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1 am sorry I ainrt got nuthing to put in only my doll dnra please be to her lord becauz she aint nefer in away from me befor and pleaz sent my papa and us sumthing to eat mythin ndbody elts wants will do yours truer Millicent Ann went I a letter on a piece 01 with the family pencil “dear lord: “Ain't got no doubt about it,” Santa said, positively. W H ,H ,_~--.-, â€"vvv u-uJuvu; scu 1b; “Yes,” said Santa. “We give people bread and meat and chickens and po- tatoes and shirts and stockings and shoes and things.” “Can anybody put somep’m in?” “Yes,” said Santa. Millicent Ann was lost in thou-glut. “Don’t you ever get cold ’n’ hungry sometimes- yourself waitin’ for people to put things in?” “Oh, yes,” said Santa cheerfully. “I don’t mind.” “Why not?" persisted the little girl. “ ’Cause it’s for the Lord.” Millicent Ann lifted her eyebrows in surprise. “I didn’t know you work- ed for anybody." _ ___ .._.,,....-_,. Santa stopped ringing his bell enough to laugh heartily. The grew solemn again. “It’s the best job there is,” he “I’ll tell my father about it," the child. “Do you think the could find somep’m for him t1 an Millicent Ann had an old do“, a very old doll, for it had belonged to hem- mother before her. The doll's name was Dora, and Dora was as rag- ged and as dirty as Millicent Ann her- self. But as you have seen a dog that faithfully stuck by a poor family that maltreated and underfed him, so Dora the doll went on living hopefully and p‘l'uckily with people who never touch- )d a sponge to her smudxged and sooty face or thought of giving her a new dress or a new wig that did not show the cheesecloth here and there where the hairs had come away. For the fact is, in Millicent Ann’s mil’y there was no money to be frit- red away on a body that had been fed once and for all with sawdust, and never cried for cold or for lack of a baked potato. There were too many little living bodies in that house that were always wanting something â€"too many small hands to be mitten- ed and feet to be shod. Worse than mart, there were voices that were lift- ed as quickly as the flame of kerosene leaps. from a soaked stick when anything went wrongâ€"and something was always going wrong. Santa Claus shook his head. “That’s to buy things with,” he said. “That’s to put things into, not to take ’em out. It’s the Salvation Army,” he explained. Millicent Ann had no idea what the Salvation Army meant. She did not see any sign of a soldier or a gun. She would not have been afraid any- way, for the eyes of the saint were niilgi apd blue as the sky! and it was Millicent Ann was eight, and Sarah5 Jane was four, and Baby Jim was two} â€"so Millicent Ann had to do all the; giving in and the giving up, and aboutl all she had left in the world was the turkey~red dress she wore, and Dora E}: do“, and a strong faith that every 3 she met was her friend, and a mile that wouldn’t come off and fiound' an answering smile even in the set and fmzen, expressionless features of Dona. Millicent Ann believed in 'Santa Claus, as she believed in fainies. She had never met a fairy, 1but she had seen and spoken with Santa Claus. He stood on a cold windy corner, dressed in turkey-red like the stuff of which her dress was made, and he had a lbng white beard, and ‘he nan-g a. bell to call attention to a kettle by his side, and every now and then Milli- cent Ann saw somebody pause and drop something into the kettle inâ€" stead of taking something out. Milli- cent Ann wished that she dared to peep over the edge and find out what it held. “Where’s thu sleigh ’n’ thm rein- deer?” she asked, not doubtful'ly, but hopefully, as though he had them hitched somewhere just out of sight and__mig*ht ask ‘her to take a ride. “Ain’t you got any presents for people in thene?” asked Millicent Arm, pointing to the kettle. HOW Christmas Came To Miilicent Ann “Had' to leave ’em ibehifici,;’w“said Santa, in a thin and quavery but goodâ€" natured voice. Mi‘lliéent Ann Dobson eight years old 4013 Pearl Stu t?" Arin went home and wrote best job there is." he said my father about it," said “Do you