Evening star., 1938-02-19

James cheer package for today?" she
said, sternly.
"Oh, Mis- English, I'm sorry. You
see, we've been so busy getting ready
for board meeting today. And, be-
sides, most Of the girls are nollering
for their packagese the minute they
wake up in the morning. II James
just too dumb to ask. we'll" Need
less to say. the missing cheer package
was found.
MRS. ENGLISH Is SO soft.spokcn
AVA it is hard to think Of her as
stern, but she can be If anything in
terferes with the proper administers
ton of her pet hobby. Most hobbies
are ridden for the benefit of the rider.
but Mrs. English plans and executes
her hobby for the help OF others
It is difficult. also, to realize that
any one so gentle-mannered can be
the efficient manager Mrs. English
has proved herself to be. But she is
innately systematic. All contributions
for cheer packages are stored in a
large chest in her living room. The
chest drawers are divided into COM
partments, each labeled for a special
type Of gift. When there Is . hurry
call it is easy to find just the right
thing. That is, it's easy for Mrs.
English because she has made a close
and sympathetic study Of each girl
to whom cheer packages are to go.
There is a special place for en-
velopes, pictures and the pile of old
magazines from which Mrs. English
selects her own decorations. "Of
course" she confided, many of the
packages have to be rush orders.
Sometimes I have to get up at 4
O'Clock in the morning. If girl is
expecting her baby. say, around the
end Of October and I get her pack
ages trimmed for Halloween, and then
her baby doesn't come until late No.
vember, a nice Thanksgiving picture
and poem would be more appropriate.
And so I wait until I know
How did you think of the cheer
package plan?" Mrs. English
has often been asked.
Like most things" she replies, 1T
began in a small way. almost accident
ally. Nineteen years ago there was
an epidemic Of flu in the maternity
home in which am interested and
all delivery cases were sent to the
city hospital. I lived near that hos.
pital and was asked to meet each girl
as she arrived Often stayed with
her until her baby was born. Then.
becoming interested in the case,
would drop in to see her every day or
two and usually bring her q little
something-perhaps a bit of dessert
from my own table or maybe q baby
dress given. me by friend whose child
had outgr6Wn it.
When saw the pleasure those gifts
gave. I began to think of other friends
who liked to knit. crochet and sew. I
felt they would be glad to have this
worthwhile objective for their talents.
. And so the thing grew The
idea has been carried to other cities,
too. and women throughout the land
are making cheer packages
After the establishment of the
Washington Community Chest many
women Who had worked incessantly for
charity wondered If there was any,
thing left for them to do. We can
make cheer packages for new moth
ers.' said. We can do friendly, hui
man little things to supplement the
work Of the great Community Chest"
Mrs English has proved the truth Of
the words. Man shall not live by bread
alone" Experience has taught her
how much happiness can come from q
little thought and kindness for others.
Cheer packages have given many girls
renewed faith in human nature.