worry of wondering what the
family could use for money.
A shadow passed across her face as
she looked at her youngest son.
Billy won't ask for anything but q
tricycle." she said.
The visitors turned back to the child
do you think Santa will bring you
that tricycle?" one of them asked.
Billy. still willing to talk on this all
important subject, nodded his head
vigorously.
Faith Will Be Rewarded.
And Billy's faith In the powers Of
Santa Claus are to be justified.
i Fortunately, his visitors were small
group of employees from the DEPART
ment of Justice which has decided to
provide happy Christmas for rs fam
lilies in Washington this year. One Of
the most active groups of the Federal
Government working in the Christmas
campaign being conducted by The Star
in cooperation with the Warner Bros
theaters, National Broadcasting Co.,
Metropolitan Police Department and
Parent Teacher Associations to see
that no one in Washington is forgotten
this Christmas, the department re-
Gently secured list of needy families
from the Police Department and is
personally investigating each case to
see just what articles will do the most
good.
Baskets to be filled by this group will
include generous supply Of food and
clothing as well as toys. Our program
calls for meal from soup to nuts and
clothing from shoes to hats" j. Leigh
ton Cornwell, general chairman of the
committee, including representa- of
each Of the seven divisions in the Jus
| tice Department, declared.
Other Children Understand"
And so. not only will Billy receive
his tricycle., but his five brothers and
sisters and his parents will be remem-
bered at Christmas too, though their
mother made it clear the three older
children-S, 10 and Is years Of age
aren't expecting anything.
They understand how things are"
she explained.
Hard work and great deal of plan
ming have gone into the Departments
Christmas program. Seven trees and
eight cash boxes were set up through
out the building several days ago for
the collection Of contributions.
After committee had visited several
homes like Billy's yesterday, however,
and had seen the need for gifts, en-
ployes increased their campaign, and
in several divisions bulletin was dis
tributed suggesting that the Christmas
tree fund might be swelled If members
OF the staff, instead of exchanging
Christmas cards among themselves
would use the money for additional
contributions to the Christmas box.
Moreover, the Justice Department is
taking precautions to see that the as
sistance they give these chosen fam
lilies is not duplicated by other welfare
organizations. Through the Depart
ment's Prison Bureau, which handles
probation work, contacts are main.
tanned with all social agencies in the
city and the facilities of this bureau
are available in clearing information
on all families in question. Edgar M.
Gerlach, who has volunteered to han
die this work, added also that he will
be glad to assist other Government
groups wishing to investigate families.
Fill Baskets for Needy.
Numerous other organizations in the
Government are planning to fill bas-
kets for families, according to informa-
ton received at the office of Harry r.
Daniel, chief co-ordinator Of Federal
employees.
A group of girls in the chemical
warfare service Of the War Depart
ment have already raised SIS to take
care of a family suggested by the
Parent-Teacher Association, Miss
Helen Mccormick reported to Daniel.
Other groups wishing to help individ-
ual families are invited to call either
Mrs. c. D. Lowe, at telephone Colum-
bia AIT, who represents, the PIT. A.,
or the Metropolitan Police.
As trucks under Daniels direction
made the rounds of Federal depart
ments and bureaus today for the
only general collection of Federal
contributions, Daniel reminded en-
ployes that donations received after
today will be called for by the Po-
lice Department If his ofnce Is noti-
fed.
Many groups already have plans
for special Christmas programs in