think the Lord somep’m for him to do piece 9? brown pfibé} By Fullerton L. Waldd long 11 he clutched their lemon candy while they made way with the oatmeal, as though the candy might take Wing‘s like Dora if they ‘let go of it for a moment. For the disappearance of Dora had made a sensation. Millicent Ann kept a stifi' upper lip and told nothing. She was, if anything, more diligent than the others in searching the nooks and corners of a house so barren that the hunt was easy. The spoons were rattling in empty saucers when there came a knock at the door. ' wh- u m For the next day, which was Chi-ist- mas, found Millicent Ann at home, not daring to exp-e-ot' anything would real- .ly come from Santa Claus, or any of the friends of Santa Claus in retum for the sacrifice of Dora. Her mother and father and Sarah Jane and Baby Jim were making a brave show of Christmas, and Milli-cent Ann was helping with all her might, but the [best that 3511 combined could do was pitiful, though they all laughed a great deal, and the three children danced together While their father lwhistled a tune that he remembered [from the time that he had work and, gwgs paid for it. Santa Ollaus» hardly knew what to beautiful Y- make of a gift of such magnitude, “Does 12h “God bless you, lady,” he said fer-{the beautif vently. “you can have the doll anudinot by one welcome. I didn’t know fit was there. as though a I 'bet maybe a little gin} I was talkin’ With a a with just now stuck her in an’ thenlad: on-ce, Mi run away.” Nell, and ( The Beautiful Lady put Dora in‘sidie1drresvs. The her muff. No doubt the quarters seem- ! ought to be ed dark and cramped, and Dora won- ! had come h dered where she was goingâ€"hm “I thou: what a warm and violet-scented lux-.woru1dâ€"” uriousnless for one accustomed to havdl “I know, boards and neglect from every oneggent-ly, “I hm Millicent Ann! lT’vn kmnnr'lr' Mil‘licenrt Ann gave her father a pic- ture from a life-insurance calendar that she had found in an asuh rbarrel. Sarah Jane and Baby Jim eadh got a pair of stockings that their mother had made, and» a stick of Demon candy and a green apple. Millicent Ann got a pair of red flannel mittens made from the ed'g'e of an undershirt, the rest of which her father continued ’00 wear. Mother and father had nothing to give each other except a kiss. They had calmed corned beef instead of Christmas turkey. For dessert there was cold oatmeal without milk from the mn-rning’s breakfast. “Mv'” en‘id “fillinnnt Ann “luck- “My!” 5'53 ing‘ with he cream good? ite kind!” she ran awéyixi'imh her fingers in her ears, for a mother can hear her child calljn'g when nobody ehse can. “me, IVE-{affi‘g'iiis‘ir slgéha soft and sympathetic voice to Santa Claus a few minutes later. It was the voice of a very beautiful and richly chad young woman, dainttily stepping- across the sidewalk to her limousine and pausing to drop a coin 'in’gg‘Sanba’s ke'tmle. With the hand that was not hidden by the enormous White muff slhe point- ed at the limp, dilapidated form of Dora, qu'awlring among pennies and mickele at the Ibottom of the kettle. Dara must have been very much ashamed of the contrast beth her bedragsgled“ estate and the Beautiful Lady when Santa Claus, with an ex- clamation, dragged her forth by her shoeless left foot and held her up to the unpitying- daylight. Santa Claus stood with his back to the curb, and Millicent Ann was ashamed to let him see that she was crying, so she went all the way around the block and tipboed up behind him while he ceaselessly tinkled the bell and lifted the loose gu‘aIting on the k_ettvlve and plopped the dolly in. Then The Beautng 'LaIiy read the letter th'atnwmqflmyrisoned in Dora’s dress. “Heref’ han-d’inJg him a dolilar bill, “you take tth and 13ft me have the doll.” So Dora journeyed in darkness, and did not see Where the Beautiful Lady went and what was purchased, for she was hidden behind a cushion in the limousine for about twenty-four hours. She did not know till after- , Then she took Dora in her arms and went back to the corner. The letter was stuck in the front of Dora’s dress, but Dora was innocent of her fate. P s if there is anybody Poorer than us give it; to them" 'I‘he at you tell hit vre’n what we" does seem too om they owned $1? 