HAPPY SCENES IN HOSPITAL

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21356, 26 December 1934, Page 10

HAPPY SCENES IN HOSPITAL

+ CHRISTMAS IN CHILDREN'S WARD While the rest of the world is making the most of the festive season, the children in the Christchurch Public Hospital are not forgotten. Each Christmas Eve they are visited by Father Christmas, and on Monday evening the privileged few who were allowed to visit the ward were able t:> see just how much this visit means to the children. Generally regarded as a place devoid of cheer or happiness, about 8.30 on Monday evening if one searched the whole ward it would have been impossible to find one unhappy face. The beds were all pulled forward, and formed a horseshoe round an enormous and heavily-laden Christmas tree, brightly decorated wi Ih vari-coloured electric lights. In their keen anticipation of the great event all had forgotten their pains and were a.j happy as free children.. The ward bore a very bright appearance, the pale blue tiled walls making a bright background for the large tree which occupied most of the far end.

I Father Christmas Arrives Dr. W. Fox, superintendent of the hospital. was presenting the last of a few prizes earned by some of the children for school work when a loud squeaking of tin trumpets announced the arrival of Father Christmas. The long awaited visitor walked into the centre of the ward, and while he spoke there was dead silence. Father Christmas had come at lasi; For a little time there was an expression of uncertainty on some small faces, but the children soon decided that their visitor was real, and gaining some of their former confidence, they smilingly acknowledged the old man's cheery talk. From behind the tree Father Christmas produced several mysterious parcels. There was a packet for every boy and girl in the ward, and as soon as these were opened, Father Christmas and the nurses distributed the balloons, trumpets, and squeakers on the tree. Formerly there had been some sort of order, but now, presented with an opportunity which for some of them came only once a year, the children were making the most of it. Balloons inflated and noisily deflated. No restrictions were placed on noises, and each child did as he wished.

Later silence was called for, and it was announced that the nurses were going to sing carols. The children settled contentedly in their beds, and the younger ones fell off into sleep es the voices came fainter and fainter from along the passages. One could not help feeling that if those who had contributed towards bringing happiness to this corner had seen the children then, they would have felt doubly rewarded for their generosity.