THE POOB LITTLE KIDS

NZ Truth, Issue 890, 16 December 1922, Page 6

THE POOB LITTLE KIDS

But Father Christmas will be there

How the C.T.s Paved the Way,

"Truth" men have been so busy during the past three or four weeks getting ready' for the Christmas number that they almost overlooked the fact that Christmas was so . near; the writer did, at any rate, and then on Thursday morning one of those C.T chaps rang on the 'phone and wanted to know Just who might be- going the Christmas rounds with them. Of course, they were a little previous, but the rounds they had planned out simply had to be done beforehand ; they were not honest -to - goodness Fathers Christmas, merely the advance agents busy with the laying down of a 24th December tour for the old chap himself.

For some years past now the travellers have kept the poor little kids m mind, the youngsters who would probably not see too. much of Christmas cheerfulness unless someone outside took an interest m them, orphans, children of the poorest parents, children who just happened along and left both parents somewhere they knew not. Of course the very good folk who look after* them — what on earth would become of them if .there were not these good people m Wellington? — would see that Christmas did not quite go by, but moneys money nowadays and the yearly funds won't stretch quite indefinitely. That is where the C.T.s come m. It was not their own £700, not all of it, at any rate, that they handed out ; to Just on twenty homes or orphanages, . but they 1 had been the men who gathered that money m. Therefore, loud cheers.

The trip round took the best part of a full day, a day of mixed feelings, for. one could not be altogether sure whether to enjoy it or whether to feel uncomfortably serious at finding how many unfortunate little kiddies there w ; ere m homes m Wellington. Anyhow, the youngsters did not feel in* the least > downhearted over it and made a big fuss about the visits, even if there was no official set of whiskers among the bunch. What the "Truth" man would have- liked to see would have been the outburst if one of the C.T.s had walked m armed with fullsize whiskers of the correct sweep and pattern- and waited for the mobbing. Of course that could not be done, for the amount of toys and odds and ends, not to mention tucker, that £700 would buy couldn't be carried round m anything like comfort.

There were too many visits to talk about m detail, but one or two must have a line. At Mother Mary Aubert* s Home of Compassion . there were most to be seen. There are several very large .families there, some wonderful youngsters, and they do let things go m the nursery— planned on a wholesale scale— but upstairs there are more poor kiddies who cannot run about the nursery, and who never will. Some of then are "mental," others suffer from incurable complaints, and a walk through those upstair wards is not a happy change after ten minutes m the play rooms. The sisters make the best of life for them, a very noble work indeed, ahd from her room Mother Mary Aubert, now a very old lady and not so well as , once, sets a steady example of kindness" and self-sacrifice. Mother Mary Aubert sat and talked with the party and thanked them very heartily. She is a Catholic, and a very good one, .but one point she made very clear — that religion or lack of religion was no bar to any who might find some greater comfort m the Home of Compassion.

In fact, that is the rule m all the homes visited, for the work of helping on youngsters who cannot make their own way is a pretty 'fair sort of religion m itself.

In the Public Hospital, too. there were many children who do not and may not romp about; still, they were a happy lot. In the sixteen or so other institutions all the youngsters were happy, all of them wonderfully well- looked after and all of them. with something to look forward to m life — though they probably don't think about it that way yet. Salvation Army, Presbyterian, Anglican and other church homes or orphanages were all on the list;, so were some of the kindergartens, some boys' or girls' clubs, and still some more.

Next year the C.T.s will work up another drive upon the public for ready money to refill stockings and plates for children whose parents cannot, or will not, or do not, remember Christmas Day and what it means, and next year the travellers won't be altogether satisfied if they do not manage to double their £700 of this year.

When you think of It, a shilling spent on a present for a youngster who otherwise would not get anything is a pretty fair investment.