15113.1 event. Willy, you run am )le ft mm. V we’ve sa‘ lVlll'llrcenI. Ann, plash- spoon, “Ain’t this ice Ch-oc‘lut, too. My fav’r- the â€"was a mu he sh a-l-re him They hey both vhrile they as though like Dora r any â€"0nlvy (301116 ghlv H At that remarkabhe Christmas feast 3' Dona Sat at the head of the table in ’1‘ an aid abandoned high chain: Her Y waxen features a'ctualvly seemed to ’t have relaxed! into something like a he'smiIeâ€"thea‘e was color in her cheeks, "3 it seemed to Mil‘l'ilcent Annâ€" perhaps ’2 frgm the outdoors and the exercise. Millh'cent Ann rose fiwitli fiéf‘éfiéeks full of turkey and cranberry sauce, and went to where Dora sat and I “I know,” said the beautiful lady : gent-1y. “I read your letter. See what lI’v_e brought." or found out, about the whole family. There were warm things to wear for everybodyâ€"soft, fun-y things like this Christmas angel’s ownâ€"things that Mns‘. Dobson had mm the children that princesses wore in the fairy tales. Mrs. Dubson had to remember the stories, for they had no books in the house except a Bible and a few old almanaca Then there was a most wonderful dinner, part of it am ready to eatâ€"a roast turkey with potatoes, other vegetables and oranges. What a feast it was! The beautiful lady would not «stay to share it with them. But before she went she took Mr. Dohson aside. “My father will give you a. position on the railmolad‘,” she said, “if you will come to his office at 9 o’clock to- morrow and bring this card.” With a cry of joy and thanksgiving ad: on-ce, Milfldcent Ann reached for the doll, and clasped her to hem- faded dress. Then she remembered that she ought to be disappointed because Dom h‘ami conje hgme empty-handed. It was unbelievable. Father, mother, the babies and Mildicent Ann had to keep pinching themselves to make sure they were not dreaming. The beautiful lady .must_ have imagined, -fi 1,,, 1 When the door ofienéciwif was a beggtifuh ypungfilva‘dy. in when We're makin’ believe we’re havm’ our Christmas dmner." “Does this dolly live here?” asked the beautiful one, holding out Dora, not by one leg, but just as carefully as though she yveme hand'lfing_a baby. "you A clot of russet oak leaves that are doomed to stay Upon gnarled branches watch their weaker brothers whirl away; The long, bare aisles of orchard on the windswept hill Lie waiting where the storm king’s hosts shall drift and fill. The weary world’ The long year d0] The ridge road slopes off westward to the dying sun, Across the valley come the cattle homeward, one by one; The clouds, banked high against the sunset, full of snow, Become a vast, gray blanket as the night winds blow. Through leafless limbs the crimson of the bittersweet Borders the wheel tracks of the road to where the borders meet; The giant beech, left naked as the winds whip b , - Its gray arms lifts in winter prayer unto the sky. thbfiéfitâ€"ma§6§â€"Santa Claus ///â€"// world’s inert and prone upon its bedâ€"- ear done, and all the bedtime prayers [ turn, and, loâ€"â€"-a wisp of hickory smoke 1d bedtime music from my little folk! The Bedtime of the Year Layne» truly “Mu-sic 'boxes,” so popular a ‘gen- eration ago, gave employment to 20,- 000 men in Switzerland alone when these instruments were at the height of their popularity. W323“ A pleasant way, where the people pass With li-ghut hearts and bright eyes, The old and the young, the led and the lass, And above them the bright blue skies. A way that is rich with the hopes of things And stored with the dreams of men, And a voice of life’s beautiful love that sings Of a King that shall come again. i A pleasant way is the Christmas way, With youngsters dancing upon it, And the Iilt and) lift of a music gay, And the joy of the world to sun it; A pleasant way, as it keeps its faith In the old dreams and the fine, With childhood brimmed and the rosy wraith Of the love that grows drivine. A pleasant way, where the filod‘ding throngs Go by with hop and skip, And always breathing the song of songs And whistling with puckered lip, A fairy Way for the hosts of strife l To find. when the time draws- neam So beautiful with the dreams of life And sweet with the Christmas ' cheer. “You dIi'd it, Dom; you were fihse one that brought us Christmas. Wasn’t slhe, mother? Isn’t she the most beau- tiful‘es‘t, loveliest doll there ever was in all. the world?” threw her arms around the doll] hugged and kissed! her. Santa Claus The Pleasant Way. Valtel' Gr of nature said. eenough. Why do Why do Unce a lovely, shining star, Seen by shepherdsrirom afar, Gently moved until its Light Made a m‘anger-qrad'le bnight. There a darling Pilvf‘owed soft 1.1} And his mother “This is Christ: Once a Who will come aâ€"carolling with me this Chri'stmastide? ' Bells are ringing, Waits are singing, God is glorified: “Peace, g‘poduwill to men on earth” is echoing fay and wide. ' ' 4-NOu‘ah Slieppani. 1 where joy am‘i' Glove a‘bfid‘e. Who will come a-comhllintg with m1 this Chrirs-tmastgile?‘ Good news bearing, Gladness shaging, We perchance may guide Hearts now filed with selfish thoughts to seek the Christ; Child’s side. Who will come aacaarolling wifih m4 this Ohmistm-astid'e? Stars are gleaming, Lights are streaming O’er the countryside. From the windows of those home; Who Will Come A-Carolling? Every day sees a large number 01 additional patients on the Hospital's register. Owing to the advanced costs of surgical and medical appliances maintenance is mounting until now nearly twice the usual amount or money is essential for the fulfilling of our duty. With the approach of Christmas, may I place these facts before your readers in connection with the 47th Christmas appeal of the Hospital for Sick Children? Faithfully yours, I. E. ROBERTSON. Chairman of the Appeal Committee GREAT MOTHER CHARi‘ri The service of the Hospital de- pends on the continued support of the public and the conversion of dol- lars into health and strength will, I am sure, meet with your approval. Eachmlnute of mercy coats over fifty cents, so you will see that much money is needed to carry on this 1 friend, indeed, to these little mites of humanity, and has the satisfaction of knowing that the result of his individual contribution is bringing loy into at least one home by’assist- ing to care for somebody's child. Here are thé a'véraée Hoy's figures for 1922 attendance: Cotpatients 256 Out-patients 199 The carrying out of this great work is your responsibility as well as that of the people of all Ontario. Every contributor to the Hospital is Of late a new and unfortunate factor has added to the responsibili~ ties which the Hospital must assume. You have noticed, no doubt. the ularming Increase in the number of motor accidents throughout tho Province in the majority of .which little children are the chief sufferers. Many of them are little waits of the poorer sections where the streets are the only playgrounds. The'service and the duty of the Hospital is far-reaching. As well as personal attention, both surgical and medical, for all the tiny patients, doctors and nurses are also trained to extend the mission of healing to the utt’ermost parts of the Province The entire function of the Hos- pital must commend itself to you and your readers. It in a. CHILD WELFARE work well deserving of the support of your subscribers. pusugug great tmngs In a gi'eld‘that la untoucheq b y othei' organiza- tion. ’ ‘ ' Little 0 E: the _all parts of the Prov! u éspe We of class or creed. qhitdpen who are sickly and maimedarncbfile here and are made strong and healthy. Is 'not this in itself a. wonderful work? \nâ€" Mr. Editor,‘â€"" 4“ _4iizing that the trend of public opinion is swinging more and more towards the equilization' of 'tho burdens which each citizen of Cana'dq must bear, that e helping of those who are un_ ‘ help-themselves occupies a In, . rrger‘ place in our minds, may'f‘firaw your attention to the fact that‘ihis Hospital is accom- plishing great things in a ti'eid that is untouched bv an'v nfhni- nrnnnivn. Hospital for Sick. Chitdren COLLEGE ST., TORONTO. Christmas Song. bells for Christmas ring? little children sing? n. the. has mue‘ hild.”